Make Britain Smile – Charity Board Game Day

This October half term, Asmodee – one of the UK’s top family games distributors – is hosting the ultimate board game day at Draughts Waterloo to raise money for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

Asmodee, one of the world’s biggest board game companies, are on a mission – to bring some fun to families this half term and put a smile on everyone’s face and some joy into hearts. So make sure you and your families have Thursday, 26th October, firmly in your diaries. 

Everyone is welcome to play or learn how to play some incredibly fun board games this half-term holiday. We will have games that children and teens from 5 – 15 will enjoy, plus demonstrators to show everyone how it is all done. 

And who better to team up with than the well-known games café – Draughts in Waterloo, London, who are all about board games and having fun? This spectacular Play Day is open to all. Booking is essential so you don’t miss out! 

The fun and games begin at 10 am and last until 6 pm. Families can book into a three-hour slot with those all-important, professional games demonstrators who will make the rules simple and the game play exhilarating – the perfect solution for the half-term slump, parents – we got you!

Famous games like Dobble, Dobble Connect, Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza and Bananagrams will feature in the day alongside Christmas hot list games such as Bunny Hops!, Pass the Bomb, and Toodles – there is something for everyone.

On the day, donations are encouraged, with every penny going to the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust (https://www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org/) to inspire young people aged 8-24 to believe in a brighter future living through and beyond cancer. Lindsay Nehorai, the Trust’s Fundraising Manager, said: “Asmodee’s games play a big role in bringing young people together on Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust adventures. No trip is complete without an iconic night of Dobble below deck. 

Young people living through and beyond cancer often feel isolated from others their own age, so the laughter and the friendships they make while playing games together is an integral part of rediscovering themselves and believing in a brighter future.” 

The idea of a Play Day came from Asmodee’s Head of Product – Commercial, Greg Stanton, who said: “October half term can place a big demand on families, especially when trying to keep the children happy and entertained. We wanted to help and decided to put on a fabulous day for everyone to enjoy with any donations made, benefitting the lives of children in the UK who are coping with cancer.  We hope everyone will have something to smile about this half term with our Play Day special,” he said.

In collaboration with Draughts, Events Manager Dan Gyte added, “When our friends at Asmodee came to us with this idea, we immediately said yes.  We all need some fun in our lives, and this seemed to be such a positive initiative for families this half term. Our whole ethos is about playing games, and Asmodee is helping more people to play more games more often, so we are perfect partners. The fact that we can put on this event and also help young people who need support after illness, alongside the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, is an absolute bonus.”