UCL coding clubs for east London youngsters
23 July 2014
UCL is running a series of free coding clubs for young people in east London.
The weekly sessions will be taught by technology experts from UCL, and cover areas such as digital technology, coding, 3D gaming and virtual reality.
The coding clubs will take place weekly in Stratford Library and are run by UCL's Public Engagement Unit in partnership with Community Links. They are funded by the East End Community Foundation.
During the sessions, participants will get the opportunity to learn about the coding behind commonly used daily objects, try out virtual reality goggles and, perhaps most interestingly of all, will be able to control interactive games with their brains using specially designed cutting-edge headsets.
Kim Townsend (UCL Public Engagement) said: "UCL are running these coding clubs in Stratford because we really want local young people to benefit from the wealth of skills and expertise at UCL. It's a real chance for them to meet and work with some of the many technology experts we have at UCL, and build their own skills as a result."
We really want local young people to benefit from the wealth of skills and expertise at UCL. It's a real chance for them to meet and work with some of the many technology experts we have at UCL, and build their own skills as a result."
Kim Townsend (UCL Public Engagement)
One of the academics teaching at the clubs is Giancarlo Amati, a Research Associate and 3D Digital Developer at UCL. He explained: "Behind every computer, app, or machine, there is someone who wrote the programs that told the device what to do. We want to encourage young people to think that, one day, that person could be them."
UCL is already working with a broad range of community organisations, schools and other educational institutions across the east end of London to broaden and develop community access to higher education.
Other recent projects have included Inspire Newham, a long-term engagement project by UCL Widening Participation that works with high-potential young people in Newham schools, and in which all the participants are from families with no history of higher education.