‘From Player to Page’ initiative is being hosted by University of Hull
The University of Hull is hosting ‘From Player to Page’ where gaming meets literacy for young students(Image: University of Hull)
Young people from Hull and the East Riding will have the chance to develop vital literacy and creative writing skills through the world of video games this month, as a new educational initiative, From Player to Page, comes to the University of Hull. Taking place on Wednesday and Thursday, February 25 and 26, the free event will bring together leading figures from the UK games industry with local students aged 12 to 15, using interactive gameplay and digital storytelling to inspire reading, writing and confidence in English.
Hosted in partnership with the University of Hull, From Player to Page combines guided gameplay sessions with hands-on writing workshops, group activities and live panel discussions. Students will explore narrative-driven games including Stray, Celeste and Papers, Please, before working with professional writers and designers to transform their ideas into original pieces of creative writing.
The initiative is designed to support young people who may feel disengaged from traditional literacy learning, showing how storytelling already plays a powerful role in the games they love. Industry speakers attending include former head of games at BAFTA Luke Hebblethwaite; writer and narrative designer Corey Brotherson; lead narrative designer at Ubisoft Reflections, Ayesha Khan; narrative director at The Chinese Room, Sagar Beroshi; former studio head Allen Leitch, and co-founder of Party for Introverts, Arseniy Klishin.
The event is organised by education specialist Simon Engerer, who has spent over a decade teaching English and literacy through games-based learning. He said: “We want young people to become proficient writers.
“All writers take inspiration from the stories they encounter, and there are so many incredible stories being told through video games nowadays. The goal of the From Player to Page literacy and lreative careers event, which brings together writers with young people to create a renewed interest in writing among young people, is to start a broader, more necessary conversation.
READ MORE: Hull creator of Hendrick’s Gin honoured by her home city
“For many young people, games contain some of the most meaningful stories they engage with, so why aren’t we as educators exploring them and looking for ways to incorporate them?” Engerer, who holds a Master’s degree in education and previously taught English and games-based literacy in Hong Kong, says the Hull event is about opening doors, not just to literacy, but to future careers.
“We want students to see that storytelling isn’t limited to books or exams. It’s at the heart of games, film, media and technology, industries with real opportunities. Bringing this kind of experience to Hull, free for local schools, feels incredibly important.
“It is about meeting students where they already are and using that passion to build confidence in reading, writing and creative thinking. I’ve seen first-hand how powerful this approach can be, especially for students who don’t always thrive in traditional classroom settings.”
Eighty secondary students will be joining in from schools across the region. There will be hands-on and insight-led sessions for both local pupils and careers teams, including panel discussions on the first morning; guided gaming for pupils; writers’ rooms with guest mentors and careers talks with industry experts followed by a student Q&A.
Alongside the educational sessions for students, participating schools receive complimentary tickets for two teachers per school to attend the Playful Computing Conference, hosted by the Digital Schoolhouse, the charitable arm of UKIE. Students who complete the programme will receive certificates, and teachers attending will also be offered access to additional careers-focused events hosted at the university.
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here .