Growing the game by reducing barriers to access for everyone who wants to play tournament Scrabble has long been a priority for the CoCo. Players face many different barriers, and helping them overcome these barriers is how we broaden our community. For example, one way we're removing a physical barrier is by renting a wheelchair ramp for an upcoming tournament. Another way is by offering Newcomer Discounts so that players can take that first leap into tournaments or the Collins lexicon.

Today, we're taking an exciting step forward in that regard by launching the CoCo Scrabble Access Fund. The idea for our Access Fund has been bouncing around our minds for years. Playing Scrabble tournaments costs money, and not everyone has sufficient funds to participate in and travel to as many events as they'd like. While playing a board game competitively is more of a privilege than a right, we're mindful that many wonderful people who would bring socioeconomic and other forms of diversity to our community may be unable to access tournaments without financial assistance.

That's where the Access Fund comes in. Thanks to generous donations from the CoCo's donors, we are finally in a position to provide modest financial assistance to players who need it. Players who apply for Access Fund benefits can receive one year of free CoCo Premium Membership, which will save them $15 off of every tournament entry fee. On top of that benefit, they can also ask for free entry at a tournament of their choice. The money for their entry fee comes from the CoCo's general funds, which ensures that each tournament's prize pool remains whole.

If you're wondering whether this program may be for you, we have provided criteria for people to consider when deciding whether to apply for Access Fund benefits. Here are some of the criteria:

• You have difficulty accessing and affording healthcare.

• You are underemployed or unemployed, and not by choice.

• You have sometimes accrued credit card debt to pay for basic needs.

• You rarely have expendable income for travel, dining out, or entertainment.

• You don't have a safety net of financially stable family members to support you.

• You're a single parent or your income supports your loved ones, in addition to yourself.

• You identify as queer, trans, BIPOC, or as a person with a disability.

Right now, we're prioritizing these funds for players who live in North America, as we want to make Collins Scrabble play as accessible as possible to anyone on this continent who loves to play the international lexicon. If there is sufficient interest and funding, we may one day expand this program to players worldwide.

We hope that this program will increase socioeconomic and other forms of diversity in the Scrabble scene. Being part of a welcoming and inclusive community of word nerds is one of the best parts of playing Scrabble. If you're in a position to help support this program, please consider making a donation. If you're willing to join the review committee that will consider applications, please get in touch. If you believe you'd benefit from this program, please apply for Access Funds. If you have other ideas about how we can further reduce barriers to access, let us know, and we'll try to make it happen.