21 September 2021

ESports ‘Gaming Transit’ Wows USP Students

Supported Internship Students experience ESports gaming van.

It wasn’t an ordinary start to term when eSports Team, Fordzilla’s, specially adapted ‘gaming transit’ van arrived at USP College to treat students to a session of high tech gaming.

Supported Internship students at USP College’s Palmer’s Campus (in Grays) and XTEND Digital Campus (in Canvey) had the chance to play the newly released Sonic Colors: Ultimate, in the Gaming Transit, which is adapted for people with limited mobility. They also got in the driving seat of specially adapted racing game rigs to enjoy an immersive driving experience.

The brightly coloured Ford Transit had been fitted with three socially distanced gaming suites, complete with Xboxes with adaptive controllers that allow external buttons, switches or joysticks to be connected to create custom set-ups. It also has a wheelchair lift and folding ramp to make entering and exiting easy, ensuring that everyone is able to play.

Supported Internship student and gaming fan, Matthew Winspear was one of the first students to enter the van to play the Sonic Colors: Ultimate. Matthew said, “I enjoy playing games at home. I was really happy to get to play the new Sonic game today and it was fun being in the van”.

Faye Short and Alcina Paxton both thought that it was “really good” and liked trying out the different games.

Julie Clark, Supported Employment Manager at USP College said, “The students had an amazing time and really enjoyed the whole experience. We’re delighted to be able to offer this at the start of the new term for team bonding activities.”

The Supported Internship programme is a one-year course designed for students up to the age of 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). It makes the first steps into employment and learning new skills less daunting for individuals with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. Students spend two days at College each week and up to three days a week in a work placement.

The next USP College Open Days will be help on 28 September at the College’s Seevic Campus (in Thundersley), and on 5 October at the College’s Palmer’s Campus (in Grays), where you can find out about Supported Internships. Book online at https://www.uspcollege.ac.uk/courses-apprenticeships/open-evenings-events/.