Hey! I’m Ethan, a Mentor at MindJam, I have degrees in Human Biology and teaching! Before joining MindJam I worked as a secondary school science teacher where I learned just how important breaking down barriers between the usual interactions and models young people follow is. I discovered that being able to connect through gaming, Sci-Fi or other hobbies and shared interests fostered an inclusive and supportive environment. This allowed for so much development and growth, both socially and educationally. I have worked both 1 to 1 and in small groups of young people with neurodivergence around the world and am eager to continue this work to help support even more young people moving forward!

I have a warm and approachable personality as well as fantastic listening skills (especially when it comes to gaming!). I am also fully DBS checked and have experience working around vulnerable and neurodiverse people during my time as a vascular scientist working around hospitals in Manchester and my short but impactful teaching experience.

I have been gaming my whole life, from Spyro on the PS1 through the Nintendo Wii Era, playing Runescape on my brother’s old laptop after school and the hours I have put into PC games such as The Witcher 3, League of Legends, Minecraft, Call of Duty and more. Access to gaming has not only helped my development regarding understanding of puzzles and strategies but it has had a massive impact on my social development too. I have made friends from around the world and even visited them too, in places such as Austria, Czech Republic, Serbia, Greece and The Netherlands. I truly advocate that the medium of gaming can help so many different types of people come together and make connections they might struggle with in everyday life, by removing the stress and pressure of social interactions and providing a common interest where mentors and young people alike can bond.

I am really excited to join the MindJam community and help use my experiences and expertise to support young people around the UK!