Help children crack the code

An initiative to increase the number of schoolchildren learning to computer code has been launched.

The aim is to establish 'code clubs' in schools across Greater Manchester to help children understand the basic ideas and principles of coding at a young age. The goal is to set up 200 clubs by the end of 2014.

In order to establish the clubs, volunteers from businesses involved in the IT and digital sectors are needed to donate some of their time to working with children in their local area. Donations to fund resources for the clubs will also be welcomed.

Working on the initiative are Code Club, Computing at School, the British Computing Society, STEMNET and Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Code Club was founded in April 2012 to teach children how to program by showing them how to make easy animations, websites and computer games. The Chamber is now working alongside Code Club founders Clare Sutcliffe and Linda Sandvik to increase the number of schools involved across Greater Manchester.

Commenting, Matthew Kershaw, Digital Policy Manager at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “The digital and creative industry in Manchester is the second largest in Europe. We know from our members in the sector that there is a shortage of coding skills in the region, and many employers have struggled to find staff to fulfill their requirements. To address this problem it is essential to engage with school children now to foster an interest in coding and equip them with a basic understanding of how computers and computer programs work so that the industry can continue to thrive in years to come.”

The Chamber is also bringing together a group of employers from the IT and digital sectors to address the ICT curriculum and other skills issues affecting the industry. This is part of the Employer Ownership of Skills work the Chamber is currently undertaking alongside UKCES and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

For more information and to volunteer to be part of a code club in Greater Manchester, contact Matthew.Kershaw@gmchamber.co.uk