A Hartlepool hobby club centred around traditional board games is thriving in today’s increasingly digital age.

Despite the rise of streaming and social media particularly among the young, dozens of players eager to roll the dice regularly pack out game events run by the group People’s Meeples.

Several nights of the week, members attend Bovis House, in Victoria Road, to lose themselves in tabletop games including wargaming, Pokémon card games and old fantasy favourites like Dungeons and Dragons.

People’s Meeples – the name for a human-shaped playing piece – is a volunteer led charity youth and board games club whose goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment for people who may be isolated or low in confidence.

Ed Martin and Colin Maddison from board game group Peoples Meeples with a layout in Bovis House.

placeholder image — Ed Martin and Colin Maddison from board game group Peoples Meeples with a layout in Bovis House.

Ed Martin, the group’s community leader, who works as a teacher, said: “People love it. It has been really successful and popular.

“I’ve always considered it a haven in Hartlepool where people can be themselves, feel included and have fun.”

The club has really started to take off in recent years since moving into their current home and has had a large amount of donations to accommodate a wide range of gaming interests.

Speaking about its popularity despite modern technology, Ed added: “I think you can enjoy both. There’s something to be said about physically rolling the dice or building something.

Michael Botterill and Colin Maddison plot their next moves.

“It’s tactile and appeals to that bit in your brain which is just fun. Also it’s interactive and sociable.”

The club hold many leagues, tournaments and game days.

Their director is Peter Hart, a professor at Leeds University who offers a large amount of his spare time and provides leadership.

It has also reached out to and cater towards those living in special accommodation and with extra needs to help them find activities that are engaging and inclusive.

Ed said they have had some real success stories and received great feedback how it has helped improve players’ confidence.

Peoples Meeples is holding their first open day to encourage more people to join on Sunday, June 28, at 12pm-4pm when there will be a workshop of different board and tabletop games run by our volunteers.

For more information about the club see the People’s Meeples Facebook page or visit the website peoplesmeeples.co.uk