Get Together Through Gaming – the streaming fundraiser from Leeds Mind and Few and Far – has always been about more than controllers, consoles and on‑screen adventures. It’s about connection, community and creating a space where no one has to face mental health challenges alone.
In 2026, that spirit came through stronger than ever. Thanks to the passion of our streamers, the generosity of our sponsors and supporters and the energy of everyone involved, Get Together Through Gaming 2026 raised an incredible £7,504.12 for Leeds Mind.
It’s a total that reflects not just donations, but the power of people uniting through shared passions. It’s a reminder that gaming can build real belonging, spark conversations and uplift those who need it most.
Sean “Yorkshire Bother” Dyer’s story is just one example of what this event is all about.
Sean’s story
For Sean Dyer – known online as Yorkshire Bother – gaming has been a constant in his life. Raised in Dewsbury by his grandmother while his parents worked full time, some of his earliest memories are of escaping into the colourful worlds of Sonic Adventure via a Sega Dreamcast. As a child who could sometimes feel out of step with the world, games were a place where things made sense. “I didn’t feel alone,” he says. “Even without the online side back then, I felt like I had company.”
What began as childhood escapism eventually became a lifeline.
Sean ‘Yorkshire Bother’ Dyer
From lockdown learning to a thriving Twitch community
Sean didn’t plan to become a streamer. During lockdown, he helped his then‑fiancée start streaming by teaching himself how to build a PC and set up broadcasting software. Once everything was working, he thought: ‘Why don’t I try it too?’
He says his first streams were full of trial‑and‑error, but they sparked something. Five years later, he’s still streaming regularly, having built a vibrant, diverse community around his warm, humorous “Yorkshire Bother” persona.
When he took part in the very first Get Together Through Gaming in 2023, Sean had only been streaming for around one year. “I kind of grew up as a streamer alongside the event,” he says. “It became part of the foundation of my channel.”
Finding Get Together Through Gaming at the right time
The first invitation to take part in the charity event arrived at a difficult moment.
Sean had just received the news that his grandmother – a hugely important figure in his life – had died. His mental health, already under strain after years of pressure at work and undiagnosed neurodivergence, got worse. The timing of Leeds Mind reaching out felt strangely fated. “It was like something meaningful arrived just when I needed it” he says.
Taking part in Get Together Through Gaming offered him a safe space to speak more openly about mental health – something he had rarely done before.
Streaming, vulnerability and the power of being open
Before becoming a streamer, Sean was in the police force. On top of the job’s emotional load, he was navigating personal relationship tensions, undiagnosed neurodivergence, two diagnoses of cancer in his family and a cancer scare for himself – all at the age of just 20. He pushed himself to hold everything together for the sake of others, until eventually he made the brave decision to step back from the force to protect his mental wellbeing.
That instinct to be the caretaker made it difficult for him to talk about his own feelings, but streaming changed that.
On Twitch, Sean found a way to share parts of his journey in a way that felt safe: not by being completely exposed, but by telling his story with a slight ‘performer’s distance’. As Sean puts it: “I think every streamer has a bit of separation between who they are on stream and who they are off it. It’s not being fake – it’s more like having a buffer so you can talk about heavy things without feeling completely vulnerable as you would with a friend.”
This protected openness has encouraged his viewers to be honest about their own mental health. In turn, their solidarity has helped Sean feel less isolated. “Realising I’m not the only one struggling makes the world feel less lonely” he says.
Community, connection and belonging, both online and offline
Through Get Together Through Gaming, Sean has built friendships that have lasted for years. He’s gained close streaming connections, met people who return annually, and even formed a relationship with his current girlfriend through the event’s network.
“It’s like a family reunion,” he explains. “You might not speak for months, but when the messages start (‘GTTG again, anyone?’) it’s like no time has passed.”
Gaming friendships also fit naturally with neurodivergence: no small talk, no awkwardness, just shared enthusiasm and instant conversation. “You can go months without speaking and then send someone a message like, ‘Have you seen this new game that’s coming out?’ And you’re right back in it.”
Why Sean keeps returning to Get Together Through Gaming
For Sean, Get Together Through Gaming is more than a fundraiser; it’s part of his story, part of his growth as a streamer, and a reminder of how digital communities can hold people up during their hardest moments.
“It arrived in my life exactly when I needed it,” he says. “Every year I get to celebrate the community we’ve built – and help others realise they’re not alone.”
A huge thank you to Sean for sharing his story with us.
As we wrap up another unforgettable year of Get Together Through Gaming, stories like Sean’s remind us why this event matters. It’s not just about fun, friends, emojis and games; it’s about the moments of openness, the connections formed, and the positive impact when people feel seen and supported by a community.
The money raised will help Leeds Mind’s vital work in Leeds and across West Yorkshire.
Thank you to everyone involved for showing that gaming can be a force for good. Here’s to the people who make it happen, and to many more years of getting together through gaming!
Thank you to our event partners and sponsor, Few and Far, and our sponsors:
- Social Sync (main sponsor)
- Piglin Host
- Adarak
- madeby.studio
- Mozzafella
- Arcade Club
