Helpful Tips

Can I start a Code Club? Here’s what you need to know

It’s a common question we hear from teachers, parents, and volunteers around the world: Can I start a Code Club? The answer is simple: yes, you can.

If you’re excited about helping young people turn their ideas into games, animations, and websites, you already have the spark that makes a great Code Club mentor. Starting a Code Club isn’t about being a professional programmer. It’s about creating a welcoming and inclusive space where young people can explore, experiment, and build their confidence.

Children learning at computers in a classroom setting, with an instructor guiding them; text overlay says 'Join the club'.

Who can start a Code Club?

One of the best things about Code Club is that it’s community-powered. Clubs are started by classroom teachers, librarians, youth workers, university students, parents, and industry volunteers. Some leaders have technical backgrounds. Many don’t.

What they share isn’t expert knowledge — it’s enthusiasm and commitment.

“I started running a Code Club when my son was seven because I wanted to understand what this whole programming and coding world was about. I’m not a coder, but I realised I didn’t need to know everything.” – Rachael Coultart, Stevenage, UK

Young people don’t need an expert at the front of the room. They need encouragement, patience, and someone who believes in them.

What do you need to start a Code Club?

Starting a Code Club is often much simpler than people expect. At its heart, you need a safe space, a regular meeting time, and access to computers or tablets. Many clubs run in schools, libraries, and community centres. Some start small — just a handful of creators and a couple of devices — and grow over time.

Consistency matters more than scale. Meeting once a week, or once or twice a month helps build routine and momentum. Over time, the club becomes something young people look forward to — a space that feels different from a typical lesson, where creativity and fun is encouraged.

“Since starting Code Club, I’ve seen students discover strengths they don’t always show at school. Quiet students became leaders, and new partnerships turned into friendships. It showed me how vital it is to create opportunities where all students can succeed and belong.” – Stephanie MacPhail, Bloomington, USA

A man and a young girl engage in a learning activity at a table in a library, surrounded by bookshelves filled with children's books.

Do you need to be a coding expert?

It’s completely natural to wonder if you know enough. Code Clubs thrive when mentors bring different skills, experiences, and perspectives to encourage young creators. We provide free resources such as project guides, certificates, and posters, and we offer support through online workshops, community events, and an online help desk.

Saying, “Let’s work it out together”, shows young people that not knowing is part of learning. When something doesn’t work the first time, it becomes an opportunity to practise resilience. Code Club leaders are there to guide and encourage creators through the process, not provide instant answers.

“The mistakes and the debugging — we learned together. That shared process, sticking with projects week after week and figuring things out side by side, has been really powerful.” – Rachael Coultart, Stevenage, UK

Why start a Code Club in your community?

Starting a Code Club is about more than teaching coding skills. It’s about empowering young people to become creative thinkers and resilient learners 

When young people realise they can design their own games, build their own websites, and bring their ideas to life, something shifts. For many creators, Code Club is the first time they see themselves as someone who can code.

“It makes me proud to know that I’ve made something because I used to think: I’m never going to be able to do that!… I like making games, creating stories. I’m working with the Raspberry Pi today because it looks fun.” – Alex (10), CoderDojo, Barbican Library

These moments are why so many volunteers decide to start a Code Club and stay with us.

A young student in a green school uniform proudly points at a computer screen displaying a coding interface, showcasing a project he created.

How to get started with Code Club

If you’re considering starting a Code Club, begin with a few simple steps. Choose a venue, decide on a regular time, and think about the age group you’d like to support. Once you open your doors, keep the focus on making the space welcoming, inclusive, and creative.

You don’t need everything figured out before you start. Many leaders say the hardest part was simply taking that first step.

So, can you start a Code Club?

Yes!

Start small. Keep it consistent. Celebrate every success. Get started and run a Code Club in your community. 

Full Stack Vision Foundation: Empowering the next generation of Caribbean creators through Code Club

Full Stack Vision Foundation, a Code Club partner, is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to create the foundations for knowledge in the digital sector and provide opportunities for children in the Caribbean through activities like Code Club.

Ruhee Shah, Global Partnerships Coordinator at the Raspberry Pi Foundation, spoke to Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation, about their work and how Code Clubs are inspiring the next generation of coders in the Caribbean.

Engaging the next generation of Caribbean makers

Since launching in 2022, Full Stack Vision Foundation has grown from a single library session in Oranjestad to a thriving network of ten clubs. The foundation is driven by a “full-stack” philosophy,  meaning it works on every level of the community, from youth programs to regional digital strategy. 

To engage young people who might not initially see themselves as “coders”, Bruce uses technology that feels relevant to their daily lives. By using Raspberry Pis and BBC micro:bits to build wildlife cameras or retro gaming consoles, he demonstrates the practical uses of these tools for islanders. He often demonstrates to coders how these devices can solve real-world problems, such as a Pi-powered door opener for a family member with limited mobility or a micro:bit “Heart Listener.”

