All James Wards wants to do is to make a difference. To save a life. 

He’s not a surf lifeguard, a paramedic or part of a search and rescue team; although in a metaphorical sense, maybe those heroic titles could be associated with him. Like a lifeguard, he keeps watch over a group of people to keep them safe; like a paramedic, he’s on the scene when those in trouble need help; and like a search and rescue team member, he identifies youth in need of rescue. 

James works tirelessly to create a safe and accepting community for secondary school students, including at-risk youth who feel they don’t fit into the system. Where others don’t “see” these kids, James does.  And he does it all through gaming. 

Formerly a farmer in Gore, New Zealand, James is the founder of Your Corps®, a social gaming events organisation that brings young people together to game as a group rather than in isolation. The idea is kids are playing these games at home anyway, so why not bring them together in a positive, encouraging environment where they can make friendships and connect with like-minded people. 

At the core of the operation is James’ burning passion to tackle New Zealand’s youth suicide rates and mental wellbeing. New Zealand regularly features among the worst suicide statistics in the developed world across various reports, especially that of our youth suicide rates. Your Corps® is a community response to a community problem. “These friendships they’re developing in digital battlefields are translating to real life friendships.”
 
Four years ago, Your Corps® was born out of James’ promise to his friends’ mother. She had three sons; two of them she lost to suicide. He promised he’d do all he could so mental health wouldn’t take her third son. 

If those brothers, his friends, had spoken about the demons they were dealing with, had a keen ear to listen, then James thinks things might have been different. He wants to be that person for the kids walking through the door on Saturdays to Your Corps®. 

“No one’s invincible – even if you’re a big brick shit-house rugby player.” 

This isn’t just a nice thing to do for a good cause – this is James’ heart. He gets worked up explaining the roadblocks he’s up against in terms of getting others to understand how beneficial gaming together can be and just how many people do it. Gaming, often misunderstood and mischaracterised as a closeted activity that takes place in darkened solitude, is played by a large percentage of young people and is just as much a community as physical team sports on a field. In his experience, James found some kids are gaming to escape – bullying and poverty among some of the vast mental health challenges facing young people. His passion – and frustration – are palpable. 

“We’re [Your Corps®] advocating for kids’ rights and kids’ opportunities … We’re a voice for that generation.” A much needed voice; one which James didn’t have growing up in Gore. The thing is, he sees himself in these kids, and that’s why he can talk to them – because he was them. At school, he didn’t feel seen or understood by his teachers. He knew early on that computers and gaming were his language, though. “Ever since I got my PS1 I knew I wanted a future in video games.” 

That early knowledge proved handy when it came to setting up his operation. The 20 computers that make up the nest of a
Your Corps® multi-player gaming event were designed and built by James and his team of volunteers. It’s a mammoth task with metre upon metre of cables and one that takes them all over the South Island. 

Every town has its own corps identity – Invercargill, Gore, Balclutha and Dunedin – specific to their area. There are many familiar faces at the events, but always new ones, too. James greets every kid that walks through the door as a peer, an equal and a friend. It’s a safe space, even for first timers. At one Invercargill event, a boy was there for the first time. He sat himself on the other side of the nest from the other kids, but James kept a watchful eye on him – didn’t push him too early.  “He’ll be on the other side soon enough, yahooing and carrying on with the rest of them.” Everyone knows the drill – just jump in and get gaming. Bring some snacks, be respectful and have a good time. 

Being able to speak that language with the members of Your Corps® means the kids know they’re in a safe space and have a confidante in James. He tries to be a positive male role model for them, where some of them don’t have that figure in their lives. 

“I can’t solve all the world’s problems with video games, but I can tick a few boxes. But we are solving some of the social issues video games are being unfairly blamed for – with video games.”
 
Creating sustainable access for people to attend the events is where a lot of the arduous work lies. The best way to ensure little or no barrier to access is to make the events free, but running 20 gaming computers, upgrading software and travelling all over the country doesn’t come cheap. James funds a lot of it from his own wallet and applying for funding is a struggle, he said. 

“[Accessing funding] is our biggest battle by a landslide.” 

To help off-set some of the cost,  some events are sponsored by a local business. It’s not the most sustainable business practice, but if there’s a kid in need who doesn’t have the means but James knows Your Corps® is going to make a difference, you can bet that James is going to figure out a way.

Head to the Your Corps® Facebook page and you only need to read a few of the letters posted by James that he receives from kids, parents, caregivers and teachers to know that his work is making a difference. “…it’s a place where I can truly be myself and not care what others think because the people aren’t too much different from me and I can be as loud or ‘nerdy’ as I want,” one of the letters reads. 

“I find it hard to be a female gamer especially since none of my girl friends game. I have a lot going on with family issues and gaming helps forget reality for a while … I enjoy spending time with my corps friends and we love gaming together…” another explains. 

Regularly, James faces concerns from others who aren’t sure of the merits of e-sports; that the content is too violent or being in front of a screen is unhealthy. Though, the same argument could be applied to movies with violence, he said. 

However, he hears these concerns and has regulations around how the events are run. For example, gamers are connected to Your Corps® private servers, so the kids are only interacting with people who are actually at the Your Corps® event. The events are split into two sessions: one for 8-12-year-olds (playing games such as Fortnite, Minecraft), and one for 13-17-year-olds (playing Call of Duty, Counterstrike and others). “It’s a more co-operative experience because you’re working together to solve a problem.” 

He draws a line at Grand Theft Auto – that’s a no-go. “There’s a profound difference between violence and adult themes. “We’ve got a moral obligation to uphold what we deem appropriate.”
 
The past four years have taught him a lot and there have been many sleepless nights worrying about if Your Corps® was making the difference he’s intended. At the 2019 Gore District Community Awards, James was the joint winner of the J D Souness Young Achiever Award. The award recognises a young person who has made a significant positive impact on the wider community and has the potential to make an impact on the broader New Zealand community.  That was a good moment for him. One which validated the work he tirelessly campaigns for to ensure disenfranchised youth have someone backing their corner, speaking their language. 

“I’m just the captain of this ship, the kids are the crew in charge.”