Our son has ADHD and autism, and emotional regulation has always been the biggest challenge. He would go from calm to overwhelmed in seconds, and nothing seemed to help him understand what he was feeling or why. Xpact has been a turning point for him. He’s learned to recognise his emotions, pause before reacting, and use strategies that actually work for him. The mentor has been patient, consistent and incredibly skilled at bringing out the best in him. The reports Xpact have provided for his EHCP have been detailed, accurate and helpful. They’ve highlighted his strengths, explained his needs clearly, and offered practical recommendations that school has started putting in place. For the first time, we feel like his support truly reflects who he is and what he needs. It’s made a huge difference to his wellbeing, and to our family as a whole.”

We began working with Xpact when one of our pupils, who struggled with severe anxiety and school avoidance, refused all in-person interventions. The mentoring through gaming was a turning point. It gave him a relationship first, learning second—exactly what he needed. His attendance at online sessions has been excellent, and we’ve seen huge improvements in communication, emotional regulation and self-esteem. The professional updates and reports provided have been incredibly valuable for our EHCP reviews. Xpact has become an essential part of our alternative provision offer.

After losing his grandad, our son completely withdrew. He stopped talking about his feelings and pushed everyone away. We were worried he’d never process what had happened. Through Xpact, he found a place where he could talk at his own pace—or sometimes not talk at all, and just be. The mentor was patient, calm and gentle, using the games he loved to help him express emotions he couldn’t say out loud. He’s smiling again. He’s coping better. Most importantly, he has someone he trusts to share the heavy feelings with. We are truly grateful.”

We have tried so many services over the years, all of which ended in pressure, overwhelm or total shutdown. The PDA and OCD together make day-to-day life incredibly challenging for him—and for us. Xpact has been different. The mentor adapts to him, not the other way round. There is no demand, no judgement, just connection through something he enjoys. He feels in control and understood. We’ve seen a huge decrease in his anxiety, better emotional regulation and even moments of pride in himself. That might sound small, but to us it means everything.

As a Registered Manager, I’ve supported this young adult for several years, and building trust has always been incredibly difficult for them. They’ve experienced so many changes in professionals that they simply stopped letting new people in. When we introduced Xpact’s mentoring, we weren’t sure how much engagement to expect. What happened has been remarkable. Their mentor built a connection in a way we haven’t seen before—patiently, consistently, and without pressure. The gaming-based approach provided a safe, familiar space for them to open up. From there, it developed into genuine, meaningful conversations that have helped them understand their emotions and make more positive choices. We’ve seen improvements in their emotional stability, confidence, and overall wellbeing. For the first time, they have a professional relationship they value and rely on, and that consistency has made a significant difference to their daily life. Xpact has provided exactly the kind of relationship-based support that young people in care need but so rarely receive. It has genuinely changed things for them.”

As a foster parent, I’ve seen how hard it is for young people in care to build trust. Our young person had experienced so much loss and disruption that forming relationships felt impossible. Xpact managed to reach him in a way no other service had. The mentor became a consistent, reliable adult in his life—someone who understood his humour, his interests and his boundaries. He now looks forward to his sessions and uses them to talk through things he finds overwhelming. It has been one of the most stabilising parts of his week. This support has made a real difference to him—and to our whole household.