Author: Zoe Davidson

Zoe Davidson

Making your Code Club welcoming for everyone

Code Club thrives because every young person brings something unique: different interests, strengths, and ways of learning. By welcoming and valuing those differences, we create clubs where more young people can belong, participate, and grow.

As leaders and mentors, we play an important role in making that happen. Creating an inclusive Code Club doesn’t mean having all the answers or making everything perfect. It starts with being curious, listening, and thinking about what might help everyone feel confident, welcome, and able to take part.

Here are five practical ways to help create a Code Club where every young person feels they belong.

1. Start with belonging

When we think about accessibility, we often think about physical access. Can everyone get into the building? Is there an accessible toilet? These things matter, but creating a sense of belonging matters too — young people might be able to access the venue, but still feel unsure about attending.

You can help by thinking about how young people experience your club. Some may find busy or noisy environments overwhelming. Others may need extra time to process instructions, benefit from visual demonstrations, or appreciate having choices in how they complete a project.

Three children laughing and interacting at computers in a classroom setting, participating in a code club activity.

If it’s a young person’s first time at your club, they might worry about making friends, joining a new group, or not knowing what to expect. You could consider using an icebreaker activity, name tags, or sending them an example project and a few details about what a session typically looks like before their first session.

You could also take inspiration from St Nicholas Primary School in the UK. They created a visual story to show creators what to expect at Code Club.

Creating an inclusive Code Club means recognising and responding to a range of needs so that more young people can participate confidently and enjoy the experience.

“Inclusion is not about perfection, it’s about presence and persistence.” – Chidi Duru, co-founder of Codeant Technology Hub, Nigeria 

A classroom scene with a diverse group of children engaged in a coding workshop, seated at wooden desks with laptops. An instructor sits among them, guiding the students. The walls are painted yellow, and the room has a rustic appearance.

2. Think about barriers, not labels

Rather than focusing on diagnoses or labels, focus on what helps young people take part and feel comfortable at your club.

Ask yourself:

  • Have we helped new members know what to expect before they arrive? 
  • Do we explain activities in different ways?
  • Can young people access a quieter space if they need one?
  • Do learners have opportunities to take breaks and rejoin activities?
  • Can young people make choices about how they complete projects?

By focusing on small, practical changes like these, rather than labels, you can make it easier for every young person to join in and enjoy Code Club.

“Start by assuming that every young person belongs, regardless of their experience level. We tell students and families that no coding knowledge is required and that our Dojo is a safe place to learn, ask questions, make mistakes, and grow. New participants are introduced to mentors who share their own journeys into technology and technology-enabled careers, helping students see relatable role models and future possibilities.” – Nefertiti Stanford, Philly CoderDojo, USA

Headphone policies aren’t just about noise control—they’re a key tool for accessible learning.

“Have an open policy on headphones. Some young people need headphones to reduce the background noise and let them concentrate. Some young people love to incorporate a lot of sound into their coding projects so having headphones means they don’t impact others. And for some, headphones means they can access text to speech service, or translation services, without standing out in the group.” – Kaye North, Community and Engagement Manager for Code Club Australia

A young girl wearing headphones smiles while working on a laptop in a busy workshop setting, with adults and other children in the background.

3. The environment matters

Take a moment to look at your club through a new member’s eyes.

While you may not be able to change everything about your venue, thinking about the first impression the environment gives can help you identify barriers and think about how to make your club more welcoming.

Consider:

  • Can young people easily find and access the club?
  • Is there step-free access and an accessible toilet available?
  • Are the toilets and other facilities clearly signposted?
  • Is it easy to move around the room?
  • Are noise levels, lighting, or distractions likely to affect participation?
  • Can you share a floorplan, photos, or a video of your club venue with new members so they know what to expect

Sharing information about your venue in advance can help families decide whether the club is right for their child and open up conversations about any support needs before they attend.

“Sometimes young people need a break. Having fidget and sensory toys, pencils and paper to draw with, or having a dedicated ‘calm space’ can really help anyone who gets overwhelmed.” – Mentor, Selby CoderDojo, UK

One of the simplest ways to make your club more welcoming is to ask the people attending:

“Is there anything we can do to help make this club work better for you?”

Young people and their families often know best what support will help them feel confident and included. You don’t need specialist expertise to ask that question, but the answer may help you make a meaningful difference.

Two children sitting on a couch, focused on a blue learning tablet. They are surrounded by large teddy bears, one resembling Winnie the Pooh, while a caregiver is seen in the background.

