Dedicated, friendly, professional 1:1 mentors that inspire and support neurodivergent kids, by tapping into their passion for gaming, art and technology.
🎧 LBC Talk: Russell Robinson on Fixing a Broken System
In this moving LBC interview with Ian Dale, Game Changers founder Russell Robinson shares his personal journey from a parent forced to pull his autistic son out of school to creating a national programme helping over 250 neurodivergent children learn art, tech, and game design from home. A powerful conversation about turning pain into purpose — and how we can rethink education for those the system leaves behind.
Something might be broken here?
UK school absenteeism increased by 117% since lockdowns. This is 1.6 million kids or 22% of all school pupils. The Centre for Social Justice found children with an Educational Health and Care Plan are five times more likely to be absent. Many of these kids are autistic and face challenges like Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA).
EBSA means educational trauma, lost friendships, isolation and significant mental health issues in many of the children we support.
We know the pressure of a grade based system can contribute to these rates. With only 20% of autistic adults in the UK employed, we know the system needs to change…
Welcome to the revolution of Game Changers
We are a Not-for-profit/NGO supporting neurodivergent kids. We provide 1:1 mentors working virtually, using digital art to inspire and promote a habit of self-directed learning. We coach kids on industry-standard engines used for AAA and indie video game design and movie animation.
Our sessions can explore a huge variety of themes, from 3D architecture design, interior design, automotive product design, virtual reality medical training simulations, graphic design, illustration, coding and AI. You can see some of our art tech themes here.
But… Game Changers is way more than art & tech exploration. Our mentors provide emotional support and professional companionship, using a deeply personalised approach different from traditional schooling. Our sessions are enjoyable, inclusive, and even cater to kids who prefer typing over speaking aloud. Want evidence of our approach? See what parents are saying about their experience.
We prepare young minds for the digital world, where hyper-focus is a valuable asset.
All mentors at Game Changers have enhanced DBS checks and adhere to our safeguarding policy. Some of our mentors are neurodivergent and all of the kids we support are neurodivergent.
GAME CHANGERS IS PERSONAL -
GAME CHANGERS IS PERSONAL -
Russ, our founder, experienced his 10 y/o autistic son refuse all traditional learning at home alongside EBSA, loneliness, and mental health issues. He turned to game design and 3D sculpting to engage him, and he could not believe the change that he witnessed.
Inspired, Russ created Game Changers, a project aimed at helping neurodivergent kids in similar situations.
Within 2 years, we grew to help over 180 kids and their families, supporting them every week. Read about it here.
So What’s Next?
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Using the engines we work with this is an outstanding example of Metahumans. This boundary-pushing technical demo is an original concept set within the world of Warner Bros' The Matrix. Written and cinematically directed by Lana Wachowski, it features Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprising their roles as Neo and Trinity and—in a reality-flipping twist—also playing themselves. Discover more of the tech art themes young people can explore with Game Changers by clicking here.