Coding, creativity, and community spirit: The story of Code Club Wirral

Since 2017, Code Club Wirral has been sparking curiosity, creativity, and confidence among hundreds of young people on the Wirral in Cheshire. This star club runs every Thursday evening, when Wallasey Library transforms into a bustling hub of discovery and lines of code turn into games, animations, and laughter.

A man and a young girl sitting at a computer station in a library, both smiling. The girl is using a computer mouse while the man looks on supportively.

Led by volunteer John, the club welcomes around 15 young people and their parents/carers each week. Though the club advertises for ages 9 to 13, even younger children — some as young as five — have joined in with enthusiasm and help from a parent.

Over the years, John estimates that around 800 young people have attended the sessions, not including those met through outreach at local MakeFests.

“We’ve seen children grow in skill and confidence, and parents too! Every session brings a new spark of creativity and it’s amazing to see families travel from across the Wirral — sometimes over seven miles — just to join us,” says John.

A volunteer standing behind two children working on a computer at Code Club Wirral, with a table displaying a water bottle and notes in a library setting.

From parent to leader: How it all began

John’s journey into Code Club started, fittingly, with his own children. “I first took them to a Code Club at Seacombe Library, run by a brilliant team of volunteers,” he recalls. “The projects and resources from Code Club were fantastic; they really clicked with the kids. That’s when I decided to volunteer myself.”

With encouragement from librarian Elaine, and with a group of dedicated volunteers, John launched Code Club Wirral at Wallasey Library in 2017, and it has grown steadily ever since.

“It’s amazing how something as simple as sharing a coding project can open up a whole world of learning and confidence,” John reflects.

A group of six Code Club volunteers standing in a library, wearing matching t-shirts, smiling and posing for a photo.

Libraries and learning: A perfect partnership

Wirral Libraries have played a key role in Code Club’s success.The partnership has flourished over the years, with libraries providing both the space and the spirit that make the sessions special.

“The libraries serve as vital community hubs,” John explains. “The IT suites are perfect for Code Club, and we’ve built great connections with other clubs, creators, and volunteers through the library network.”

For Emma, one of the librarians at Wallasey Library, Code Club fits seamlessly with the library’s mission:

“It supports our learning and engagement and digital strategies,” she says. “We’re developing skills in a young demographic — building confidence, learning, transferable skills, and employability.”

And it’s not just coding that draws people in. When the club is in session, the atmosphere is bustling and engaged. Young people and parents often end up exploring books, borrowing micro:bits, and signing up for other library competitions and events.

The impact on young people and their families

The impact of Code Club Wirral is felt deeply by those who attend. For Erin, eight, Code Club is a highlight of her week. “It’s fun, chilled and relaxing,” she says proudly. “My first project was Ghostbusters. I was really proud of it. I didn’t think I’d do that well!”

Parents notice the difference, too. Hannah, who brings her son and daughter to Code Club and has been attending for eight weeks, says: “I thought they’d need more help, but they’re doing things I couldn’t do. Watching them solve challenges on their own, it’s fantastic.”

These stories echo what makes Code Club so special: it’s not just about learning to code, but about building resilience, creativity, and independence, and all in a supportive, community-driven environment.

A young boy interacts with a computer while an adult, partly visible, observes him, both engaged in a coding session at a library.

A ripple effect across the Wirral

Since its first session in 2017, Code Club Wirral has done more than teach digital skills; it’s built a network of collaboration and curiosity that extends far beyond the library walls.

The club’s influence can be felt in the community: from parents discovering their children’s hidden talents, to librarians expanding their digital outreach, to volunteers forming lasting partnerships.

John, the volunteer team and the Wirral Libraries team show how a simple idea like sharing coding with young people can grow into something powerful and lasting.

Want to start your own Code Club?

If you’ve been inspired by Wirral’s Code Club story, visit codeclub.org to learn how you can start a club in your community or library.

Keeping young people safe: Top tips and useful resources

John McAtominey leads our work supporting Code Clubs in the UK, and is part of the safeguarding team at the Raspberry Pi Foundation. He also runs a Code Club in his local community, Selby CoderDojo. Here he shares his top tips and highlights some useful resources to help you keep your creators and mentors safe.

A group of children and mentors at a Code Club event, holding colorful signs that say 'Be Cool', 'Join the Club', 'We Made This', and '{code club}'. They are smiling and posing together in a classroom setting.

All Code Clubs running around the world in schools, libraries, and community spaces are unique. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to safety, but here are some key things to consider. It is important to think about other ways to make your club as safe as possible too!

Understanding and managing risks

Take a moment to think about any risks that might affect people in your club — and, most importantly, what you can do to reduce or remove these risks. Risks could include damaged electrical cables, or not having a way to block inappropriate content online. Create a risk assessment for your club — we have an example risk assessment you can use to help you get started. Work on your risk assessment as a group of mentors, review it regularly, and make sure it is always available. You can find out more about our health and safety guidelines here.