4. Celebrate different kinds of success

Every young person learns, creates, and experiences success differently. Recognising those differences helps us create a Code Club where everyone can thrive.

Success is about more than just finishing a project. By celebrating creativity, persistence, teamwork, curiosity, and problem solving alongside technical skills, we can help every young person feel recognised and valued. Explore our selection of downloadable certificates, designed to help you value and celebrate every creator’s achievements.

“Code Club has definitely helped Micha grow in confidence. Prior to joining Code Club he was quite anxious about joining after school activities, but this has definitely given him more confidence to try new things and socialise with other children as well.” – Catherine, Micah’s mum, UK

A diverse group of children and adults engaged in a creative workshop at a table covered with arts and crafts materials, including scissors, colored papers, and electronic components.

5. You don’t need to have all the answers

No volunteer can anticipate every need or situation that might arise at their club. Creating a welcoming Code Club is mostly about being open to listening, learning, and adapting when needed.

Small changes can make a big difference. Small, thoughtful adjustments can make a big difference for the young people who need them, while also creating a more welcoming environment for everyone else. For example, a visual timetable can offer reassurance and clarity to one creator, while helping the whole group know what to expect.

Supporting one creator doesn’t take anything away from others — it simply helps create a Code Club where everyone has the opportunity to feel comfortable, included, and ready to learn.

Useful resources

If you’re looking for more detailed guidance, our Code Club accessibility guide includes practical advice on running an inclusive Code Club. 

We’d love to hear from you!

What have you done to help make your Code Club welcoming and inclusive?

Share your experiences with the Code Club community on Facebook and LinkedIn and help inspire other mentors around the world.

Where to start with Code Club projects

Starting a Code Club is exciting! There are hundreds of free projects to choose from, so where should you start?

The good news is that there isn’t one perfect first project. Every Code Club is different. The best project for your club depends on your young people, your setting, and what they enjoy creating.

To help you get started, we asked Code Club leaders from the community which projects they recommend for a first session — and why. Their advice shows there are lots of different ways to begin… and we noticed a few common themes.

Start with something that builds confidence

When we were speaking with the community, one thing came up again and again: choose a project that helps young people experience success quickly.

For Fiona from Peterborough CoderDojo in the UK, that project is Space talk, the first project from our Introduction to Scratch path.

“It introduces the basics of Scratch well and provides a useful framework for the first few sessions.”

What Fiona enjoys most is seeing how different young people connect with the same project.

“For some it’s the excitement of writing their first line of code. Others love choosing backgrounds and characters, while some enjoy adding sounds.”

Her biggest piece of advice:

“Don’t try to force a particular way through the project. Some young people will follow every step, while others will immediately start changing things. Let them take the project in the direction they want.”

Code Club mentor, Marc, suggests beginning with Rock band, the first project in another Scratch path: Module 1.

For him, Rock band is the perfect introduction because it assumes no previous coding knowledge, is easy to follow, and quickly becomes creative.

“It’s noisy, fun, and exciting — and the projects that follow work really well in sequence.”

Give young people choices

Code Club encourages young people to make choices, explore their own ideas, and shape their own projects.

Tamasin Greenough Graham prefers to offer three different projects with different levels of challenge, allowing young people to choose what interests them.

“Giving them a choice means they’re more likely to enjoy the session and stay engaged.”

One project she recommends is Stress ball. It’s simple enough for beginners but can easily be extended — everyone can work at their own pace.

“Young people end up creating completely different versions of the same project while sharing ideas and solving problems together.”

She also suggests choosing projects that connect with what’s happening around your club.

Whether it’s the changing seasons, a school or community event, or something your young people have recently experienced, making projects feel relevant can help keep enthusiasm high.

Personalisation matters

While each club leader had their own favourite first project, many said the same thing: the best projects are easy to personalise.

Richard from the UK recommends CATS! because it quickly shows what young people already know, while giving them lots of opportunities to make the project their own.

“Create your own version first to show what’s possible — change the character or colours, or add another level.”

Darren Townsend and Caroline Magero both recommend starting with Ghostbusters.

Darren likes Ghostbusters, along with Boat race, because they’re simple to get started with but easy to adapt and extend. He encourages club leaders to help young people think beyond the instructions by asking questions like:

  • Do the sprites have to be ghosts?
  • Could the sprites be falling fruit instead?
  • Does the game have to feature a boat?
  • Could the boat race become a car race instead?

