Emotional and SEN support for young people through gaming, game design and digital skills.

Through online 1-to-1 sessions, MindJam provides mentorship and guidance to young people to support their emotional needs and SEN identity through positive, non-judgemental and low-demand sessions. We also empower young people to have greater online awareness and safety.

We are proud to be a trusted approved provision for many local authorities around the UK and work with schools, specialist provisions, Health professionals and the NHS. We also work with Sony, BAFTA and other games companies.

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At MindJam our primary focus is to support young people’s emotional well-being. We believe that the key to doing so is by engaging them in a world in which they feel safe and comfortable, namely video games. We support young people between the ages 6 – 25.

Our mentors’ shared passion for gaming provides a platform to build a trusting, long-lasting relationship from which we can support their individual needs, whether emotional or SEN. All mentors are experienced and trained in supporting neurodivergent individuals including autistic young people and other additional needs such as PDA, ADHD, anxiety, stress and trauma.

Our mentoring sessions are all about emotional support with a twist of creativity and fun. Think of it as a space where you can talk, game, or explore new digital skills with a mentor who truly “gets” your world. It’s not like therapy or school; it’s a place for collaborative and explorative learning. We do things you enjoy – like gaming, game design, digital art, or video editing. All this while focusing on your emotional well-being.

With mentoring, you’re in control. Whether you’re looking to build confidence, relax, or just chat, we’re here to meet you where you’re at, with no pressure and lots of encouragement. Our goal is to support your journey, help you feel empowered, and explore new skills, all while having fun!

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Due to high demand for our service we operate a waiting list for all applicants, including those with funding, which is currently approximately 1-3 months for mentoring sessions. Please contact us for further information and to be added to our waiting list.

We are proud to be an approved centre for AQA, ASDAN and Arts Awards

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Therapy In A World Built Just For You

Imagine stepping into Minecraft for more than just building and battling – welcome to BlockJam Counselling! In this unique counselling experience, you’ll explore a world specially designed by our trained counsellors to help you reflect, grow, and tackle challenges in a way that feels comfortable and fun.

Our BlockJam world has carefully crafted areas where you can safely explore feelings like worry, anxiety, and more, with guidance from counsellors who understand both the game and your journey. Whether you’re building pathways, navigating obstacles, or taking time in a calm reflection zone, BlockJam Counselling makes exploring emotions feel like an adventure in a world that’s all about you!

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A Safe Space for Deeper Conversations

Our counselling is more like traditional therapy but still keeps you in the driver’s seat. It’s a safe, private space to talk about feelings, thoughts, or challenges that are important to you. Counsellors at MindJam are here to listen, help you understand yourself better, and work through any tough emotions or situations.
Counselling sessions focus on understanding and processing what you’re going through at a deeper level. There’s no rush, no judgement – just support from someone who’s trained to help you explore and make sense of things that might feel confusing or overwhelming. It’s a way to dive into personal growth and find strategies that work best for you in everyday life.

 

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Meet The Team!

Dan Clark MindJam CEO / Founder
BAFTA nominated Mentor of the Year 2022

At MindJam, our mission is clear: to provide meaningful, compassionate support to young people, helping them to thrive in every aspect of their lives. When I founded MindJam, it was with a simple but powerful belief - that every child deserves to feel understood, valued, and supported in the ways that matter most to them. We are proud to support thousands of young people across the UK, and to work closely with schools and Local Authorities nationally.

My journey in creating MindJam began when I saw how many young people were struggling to find spaces where they could truly be themselves. Traditional systems don’t always meet every child’s needs, and I wanted to build something different, a place where empathy, creativity, and connection come first. By using the tools and interests that inspire young people, such as gaming and technology, we create bridges of trust that allow real growth and learning to happen.

Our dedicated mentors embody the values at the heart of MindJam: empathy, patience, creativity, and respect. They are chosen not only for their skills, but for their ability to connect with young people on a genuine human level. With compassion and understanding, they help young people to build resilience, confidence, and positive pathways for the future. 

I am deeply proud of our team and the positive impact they have on the lives of young people and their families. Thank you for taking the time to explore MindJam. Together, we can nurture potential, foster wellbeing, and create brighter futures.

At MindJam, we source the very best independent mentors who are passionate about gaming and technology and are skilled in connecting with young people. All our mentors are experienced and trained in working with young people with a variety of different backgrounds, including neurodivergent young people, autistic young people and other additional needs such as PDA, ADHD, anxiety, trauma and PTSD.

Getting Started!

Ready to dive into a whole new way of finding support? At MindJam, we’re here to empower young people just like you by combining emotional support with the creativity and excitement of gaming. When you get in touch, we’ll start with sending a simple questionnaire. This helps us learn more about you—your interests, the games you love, and what kind of mentor can best support you.

