Youngsters in Newtown are getting to grips with coding as part of a club that will help them become coders of the future.
Newtown Code Club, which is held in Newtown Library, gives eight to 11-year-olds a head-start in the skills they will need to become the next generation of software engineers, web designers, game developers or any number of interesting things.
Newtown-based technology company Control Techniques took the time to visit club at the library recently, donating £250 toward the Code Club pilot scheme in the town.
“We are pleased to support this great STEM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics) initiative, which is run by volunteers in conjunction with Powys County Council’s Library Service,” said Control Techniques Executive Assistant Barbara Jessop.
“Being a technology company, we appreciate that efforts that are being put in at such an early age could potentially benefit our company in the future.”
The money will be used to pay for specially printed coding instruction sheets for the participants to use during the sessions.
Paul King, a Code Club volunteer, said: “The children love the Code Club projects and the great thing about being in the library is that family members can easily share the excitement - some have got quite involved.”
Trish Thomas, Powys County Council’s Reader Development Librarian, said: “The feed-back from the parents and children has been very positive. The pilot sessions on Monday afternoons have been very popular and well attended and we are compiling a waiting list.
“There may be a possibility an additional second session to be included from September onwards. We await confirmation for this, in the meantime, if you are interested in a child attending the sessions and would like them added to the waiting list, then please let us know.”
The Monday sessions continue at the same time (3.45- 4.45pm) at Newtown Library
If you are interested in your child attending future sessions and want them added to the waiting list, email patricia.thomas@powys.gov.uk
