PLAYING TOGETHER: CONNECTING WITH YOUR CHILD THROUGH MINECRAFT

FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF PLAYMODE ACADEMY

Ellie Finch, MA MBACP (Accred), is a clinical supervisor, counsellor, and social worker who works with children, parents, and families. She is an Accredited Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), a Professional Member of the Association for Counselling and Therapy Online (ACTO), and registered with Social Work England.

As a parent of two, including a child with special educational needs, physical disabilities, and a complex medical condition, she brings lived insight to her work supporting families and practitioners.

She has worked across CAMHS, schools, private practice, and both local and national charities. She is best known for developing an innovative online counselling service that uses videogames such as Minecraft and other creative digital tools to engage children and young people in therapy.

Alongside her clinical work, Ellie provides consultancy and training to professionals and organisations looking to embed creative digital tools and videogames into their own practice. She is the founder of PlayMode Academy, a social venture offering structured training in the therapeutic use of digital tools. The venture has been supported by Cambridge Social Ventures and received an award from UnLtd

Ellie is passionate about increasing access to therapy for children and young people who are often excluded from traditional services. By building a social venture, she aims to demonstrate and broaden the social impact that creative digital tools can have - improving accessibility, enhancing engagement, and supporting better outcomes for children and young people across diverse settings.

She 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.

FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE ACTIVE LIVES CIC

Rachel Conlisk is the founder and director of Creative Active Lives CIC, MineMania Community Minecraft Server, and DigiTribe – a groundbreaking online alternative provision and digital youth work project supporting neurodivergent young people and children with SEND through creative, inclusive social and educational activities.

Rachel’s work sits at the intersection of digital play, youth work, and mental health – using platforms like Minecraft to help young people connect, express themselves, and build confidence in safe, supportive spaces. Through MineMania, a Mojang approved community Minecraft server, Rachel delivers social groups, digital skills courses, and wellbeing-focused projects designed for children who don’t always engage with other play activities or traditional education systems.

She has over a decade of experience in community engagement, youth participation, and inclusive event design. A passionate advocate for neurodivergent-friendly spaces, Rachel designs and delivers family sessions, workshops, and digital clubs that support emotional wellbeing, peer connection, and creativity, both online and face-to-face.

Rachel was named one of Small Business Britain’s 100 most inspirational women in business and recognised as a Point of Light by the UK Prime Minister for her work in social enterprise and inclusion. She speaks at national conferences about inclusive play, digital youth work, and the mental health impact of creative and physical activity.