Amble youngsters to learn their digits

Young people in Amble are set to learn the basics of computer programming as a successful funding bid has bought £2,000-worth of new IT equipment for a coding club in the town.
Amble youngsters Louise Spuhler, 11, and George-Anne Carnegie, 12, with Coun Robert Arckless, cabinet member for childrens services at Northumberland County Council (front), Nathan Fuller, from iNorthumberland, and Anna Williams, from the Amble Development Trust.Amble youngsters Louise Spuhler, 11, and George-Anne Carnegie, 12, with Coun Robert Arckless, cabinet member for childrens services at Northumberland County Council (front), Nathan Fuller, from iNorthumberland, and Anna Williams, from the Amble Development Trust.
Amble youngsters Louise Spuhler, 11, and George-Anne Carnegie, 12, with Coun Robert Arckless, cabinet member for childrens services at Northumberland County Council (front), Nathan Fuller, from iNorthumberland, and Anna Williams, from the Amble Development Trust.

Amble Development Trust approached Northumberland County Council’s digital team for support in gaining funding to purchase the equipment needed for a Code Club – part of developing a digital hub for the local community

Code Club is a nationwide charity which encourages children aged between nine and 11 to start learning the basics of computer coding. It is in addition to the normal school curriculum and is run by volunteers.

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The scheme provides easy to follow step-by-step guides which help children learn Scratch, HTML, CSS and Python by making games, animations and websites. It gradually introduces coding concepts to allow children to build their knowledge incrementally, meaning there’s also no need for the adult running the session to be a computing expert.

iNorthumberland, part of Northumberland County Council’s digital team, has introduced a number of code clubs, with almost 20 now active across the county.

Coun Robert Arckless, cabinet member for children’s services and a county councillor for Amble, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to help the development trust to get the equipment they need to run a code club – providing opportunities for local children to improve their life skills and raise career aspirations.

“Coding for children has recently been introduced to the national curriculum so this will also help to meet educational targets. I wish the club success.”

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Anna Williams, from the Amble Development Trust, added: “We would like to thank Northumberland County Council’s digital team for their support in achieving this funding, allowing us to buy Chromebooks and establish a code club.

“The club will provide great opportunities for local children to learn the basics of computer coding and also support a more digitally-skilled workforce for the area in the future. There has been a lot of interest in the club already, both from young people wanting to join and adults interested in volunteering to help.”

If you are interested in establishing a club in your area of Northumberland or finding out more, visit www.inorthumberland.org.uk/codeclub