Coding Club Launched At Pencoed Library

Calling all Minecraft fans! Pencoed Library is now offering free weekly computer programming workshops for children and adults, in the first library-based Coding Club to be launched in Bridgend County Borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Using the programming languages Scratch and Python, which are both ideal for beginners, a volunteer tutor and tech enthusiast will be teaching the basics involved in creating online graphics, animations, characters and computer games. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Coding clubs are usually held in schools but from this September and digital competence will become a cross-curricular responsibility in the new Curriculum for Wales, alongside numeracy and literacy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pencoed Library will offer the participants, young and old, an informal and fun environment in which to learn about and interact with the sought-after programming skills that are proving useful is so many hobbies and careers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Hughes, Chief Executive of Awen Cultural Trust, the not-for-profit organisation which runs libraries, said: “The chance to learn new skills should be open to all, whatever your age and experience, so we are delighted to be launching the first of many Coding Clubs at libraries across Bridgend County Borough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With reports suggesting that the tech industry is going to create more jobs than any other by 2020, we hope to play a role in inspiring future entrepreneurs and innovators to achieve in this digital age.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Evans who attended the first session on Saturday 16 April with his seven-year-old son said: “Toby is computer mad and has just started learning about coding in school so he was super excited when we heard that coding club was starting in Pencoed Library. The session was fantastic – very well run, the staff were enormously helpful and we have both learnt a lot! All in all a great Saturday morning out!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Coding Club takes place from 11am to 12pm every Saturday. All abilities are welcome. There are a limited number of computers and IPads available to use on a first come, first served basis, so participants are advised to bring their own laptop or tablet with them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​