Unltd Award Winner!

News
Written By Ellie Finch

I’m proud to announce my award from UnLtd, the UK’s foundation for social entrepreneurs. The award’s funding and tailored business support will significantly help me to develop my social enterprise.

A social enterprise is a business created to address a social or environmental issue. The issue I'm addressing is how to make mental health services accessible and engaging for children, young people, and families. I achieve this by providing training to health and social care professionals and organisations to work safely and competently with children and young people when using videogames therapeutically. This creates a new and innovative therapy pathway for children and young people in their comfort zone—videogames they know and love.

UnLtd funds and supports passionate and committed social entrepreneurs who are determined to tackle the key issues facing society today. For more information about the support offered by UnLtd go to www.unltd.org.uk 

Ellie Finch

Ellie Finch, MA MBACP (Accred), is a clinical supervisor, counsellor, and social worker specialising in support for neurodivergent clients and families of children with additional needs or complex conditions.

Her work is rooted in a neurodiversity-affirming approach, which values neurodivergence as a natural variation in human experience and focuses on building supportive, respectful environments rather than 'fixing' difference.

Ellie is known for her innovative use of creative digital tools and videogames like Minecraft in therapy to create accessible, engaging support. She is founder of PlayMode Academy, a non-profit social venture that trains professionals in the therapeutic use of creative digital tools.

PlayMode® Academy is part of Ellie Finch Counselling, Consultancy and Training Ltd, a non-profit company limited by guarantee (a structure often used by social ventures in the UK).

Ellie is also part of the University of Cambridge research team behind Bridging the ChASM: Creating Accessible Services using Minecraft - a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) that explores the therapeutic potential of videogames and how they can be used to create more inclusive mental health support.

NOT AN OFFICIAL MINECRAFT SERVICE. NOT APPROVED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH MOJANG OR MICROSOFT

https://www.playmodeacademy.org
Previous

My day with Minecraft Education at BETT UK 2024!
Next

We're on the Counselling Tutor Podcast!