Meet the Team: Clay

Walk into a Gamely Connect session and you'll see gaming setups, racing simulators, board games spread across tables and people genuinely enjoying themselves. But the real magic? That comes from the humans making it all happen - our staff who blend gaming passion with authentic care.

These aren't people reading from a support worker manual or treating gaming as just another activity to get through. They're the ones getting super excited about a participant's progress in their favorite game, sharing strategies for that tricky level, and making sure everyone has a voice in choosing what to play. They create the kind of environment where you can be yourself, mistakes and all.

We caught up with Clay, one of our beloved Support Workers, to talk about everything from his first gaming memory to why he love working in disability support.

What's your earliest gaming memory, and how did it shape your love for games?

My auntie buying me an Xbox 360 and playing Skylanders for the first time, putting the character on the portal and watching the magic happen as he came to life. It was such a surreal feeling playing it for the first time and made me fall in love.

What game are you currently obsessed with and why?

FC26 because they've made the game way better than last year, and I love watching soccer. It's awesome getting to use my favorite players in real life on the virtual soccer field.

If you could only play three games for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Rocket League, Valorant, and FC26.

What's a game you think everyone should try at least once?

Rocket League because it's the best game ever.

Console, PC, or tabletop - what's your preferred gaming platform and why?

PC because you have such a wider variety of games to play and can have better performance, as well as being able to chat with mates easier through Discord.

What gaming achievement are you most proud of?

Getting my pro tag on Rocket League is definitely my biggest achievement.

What's the most rewarding moment you've experienced at Gamely Connect?

Probably watching the kids that have met here becoming good friends and starting to hang out at school and outside of Gamely.

How do you use gaming to help participants build social connections?

Encouraging them to try new things and use common interests to break the ice and chat about what they’re playing with each other.

What skills from gaming translate into real-world benefits for our participants?

Learning that losing is a part of the journey to improvement and that when you set your mind to something, you can achieve great things through practice and dedication.

Describe a time when you saw gaming help someone break through a social barrier.

Almost every new participant at Gamely uses gaming as a tool to have social breakthroughs. It's such a great thing having them find something they’re both interested in, and it becomes the reason they start chatting and building relationships.

What makes Gamely Connect different from other support services you've experienced?

It's such a unique service that we provide. There aren't many other support spaces with a focus on social gaming the way that we do it.