Barnsley locals win a BAFTA Game Award

We’re thrilled to see that Will Todd and James Carbutt, two talented game developers from Barnsley, won the British Game Award at the BAFTA Games Awards on Tuesday 8 April.

Their game, 'Thank Goodness You’re Here!', draws inspiration from Barnsley Archives’ online films, which led them to create a fictional town in their game reflecting Barnsley and its vibrant communities.

Cllr Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Leader of Barnsley Council, said: “I’d like to say a huge congratulations to Will and James for winning this prestigious award.

“It’s brilliant to see local people achieving their ambitions, and even more so with our incredible borough and communities being the inspiration behind this.

“I look forward to seeing how their creativity will continue to inspire future generations.”

This award not only celebrates Will and James' remarkable achievement but also reinforces one of the missions in our new Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy - to become the UKs leading digital town and a hub for technological innovation.

With ambitious plans in place for The Seam Digital Campus, including the stunning Yorkshire Rose sculptures and a National Centre for Digital Technologies, we hope to equip our children and young people with essential digital skills through foundational activities such as the ‘Every Child a Coder’ programme, setting them up for careers in the technology and AI sectors.

It also highlights the importance of preserving and exploring our local heritage. Barnsley Archives continue to inspire, reminding us that our histories and stories are valuable and worth sharing. Our Barnsley Museums teams are now in conversation with the two talented developers and are looking at ways we can work together to roll the game out in our museums sites.