Click the button below to find out more about how the process works.

 

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About our Mentors

Partnership

MindJam works in collaboration with over 150 independent gaming mentors who share a belief that more is achieved together than alone. Our work ethic is based on mutual respect, trust, and a shared commitment to supporting young people. By fostering a network of passionate mentors, we create an environment where expertise, experience, and ideas are freely exchanged, enhancing the quality of support we provide.

Ethos

The mentors we work with are deeply engaged and enthusiastic about their roles as emotional support specialists. This sense of passion and purpose translates directly into their sessions with young people, creating a positive and effective mentoring experience. Our supportive approach allows mentors to focus entirely on their work, knowing they have access to a thriving community, valuable resources, and expert guidance when needed.

Efficiency & Focus

Unlike traditional employment models, our approach ensures that mentors can dedicate their time and energy to the young people they support, rather than being burdened by excessive administration. MindJam takes care of the logistics, allowing mentors to focus on what truly matters, building meaningful connections and making a real difference.

Sustainability & Growth

By working with independent mentors, MindJam operates in a way that is both flexible and sustainable. This model enables us to offer high-quality support to young people while also ensuring mentors have the freedom to develop their own expertise and professional practice. We continuously reinvest in our community, providing a wealth of shared knowledge, collaboration opportunities, and ongoing professional development to ensure the best outcomes for both mentors and clients alike.

Recent Testimonials

“My 10 year old son has a very complex profile of autism including extreme PDA and school trauma and he has been having sessions with MindJam for 4 months. My son takes a very long time to engage with others (if at all) due to negative experiences in education but he engaged with his mentor instantly. I believe this is due to the mentor’s approach which is low demand, friendly and responsive, with a manner which exudes unconditional positive regard. His mentor always treats him as an equal which is so vital for successful engagement with the PDA profile . He always brings positivity to the sessions without fail.

I have been looking for something like MindJam for my son for a number of years and what I have found is that it’s quite rare to find a good fit for an extreme PDA profile with extremely high anxiety. When you do find it, it’s like striking gold!

In my experience there are a few key attributes to look for when sourcing a tutor/mentor for a complex profile like my son and they are the right personality, skill, intelligence and shared interests. MindJam has all of these and more. If the mentor doesn’t know something that my son has requested (which isn’t very often) then he will go away and research it meticulously and return with the correct knowledge to inform the session.

In the 4 months my son has been working with MindJam through the lockdown, he has made excellent progress in that he is now managing the transitions with ease, has been able to compromise in situations and is learning reading, spelling and technical skills all through gaming. My son looks forward to the sessions and through the mentor’s patience and understanding when my son’s anxiety has been high, my son is easily able to re-engage with the peace of mind that they are someone that he can trust.

As a result of the safe and happy space that MindJam creates, my son is supported well and as a result this has improved his self esteem and maintained positive mental health during the lockdown.

I would highly recommend MindJam and I just wish there were more tutors/mentors out there with their profile and skill set. I feel very fortunate that they have come into my son’s life.” – Joanne Lee

“I’m sure other people tell you but you’ve saved us.

You saved my boy.

He smiles again, he talks to us.

And I don’t feel like I want to break into a million pieces all the time.

So thank you.”

“It is vital you know what an intrinsic part Luke and your company’s support have played in helping A get to where he is. Luke’s patience, approach and flexibility have been precisely what A has needed to help him recover to this stage, and also adapt to being ‘him’.

We can’t thank Luke and you enough for providing this for so many young people.”

“My son has been having sessions with his mentor for a couple of months now. He looks forward to the sessions with excitement and engages animatedly throughout. His mentor has a responsive, compassionate, fun style that works well for E, who struggles with anxiety in particular around demands.

This style of engagement is perfect for enhancing confidence and because the sessions are collaborative my son can take a lead and feel more in control, allowing a strong relationship to form.

E’s mentor is clearly a lovely person who gets and responds to the individual needs of the children he works with. What a fabulous idea to connect with and help children in a way in which they feel passionate!”  – Anne

MindJam has done an incredible job with one of our students who has autism and PDA, and was really resistant to engaging with others and learning. Through their joint passion for gaming and creating games, our student has absolutely blossomed and he’s enjoyed every minute.

MindJam has done an incredible job with one of our students who has autism and PDA, and was really resistant to engaging with others and learning. Through their joint passion for gaming and creating games, our student has absolutely blossomed and he’s enjoyed every minute.

Because of the lack of other types of support during the last few years, your valuable interaction really stands out, has filtered down & has affected our family as a whole.