“Our ecosystem of Code Clubs have no boundaries: we have 7-year-olds doing microbits, parents joining in learning to Scratch, university students helping out in sessions and teachers getting inspired to learn.” – Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation

For Bruce, tailoring content to the local context is a core part of the learning experience. When using the Experience AI curriculum, clubs analyse pollution data from Aruba. In Scratch, a project about growing sugar is adapted to focus on the aloe vera plant. These cultural and historical contact points help creators see themselves as part of a global movement that respects local roots.

“The word ‘resilience’ has a special meaning for us islanders. Raspberry Pis and Code Club are the building blocks for a sustainable future.” – Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation

Building pathways to STEM careers

The impact of Code Club is evident in the individual journeys of the participants. Former mentors and students are now using their Code Club experience as a foundation for higher education and international STEM competitions. For example, Jean-Luc transitioned from mentoring into university, and Ruart secured a top spot in a global robotics competition. Another creator, Gervinio, started as a CoderDojo “Ninja” and was inspired to pursue studies at Instituto Pedagogico Arubano with a focus on cybersecurity.

“We want to see more of these stories and hope to benchmark these journeys as a whole.” – Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation

Two young individuals engage with a red laptop during a collaborative activity at a table, one with glasses looking focused, while the other holds a green box and observes.

Building a Caribbean-wide network

Looking ahead, the Full Stack Vision Foundation has ambitious plans to continue growing its digital ecosystem. This year, they established the Caribbean’s first Raspberry Pi Lab at the EduCampus Code Club, providing a dedicated space for more advanced making and experimentation.

By building partnerships with organisations like UNESCO and the University of the West Indies, Bruce is helping to connect the region through a shared digital language. To support their mission of uniting the region, they are also launching codeclubcaribbean.org. This new platform will serve as a hub to share stories and resources, helping to onboard new clubs in islands like Barbados, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten.

“Giving young people the ability to make, create, and sustain technological solutions is what the Caribbean wants.”
– Bruce Harms, Founder and President of Full Stack Vision Foundation

A young boy sitting at a table with a laptop, interacting with an adult man who is helping him with a device. Several individuals are visible in the background, engaged in various activities.

Inspired by the work in Full Stack Vision Foundation’s work in the Caribbean? Find out more on how to run your own Code Club.

From Code Club to Coolest Projects: Taking the next step

At Code Club, projects are a vehicle for something bigger. Whether creators are building a Scratch animation, designing a website, or experimenting with an AI project like Chomp the Cheese, the real value often lies in what they learn along the way.

Signing up for Coolest Projects 2026 gives this development a clear focus and a fun and inspiring goal to work towards.

Building confidence through sharing

When young people know they’re preparing a project to share beyond their own club, they take greater ownership of their work and spend more time refining their ideas. As they practise explaining what they’ve created, their confidence grows.

Coolest Projects isn’t about being the most advanced or technically complex. It’s about recognising effort, creativity, and progress. For many creators, submitting a project is the first time they see their work acknowledged on a wider stage, and that experience can be transformative.

“Over the years, I’ve learned how to approach projects when working on them… I’m starting a 3D printing project with LEDs and I want to use AI with it now after seeing it today.” – Amy, 13

Two girls in knitted hats wearing blue shirts labeled 'CREATOR' work on a laptop at a table with a man, who is wearing a shirt with the Raspberry Pi Foundation logo.

Strengthening communication skills

Preparing their project encourages creators to pause and think about their work — what it does, how they built it, and what they’re most proud of.

Talking about their project, whether in a short description or a conversation, gives them the chance to practise explaining their ideas clearly. That process helps build confidence in sharing their thinking and often leads to helpful discussions about how they could improve or develop it further.

Connecting to a wider community

Just being in a Code Club means you already feel part of a community. Coolest Projects expands that sense of belonging by showing creators they are part of a global network of young digital makers.

Seeing the variety of projects submitted each year can be inspiring. It helps young people recognise that there isn’t one “right” kind of project, just different ideas, perspectives, and approaches.

“It’s nice to see all the different projects people have made…I want to keep working on my project, and I will definitely come back next year.” – Peter, 11

Group of children smiling on stage, wearing matching blue t-shirts, holding white bags, with a large 'SCRATCH' logo displayed in the background.

Inspiring pride and motivation

Taking part in Coolest Projects creates a natural milestone. It gives creators a reason to persevere when something isn’t working and a moment to feel proud when it is.

For some, it may be a first AI experiment. For others, a simple website or game they’ve steadily improved. Whatever the format, submitting a project reinforces that their ideas are worth developing and sharing.

That pride often leads to renewed motivation to try something more ambitious next time, to build on what they’ve learned, and to keep creating.

“I liked trying out new stuff and looking at people’s projects because most of them were interesting and it inspired me to start web design (html & css)!” – Raj, 14

Coolest Projects 2026 is open for registrations. Find an in-person event near you, or join our global virtual event this summer. 

If your Code Club is already building projects, you’re well on your way. Signing up is simply the next step in recognising the confidence, communication, and creativity your creators are already developing every week.