16 – 22 September 2019
“National Coding Week is a volunteer-led organisation founded in 2014. It aims to help build people’s confidence and skills by encouraging volunteers to run fun and engaging digital events.” CodingWeek.org
Code Club was founded in 2012 to assist children with learning coding skills with free after school clubs. In these clubs children learn to create games, animations, and web pages using Scratch, Python, or HTML/CSS.
Code Clubs in Libraries
Did you know most Hampshire libraries hold their own Code Clubs for your children? These are fun sessions for children to create their own interactive games and animations. It is also a fantastic opportunity to meet other children of a similar age and learn new skills. To find out where and when sessions are held near you, pop into your local library or send them a message through their Facebook page.
What Code Club books are available in Hampshires libraries?
If you want Books about Coding, there are plenty available on the library catalogue.
Coding in Scratch for Beginners – Rachel Ziter, An Unofficial Guide to Coding with Minecraft – Avaro Scrivano, Webpage Design – Clive Gifford
Micro:bit
Have you heard of a Micro:bit? These are pocket size computers that you can borrow from your library for free! If you would like to give it a try, have a look where you can borrow a Micro:bit from.
Volunteering at Code Club
Would you like to volunteer to help at a Code Club at your local library? Our code clubs have proven very popular and we’re thrilled to be able to offer these sessions to children, something that wouldn’t be possible without our lovely volunteers. We’re always looking for more volunteers; volunteers who know one or more coding program, who like working with children and who are not only friendly, but patient too. If this sounds like you, why not volunteer with Code Club by heading over to this website?
We spoke to one of our Code Club volunteers and this is what they had to say:
- What do you find rewarding about volunteering for code club?
I like sharing my enthusiasm for computing with the younger generation – basically its an excuse to be a kid again and have fun !
- What made you want to volunteer in the first place?
Initially to encourage my own two daughters to get into coding but after starting as a volunteer and getting to know the children that attended I began to feel a real sense of guardianship and responsibility towards their own coding journeys . Their progress encourages you to share with them the knowledge that will help them reach the next level (without losing too many lives or turtles 🐢 !) The code club curiosity door is always open – try it and see what happens!
- Why should others volunteer?
A sense of community, the feel good factor ! It’s sociable and there is never a dull moment as the children get to know you and each other and can share jokes and take part in healthy competition !
- What have you learnt since starting their volunteering?
How to run the coding club in a style that suits us as volunteers (plays towards our strengths) and how to use the tools and projects provided by the code club organisation. I have learnt also that there are some great kids in Totton who are funny and smart and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to teach them a bit about coding 🙂
Ringwood Library Code Club donation
Ringwood Library were recently given an extremely generous donation towards their Code Club. Here’s what they had to say: “We are absolutely delighted that the Rotary Club of Ringwood very kindly donated a significant sum of money to enable us to purchase our own Code Club computers. Members of the Rotary Club and our Mayor Tony Ring visited us to see the new computers in use by our keen, young coders. It gave us an opportunity to say a massive ‘Thank You’ to them for their incredible support”.
Hampshire Libraries 