Dedicated, friendly, professional 1:1 mentors that inspire and support neurodivergent kids, by tapping into their passion for gaming, art and technology.
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 over 20% of the children we support.
We think the pressure of a grade based system contributes to these rates. We also believe this is linked to the fact that only 20% of autistic adults in the UK are employed. The system needs to change, but we know it won’t change soon…
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 work also extends beyond games and movies; our programs currrently cover 3D architecture design, interior design, automotive product design, virtual reality medical training simulations, graphic design, illustration, music production, coding and AI. You can see some of our art tech themes here.
But…. Game Changers is waaaaay 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 mouth words. Want evidence of our approach? see what parents are saying about the 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, all of the kids we support are neurodivergent. Keep scrolling down….
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 a year, we made a positive impact to over 90 kids and their families, supporting them every week. Read about it here. By the end of Q1 2023, we will support over 250 families, and that includes providing subsidised education and necessary hardware to over 50 disadvantaged households with autistic children.
Employers don’t ask about GCSEs, they want to see what you’ve built, how you built it, why you did it that way and what engines you used. In fact Russ has a leading studio director on record stating “I don’t care what formal education or certificates our applicants have”. 🤔
GC Spotlight: Discover the world of Metahuman Art in Games and Movies
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.
Click here to see more about the art digital art themes we cover with young people in our program