Caroline, who runs a Code Club in Kenya, also recommends Ghostbusters because it introduces learners to a wide range of Scratch blocks while giving them the freedom to explore their own ideas and creativity.

Her advice is simple:

“Celebrate every complete and incomplete project to build learners’ confidence and encourage creativity.”

Together, their advice highlights that the best starter projects aren’t just easy to follow — they’re easy for young people to make their own.

These small changes help young people see coding as something creative rather than something they have to copy exactly.

Creativity is more important than perfection

Several Code Club leaders told us that they encourage young people to experiment, rather than produce a perfect project.

James Obukui, from Kenya, recommends Lost in space because it introduces key coding concepts while leaving lots of room for imagination.

“Watching projects come to life excites learners. They enjoy adding more sprites, changing the code, and making the project their own.”

He also reminds leaders to create an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to explore at their own pace.

Physical computing can be a great first experience

Not every Code Club starts with Scratch.

Japhet Kipkore from Kenya introduces new learners to physical computing by starting with Lighting the LEDs using a Raspberry Pi Pico.

He likes the project because learners can immediately see the results of their code while learning about electronics.

“Always start with simple demonstrations and let learners work in pairs or small groups. Give them opportunities to try things for themselves.”

A few themes we noticed

Although everyone had their own favourite project, there were some clear patterns!

Many Code Club leaders recommend projects that:

  • Build confidence through quick successes
  • Can be personalised and extended
  • Give young people choices wherever possible
  • Match learners’ interests instead of focusing on difficulty

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is that the project itself matters less than the experience it creates.

Still not sure where to begin?

If you’re still deciding, here are a few ideas.

If your creators are complete beginners… Space talk

Also recommended by Fiona from Peterborough CoderDojo, UK, Space talk is a gentle first step into Scratch, where creators build a space scene and bring alien characters to life by making them react with sounds and expressions when clicked. It’s a great intro because it only uses a couple of simple code blocks (Looks and Sound), while still letting learners get creative with the Paint editor to customise their characters. It’s perfect for anyone who’s never coded before.

If they love games… Neil the seal

This is a chaotic, fun, arcade-style game where creators code Neil the seal to waddle around town smashing signs, cars, and barriers for points, while a ranger tries to chase him back to the sea. It’s got real game mechanics: scoring, movement, and a chase opponent, making it a satisfying, silly game to build and play. And stay tuned — six new Games projects are coming soon!

If they enjoy art and design… Paint box

Creators build their own working paint program in Scratch, complete with a pencil, colour changer, and eraser. It’s a lovely blend of coding and creativity. They’ll learn how mouse input and drawing tools work under the hood, while ending up with a genuinely useful app they can doodle with afterwards.

If they like storytelling… This is our flatgame

This is a lovely hybrid of video games and poetry, where creators hand-draw or craft their own artwork (drawings, cut-outs, photos), then bring it into Scratch to create a game world they can explore by wandering around. It’s especially great for creative, non-linear storytellers, since there’s no ‘winning’ — just atmosphere and exploration. A nice change of pace from traditional coding projects.

If they want to make something physical… LED firefly

Using a Raspberry Pi Pico, creators wire up an LED and switch, then program the LED in MicroPython to blink in a pattern that mimics a real firefly. It’s a lovely first hardware project. Creators will learn the basics of microcontrollers, circuits, and physical computing, and end up with a little glowing creation they built with their own hands. 

There’s no perfect first project

Every Code Club is different. A project that works brilliantly in one club might not be the best fit for another.

The most important thing is choosing something that gets young people excited to create, explore, and come back next week.

As Fiona reminds us, don’t worry if everyone approaches a project differently. Some young people will carefully follow every step, while others will immediately start experimenting.

All will be learning in their own way.

Browse Code Club projects →

Understanding what young people learn in Code Club: Early themes from our Insights project

We want every young person at Code Club to be able to build their skills, feel confident using technology, and have fun. To make sure our activities meet the needs of both clubs and creators, we constantly review what we’re doing, gather evidence about what works, look at the latest research, and ask ourselves questions like, “What are young people learning in Code Club?” 

For example, we closely studied the independent evaluation of Code Club’s impact carried out by researchers at Durham University. They looked at how Code Club affects young people’s attitudes towards learning, how they feel about coding, and their progress in coding.  

A group of children and adults engaged in a tech workshop, working on laptops at a long table in a spacious room. Some children are programming while others are interacting with electronic devices.

