- Supported initiatives span 18 local authorities 大约有3人,000名儿童和年轻人.
- 接收方包括图书馆, 社区团体, 和STEM组织以及几个主要的, secondary, 和ASN学校.
- 今年的奖助金更关注本地, community-based tech and coding clubs running over several weeks, creating a more enriching and impactful experiences for learners.
- The Benzies Foundation and Outplay Entertainment are two of Digital Xtra Fund’s new industry backers for 2023/24.
Digital Xtra Fund will be awarding 26 grants totalling £110,000 to local tech and coding clubs across Scotland this year. 这笔拨款涉及18个地方政府, 大约有3人,000名儿童和年轻人.
Kraig布朗, Digital Xtra Fund’s Partnership and Development Manager said: “We received 143 applications this year, compared to 94 last year and around 60 per year before Covid. This clearly shows an increasing determination to positively engage young people with tech both in and out of the classroom. We also saw a higher percentage of applications for local, community-based tech and coding clubs as opposed to larger events. These clubs usually run for 6-8 weeks multiple times a year, allowing educators to create a more enriching and impactful experience for learners. 今年的倡议也是, 再一次, planning to engage a higher percentage of girls than boys. This is incredible and shows the value of extracurricular activities like these.”
This year’s grants include the ‘NextGen Coding Club’ by the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers in Aberdeen, ‘Roving Robots’ by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in the Western Isles, 东伦弗鲁郡的一个全女子“数字系统俱乐部”, the ‘Hillhead Digi Den and Technology Playground’ by Hillhead Primary School in Glasgow, 米德洛锡安三家图书馆的“科技棚”, and the ‘St Andrews RC Primary Coding and Robotics Club’ in Dundee.
This marks the eighth cohort of tech initiatives since Digital Xtra Fund was launched in 2016. The charity supports extracurricular activities at the primary and secondary school stage to drive digital skills and has secured nearly £1 million for tech clubs and initiatives around the country since its inception.
The Benzies Foundation and Outplay Entertainment are two new backers for 2023/24, 加入了包括贝利·吉福德在内的名单, CGI, 色度合资企业, 和J.P. Morgan as well as Accenture, Cirrus Logic, Incremental Group, ScotlandIS, and Skyscanner. The Scottish Government will also 再一次 match support in 2023/24.
A spokesperson for Outplay Entertainment said: “The Outplay Academy is thrilled to partner with Digital Xtra Fund in supporting local tech and coding clubs for young people across Scotland. 我们致力于培养创造力, 创新, and inclusion aligns perfectly with the values of the Outplay Academy and the mission of Digital Xtra Fund. 在一起, we look forward to empowering the next generation of digital leaders and inspiring them to reach new heights in the world of technology.”
Digital Xtra Fund will also soon launch Code Like Kids, a new learning and development opportunity aimed at industry and corporate executives. “We see companies become more connected to supported projects after active participation”, 克雷格·布朗解释道, “然而, we also received feedback that while they were keen to engage with young people, staff were anxious doing so being unfamiliar with tools such as block coding or the kit found in many clubs, 所以我们创造了像孩子一样的代码. Then we realised it was also a fantastic team building and learning opportunity for all companies.” Participants will get hands-on with popular devices such as micro:bits, 球面英蒂, 乐高SPIKE Prime, or Marty the Robot while also building skills such as teamwork, 创造力, 以及解决问题的能力.
Brown added: “Companies will be able to book a Code Like Kids session with a donation to the Fund meaning not only will they be giving their staff a fun and unique experience, but they will also be enabling more tech activities for young people across Scotland. 这是双赢.”