Gaming sessions designed for adults who are autistic, have learning disabilities, experience mental ill-health, or identify as neurodiverse, are being celebrated by Somerset Council in June.
GameChanger – weekly, free sessions for over-18s – is marking a milestone 4th anniversary. There are no referrals, no assessments and no pressure to participate. People arrive and leave in their own time, on their own terms.
The events take place at libraries in Taunton, Yeovil and Glastonbury, and at a community centre in Bridgwater.
Since launching in June 2022, GameChanger has seen 15,140 visits across 581 sessions.
The idea was thought up by Alex Rowland, who has worked in social care for more than 20 years. Now self-employed, he co-founded Love Community CIC to realise community projects that combine his interests in video games, social media and enabling access to technology.
Sessions are intentionally designed so that:
- Gaming is shared, encouraging conversation and cooperation
- Movement-based games (such as Ring Fit, Wii Sports and Just Dance) sit alongside console gaming
- Social connection matters as much as the technology
- People are welcomed exactly as they are
Leader of Somerset Council, Cllr Bill Revans, said:
GameChanger was never really about gaming. It has always been about people.
It’s about creating spaces where people feel safe, welcomed, seen, and connected. Spaces where isolation can be replaced with friendship, laughter, confidence, and belonging. In a world where so many people feel disconnected, GameChanger has become a community built on kindness, acceptance, and shared experiences.
A huge thank you must go to Alex, whose passion, belief, and tireless support have helped shape GameChanger into what it is today. Thanks must also go to Love Community CIC, whose ongoing support and commitment make all this work possible.
Watch Sedgemoor FM’s YouTube video below to hear from founder Alex Rowland, who discusses how GameChanger supports neurodivergent people to connect and build friendships through gaming:
