Hello! I’m Elle. I have a degree in Games Design, and have worked within the Games Industry for 3 years where I specialised as a 3D artist; using software like Maya, Zbrush and Substance Painter to bring models to life, before finally importing them into Unity or Unreal, setting up materials and dressing a scene to bring a creative vision to life!

While I have no professional experience working with SEND youths, I have however grown up surrounded by people with neurodivergence; from people in my family, to friends I have made throughout the years. I have grown up with friends who are neurodiverse and disabled so understand the struggles that can come from mainstream education for those who do not fit into the neurotypical mould, and the effects that can have as you grow up. While I have never been officially diagnosed, there are signs that have pointed me towards seeking a diagnosis for my own validation, as it would explain a lot of my social fumbles, and struggles throughout my teen years, while allowing me to understand myself better going forward.

By being my authentic self, I aim to connect with my mentees, to give them a safe space to show off their hobbies, share their hyper fixations and learn new skills together. I wish to show my mentees hope, hope I wish I had when I was younger, that it can, does, and will get better. That the bad time don’t last forever, and that you can thrive even if you don’t fit into the norm. I have found my people, and I hope I can show mentees that they can and will find theirs. My objective is to help my mentees embrace their quirks, build confidence in themselves, and work together to overcome struggles they face in a reassuring environment.

Games like Pokemon Platinum, Minecraft and Smite are where I started my gaming journey. Minecraft in particular has been a huge part of my life, as it helped me through the transitionary period from primary to secondary school where I felt especially different and weird from my peers. The game allowed me to connect with others, and express my creativity. While Minecraft does not take up as much time in my life these days as it used to, it still holds a very big place in my heart, especially the Fossils And Archeology Mod, as I am a huge dinosaur fanatic!

On a personal note, and outside of gaming, I enjoy Dungeons and Dragons, going to conventions and Archery! I love dinosaurs, cats, gemstones and fossils. Along with my collection of plushies which seems to grow and grow as the years go on. When I’m not gaming solo or with friends, I often find myself picking up crafty hobbies (everything from making EVA foam props for cosplay, painting Warhammer miniatures, watercolour painting, 2D digital art, scrap booking)!