About Us
CoderDojo is an open source, volunteer-led global movement running free coding clubs for youngsters. Dojos provide opportunities to learn how to develop websites, apps and games; or program robots and other electronic devices.
Dojos are set up and led by volunteers. In addition to learning to code, members meet like-minded people and share their coolest projects with 'show and tell' sessions.
We (CoderDojo Ham) held our first session in September 2014 for around 25 children, based at Ham and Petersham Youth Club.
Over the next couple of years our membership grew steadily and as new mentors joined the team we expanded the range of activities on offer. By 2017 we had outgrown the facilities of the Youth Club and in April that year we were invited to move to the superb STEM outreach facilities at Kingston University (KU) where we now welcome up to 100 children at our sessions.
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Mentors
We have a pool of 25 wonderful mentors, including Kingston University (KU) Computer Science faculty members and student volunteers.
In March 2018, thanks to KU’s support, we added a Unity track led by a senior KU lecturer. This session is held nearby in one of the university’s state-of-the-art Game Design Labs and is particularly suitable for more advanced teenage coders.
Parents Panel
We have formed a parent panel that provides valuable feedback and ideas to the mentor team, as well as volunteering enthusiastic help with some non-technical aspects of running the Dojo.
Parents' Panel
We have formed a parent panel that provides valuable feedback and ideas to the mentor team, as well as volunteering enthusiastic help with some non-technical aspects of running the Dojo.
Girls welcome!
We especially welcome girls to coding and digital making, and we are proud to have a number of outstanding female mentors.
In September 2017 we held a Girls-Only session and many of those who attended CoderDojo for the first time then have continued to participate regularly, bringing us over the subsequent six months close to achieving CoderDojo Foundation’s target of 40% female membership.
Sponsors
NotontheHighStreet.com, the award-winning Richmond based web retailer, and a local educational charity, have both generously supported us with donations of used or reconditioned laptops, enabling us to lend these to youngsters without one to bring along from home.
Other cool equipment such as Raspberry Pis and Micro:bits have been donated by CoderDojo Foundation or their corporate sponsors.
In May 2018 we were thrilled to receive a grant of £3,500 under the IET/IMechE Engineering Education Award Scheme, to fund an exciting new programme of robotics and physical computing projects. The new programme will be launched in September 2018.