I’m so happy to have found MindJam, such a unique project, literally saving the lives of many young people, it is currently positioned in our house above that of the LA and NHS!

I’m so glad that I got to spend those 2 years with you, as they vastly improved my life. I really do believe I wouldn’t be back in school if not for those lessons. I waited all week every day for your lessons, eager to show you how I’d improved in scripting and the new things that I created. When I went through bad times and had no friends to talk to, I always had you. When my dogs passed away and I had no friends to talk to, I had you. I absolutely loved your sessions, and they were the only thing that I could enjoy in my week. I will cherish every memory I ever created with you for the rest of my life and will continue to improve in coding all thanks to you and the help that you gave me. – Mentee

Our 12YO son is Autism/ADHD and has been out of full-time school for two years after a really difficult start to year 6.

A’s deep love for gaming and the many hours I spend as a parent on Autism/ADHD parenting groups on Facebook led me to read about MindJam. I became convinced that this could be just the thing that A needed. We even managed to get it funded by the LA as part of A’s EHCP.

From the minute A started talking to their mentor in their first session, there was an instant connection. They started gaming together like old friends and it’s very clear that their mentor knows exactly how to talk to young people. A’s demeanour after a session is striking. He’s bouncy, happy and full of energy. Not something we see much of at all usually.

The initial weekly sessions were 30 minutes long, but A was getting so much out of working with MindJam that we doubled them to one hour.

A’s mentor manages to chat to A about really difficult topics like how he feels about school in such an effortless manner. We communicate with our mentor separately to give him context around what’s going on at home so he gets an insight into both perspectives. A is now learning how to code with MindJam which he is enjoying immensely.

What’s MindJam given us? Hope for the future. Hope that A’s skills and passion for computer gaming can be harnessed and developed. Relief that there’s someone out there he can talk to and who understands him. If A had a choice, his mentor would be his teacher five days a week!

“I’ve been meaning to write to you for a while now about how fantastic our Mentor has been for both my girls. As we approach summer, and nearly a year of working with our mentor, I finally wanted to just write a few lines saying how brilliant she is and what a positive effect she continues to have on both my girls.

She is calm, funny, friendly and professional, and has gone above and beyond several times in adapting to their changing needs – sometimes swapping days or delaying the session times to prevent their often-challenging sleep patterns and anxiety from prohibiting their engagement.

Our eldest loves to chat about current affairs and playing Minecraft, whilst our youngest just loves playing Splatoon! Our mentor also helped our daughter get her Discover Arts Certificate and is going to be working on the next level soon.

Our youngest daughter is also on the list to begin MindJam Groups asap, suggested by her mentor, which she’s really looking forward to.

Both girls’ confidence with conversation and overall self-esteem has improved massively, and we look forward to continuing both their sessions in the Autumn now they both have EOTAS packages. So, thank you to MindJam and thank you to our mentor – she’s a star!”

“I am the parent of an 18-year-old who has been receiving invaluable online mentoring support from our mentor, and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude.

My son has a complex profile of Special Educational Needs (SEN) that has required tailored support, and throughout his time at college, he has had very limited professional support—apart from his class lecturer, who introduced him to MindJam.

It was through this connection that he began working with his mentor, and the difference his mentor has made in his life has been remarkably transformative. His mentor has shown unwavering patience, empathy, and commitment. He has guided my son, listened to him, and—most importantly—treated him with the respect and maturity that he so often does not receive.

His mentor is the only professional who has genuinely heard what my son needs and offered thoughtful, practical suggestions that have helped him begin to take meaningful steps forward. His mentors dedication has been instrumental in my son’s progress.

Before working with MindJam, my son felt directionless and without hope. Now, thanks to his mentors support, he has applied to university to pursue a course in mechatronics and robotics, something we once thought impossible.

This new path opens up a world of possibilities for him, instead of the prospect of remaining at home with no clear future. We are deeply grateful for his mentor’s role in this life-changing journey. Thank you so very much!”

“I’m emailing to say thank you and how wonderful our mentor has been with my son.

She has an extremely positive effect on him and he is always in a good mood after his sessions with her. Our mentor has been very patient and understanding right from the start.

The sessions have really helped with his confidence and social skills. We really appreciate all she does and the service you provide.”

We'd love to hear from you.

If you would like our team to get in touch with you to discuss how we can help you and your young people through our services, please feel free to fill out our contact form, and we will be in touch as soon as possible to talk you through enrolling with one of our mentors or counsellors

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Safeguarding notice If your enquiry relates to a safeguarding concern, please do not use this form. Instead, contact our safeguarding team directly at safeguarding@mindjam.org.uk

FAQ'S

For answers to our most commonly asked questions regarding sessions, please visit the FAQs page.

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