Frequently Asked Questions

What kit and software do I need?

Most of our mentees use kit that they already have in their sessions. However, what device they’ll need really depends on what they’ll be doing in their sessions. For some of our mentees, their focus is mostly on healthy game play, in which case a standard PC or laptop is absolutely fine. Their mentor will ensure they also download any free games so they can play together. As you can probably appreciate, we stick to PC games for gameplay sessions, rather than using consoles such a Xbox/Playstation, as our mentors may not have these specific devices. For our mentees who are working on game design and development projects, most PCs should be fine. We have plenty of blog posts to advise here: https://www.changers.org.uk/blog The only devices we would advise against would be ChromeBooks and tablets - while they’re great in their own way, they are designed to work more like mobile devices, so don’t work brilliantly with game design software. When it comes to software, our mentors use software that is free to download. Some applications are bigger than others, so they’ll either use software appropriate for the power of your device, or log you into our remote computer which effectively boosts your processing power remotely. As a minimum, you’ll need to be able to access GoogleMeet, and an invite to this will be sent to you when you first book your session. This is how they’ll be able to communicate with each other. Please note, you don’t have to have a Gmail account to use GoogleMeet - it’s simply a link you’ll get sent when you book your session. Some of our mentees, particularly those who are more accustomed to communicating through typing online, prefer to use Discord for their sessions. If our mentors find out they’d prefer this, they’ll set this up with them, no problem.

How often are sessions?

Typically, sessions are once per week, and you can choose a time that works for you every week. You’re more than welcome to have more than one session per week, if you wish - we have plenty of mentees that have 2 or 3.

Can I have a taster session?

Yes! We always start with a “Get to Know” session - which is exactly what it says on the tin. Our mentees and mentors might simply start playing a favourite game together to break the ice! There’s no commitment with this first session - if you don’t wish to continue, then we don’t charge for it. However, most of our mentees can’t wait for their next session, and at this point, our team will ensure your future sessions and payments are all set up.

Can I meet the mentor before the session?

Yes! A “Pre-Meet” between just you and the mentor can be a really good idea, particularly if you have questions about tech set-up, or want to discuss any specific needs ahead of their Get to Know session. A link to book a Pre-Meet will be included in the initial email you receive when we match you to a mentor. There’s no obligation to do this at all, as we’ll always ensure all information is passed over to our mentors before they meet the young people they work with.

How many sessions do I need to sign up for?

There’s no minimum number of sessions, and you’re not “locked in” for a certain amount of time. Starting something new can be a little daunting, so we don’t want to add any unnecessary pressure! That said, we’ve had mentees who have worked with their mentor for years, and some who do a few projects with one mentor, and then move to another mentor to grow their skills in a different area. When you book in your initial session, we’ll simply block out this time slot in the mentor’s calendar weekly, and your sessions will roll for as long as you like.

How do I pay for sessions?

Once you’ve had the first Get to Know session and you’ve decided to go ahead with regular sessions, our team will set you up with an automatic payment subscription on a portal called Stripe. This will process payments automatically, so you don’t have to worry about remembering!

What happens if we’re away on holiday?

As long as we know ahead of time, your sessions and payments can be paused for the duration of your holiday. You’ll need to complete the form below, which can be found on our website changers.org.uk by clicking “My Account”

What happens if I need to rearrange a session for a different time?

Just get in touch! We’ll do our best to find an alternative time that week, if, for example, you have an appointment clash. If in the unlikely event we aren’t able to rearrange, you won’t be charged for that week’s session, as long as you’ve given us at least 24 hours’ notice.

What is your cancellation policy?

We’re human, and we know that life happens. We don’t want to add any further stress to you, so if you need to cancel a session, all we ask is that you give us plenty of notice. If you can give us at least 24 hours’ notice then we can ensure your payments are paused.

Are your mentors DBS checked?

Yes, all of our mentors have enhanced DBS checks.

Do you have additional Safeguarding Measures?

For safeguarding purposes, the audio of all sessions is automatically transcribed and stored securely on our servers, in case we need to reference it for any reason. We also use the transcription to help send out regular updates to you. The live audio or video is not recorded.

Do I need to help during the session?

You know your child best - some families see sessions as a great opportunity for children to build their own self-confidence, or they might know that their child is more relaxed when they’re not being watched. That said, if you know that it might be helpful to be on hand, we don’t mind! If you have concerns about tech set-up, you can always book in a “Pre-Meet” session between just you and the mentor before your child has their first session.

Do you do in-person sessions?

This isn’t something we currently offer, as we’re a fairly small team and we want to be able to help our mentees wherever they’re based. In order for conversation to flow naturally, we use GoogleMeet to connect. Some of our mentees prefer to have their camera off during sessions, and some prefer to type rather than talk - both are fine, and our mentors will work with any preference.

Can this be funded by our school or Local Authority?

We do have plenty of mentees whose sessions are funded through their EHCP or EOTAS. As every EHCP is unique to each child, we’re more than happy to be looped into any conversations you’re having with your case-worker regarding funding our sessions. We have plenty of resources and documentation we can share with them, and if there are needs and outcomes for your child that our sessions can address, we can outline these formally for you.