To build on this research, we recently launched the Insights pilot project to explore two questions in more depth: 

  1. What do young people learn in Code Club?
  2. How do clubs use Code Club projects to support learning?

Thanks to the clubs, mentors, and young people who took part, we’re starting to gain new insights into the skills, confidence, creativity, and sense of belonging that young people develop through Code Club.

Who took part and what did they do?

Code Clubs from seven countries participated in the project, these were the UK, South Africa, Italy, the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Albania.

In total:

  • 91 clubs completed mentor surveys
  • 502 young people completed baseline surveys
  • 105 young people completed endline surveys
  • 79 young people completed both surveys, allowing us to look at changes over time

Although fewer clubs completed the endline survey than we had hoped, the project still generated a rich dataset about young people’s experience in Code Clubs.

What are young people learning?

One of the most encouraging findings is that young people reported high levels of interest and confidence in coding.

Across the participating clubs, young people reported:

  • Strong interest in coding (8.4 out of 10 on average)
  • High levels of belonging, with many feeling that they know other people who are interested in coding (8.7 out of 10)
  • Positive levels of creative thinking (7.9 out of 10)
  • Good communication and problem-solving skills

Learning over time

While the number of matched responses was too small to draw firm conclusions, the findings suggest that Code Club is helping young people develop interest in coding. 

We also saw some interesting differences between groups, although our sample size was small. For example, male creators reported increased problem-solving skills over time, while female creators and those who preferred not to give their gender showed increased confidence in learning coding independently.

What do Code Clubs look like?

One of the most interesting findings from the project is just how varied Code Clubs are.

Some clubs focus primarily on one technology, such as Scratch, while others regularly use a range of technologies including Python, web development, robotics, microcontrollers, and physical computing.

Clubs also vary in how projects are chosen:

  • Some are largely mentor-led
  • Some give creators complete freedom to choose their own projects
  • Others use a mixture of both approaches

Despite these differences, mentors expressed remarkably similar values and motivations in relation to their clubs. While clubs differed in their form and delivery, they were united by a shared ethos centred on encouraging creativity and developing soft skills alongside coding skills.

A group of children focused on coding on laptops during a workshop or class.

How are clubs using Code Club projects?

The project also helped us better understand how mentors use Code Club projects. We found that clubs use projects in many different ways, for example:

  • Following projects independently on screen
  • Working through projects together as a group
  • Using printed project guides
  • Combining Code Club projects with their own activities and resources

Many clubs reported using printed resources, highlighting the importance of making projects accessible in different formats.

The data also suggests that clubs making regular use of Code Club projects report higher average scores across a range of outcomes, including problem solving, creative thinking, communication, interest in coding, and confidence. However, further research is needed to understand exactly what factors contribute most strongly to these outcomes.

What else makes a great Code Club experience?

The mentor surveys revealed several common features across clubs. Many mentors reported regularly using:

  • Peer learning and collaboration
  • Creator recognition and celebration
  • Club rules and positive behaviour expectations
  • Opportunities for young people to support each other

Mentors also described activities such as icebreakers, show-and-tell sessions, youth mentoring, and opportunities for young people to share their projects with others.

These approaches may play an important role in helping young people build confidence, creativity, communication skills, and a sense of belonging.

What have we learned from the pilot?

Perhaps the biggest learning from this project is that Code Clubs are incredibly diverse, but they share a common commitment to helping young people learn, create, and grow.

The pilot also helped us:

  • Develop new ways of understanding different types of Code Clubs
  • Test tools for measuring learning outcomes
  • Gather evidence about how young people experience Code Club
  • Identify improvements for future evaluation work

While the study was not able to conclusively demonstrate learning gains over time due to low endline participation, it provided strong foundations for future research and highlighted several promising areas for further investigation.

A woman with long, braided hair is engaging in conversation with a young girl, who is attentively listening. They are seated at a table with a laptop in front of them, in a room decorated with framed pictures.

What’s next?

This is just the beginning.

We’ll be using what we’ve learned to improve our evaluation tools, better understand the different ways clubs operate, and continue exploring how Code Club supports young people’s learning.

Future work will include looking at project data from the Code Editor, gathering more feedback from young people, and finding new ways to make participation easier for clubs.

If you are interested in taking part in future Code Club research, please let us know

Thank you!

A huge thank you to every mentor, creator, partner, and club that contributed to the Code Club Insights pilot.

Your participation has helped us learn more about the amazing work happening in Code Clubs around the world and will help shape the future of Code Club for years to come.