A template for a risk assessment form designed for Code Clubs, including sections for hazards, at-risk individuals, current measures, and actions to control risks.

Safeguarding sponsors

Depending on where your club meets, you might have been asked to nominate a safeguarding sponsor. A safeguarding sponsor is someone with experience of safeguarding outside of the club and who has undertaken safeguarding training recently. Safeguarding sponsors should visit the club regularly, giving you support and advice on how to keep everyone safe. If it has been a while since their last visit, invite them to your next session and discuss what is going well and what might need improving. You can find out more about safeguarding sponsors here.

Background checks

A background check is an important way to check that someone is suitable to work with young people. All Code Club leaders and mentors should have an up-to-date background check specific to their region or country. If any club leaders or mentors involved in your club do not have a background check, it is important you act now to get them in place. You can find out more about background checks here, including specific guidance for club leaders and mentors in the UK and Republic of Ireland. If you are not sure about background checks in your country, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

As a club leader, you can also ask a new mentor to provide you with two references. A referee should be someone who is not related to the mentor and has known them for a reasonably long time. Work colleagues, line managers, and other people they have volunteered with are great choices. You should contact the referees to check they believe the mentor is honest, reliable, responsible, and suitable to work with young people.

Training

Having well-trained mentors who know how to support young people, how to spot signs a young person might be at risk, and what to do if they have a concern is critically important! At Code Club, we have a great safeguarding e-learning module that covers the key things you need to know. We also have a helpful mentoring e-learning module where you can learn more about different club activities, mentoring styles, the support and resources we have available, and more. These free e-learning modules are brilliant for all mentors involved in Code Clubs!

A digital interface of a safeguarding module from Code Club showcasing various topics related to child safeguarding, including a navigation menu on the left and colorful illustrations of three diverse characters on the right.

Code of behaviour

It is important that mentors know how they are expected to behave at Code Club — and it is helpful to talk about both the behaviours that will help make sure your Code Club is a safe, positive space, and the behaviours to avoid! Check out our handy mentor code of behaviour and share it with your team so everyone knows what is expected.

Registration forms

Having a registration form for your Code Club sessions makes it easier to manage numbers of creators and find out if creators require any support to access the sessions. It is also a good way to collect extra details like food allergies if your club activities will involve food, and to safely check people in and out of each session.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned and you may need to contact a parent or carer quickly. That’s why it is important to also collect emergency contact information in your registration form, even if a parent or carer stays for the session.

The Code Club platform allows you to create events that participants can register to attend. You can capture important information about participants, check participants in and out of sessions, and more, and it is completely free to use!. Log in to your dashboard to set up your next event.

Screenshot of the Code Club dashboard showing options to manage clubs, training, and support resources.

Posters

If a creator does not feel safe or happy, or they are worried about someone else, they might not know who to talk to. You can help by displaying our ‘Safe and happy’ posters, which you can customise for your club. You can download a PDF, edit a copy in Google Slides, or use the Canva template to make your own, then print and display them in your club venue.
If your Code Club is in the Republic of Ireland, you will need to display a child safeguarding statement that includes a risk assessment and key contact details. We have created a template guide (available as a Microsoft Word file (.docx) or a PDF) that you can download, which also includes links to additional guidance from Tusla.

What is in creators’ projects?

If something is not right in a creator’s life, they might not tell you, but you might see something in their projects that concerns you. They might express how they feel, or replicate behaviours they have seen at home, through their projects. As great mentors, you will already be talking to them about what they are working on, but if you see something that doesn’t look right, it is important to know what to do.

Creators use lots of platforms to build their projects. Some let them share projects so others can build on their work or add comments. This can be really positive, but there’s a risk someone could add inappropriate content to their project. The NSPCC have great resources you can use to help creators stay safe online, but you could consider switching off social features or using teacher or educator accounts where available

Knowing how to deal with a concern

If you have seen or heard something that doesn’t look right, it is important not to panic. The team at the Raspberry Pi Foundation is here to support you. We have created a guide on how to deal with safeguarding concerns — read it, share it with your mentors, and keep a copy at your Code Club.

For more resources to help make sure your Code Club offers a safe, positive environment for young people, take a look at our ‘Keeping everyone safe’ page and our safeguarding policy. If you have other ideas on how we can help keep young people safe, please contact us!

How to begin your Code Club session

Welcome to your Code Club session! The first few minutes of any session are a perfect chance to get everyone settled and ready for some fun. By using a few simple activities, you can create a great atmosphere where every club member feels comfortable and excited to start coding.

To ensure everything runs smoothly and safely, be sure to use a “session checklist” to plan what you need to do before, during, and after each session.

Activities for your first session

Some activities are best for your very first session. These are about setting up a great environment for the rest of your Code Club’s journey.

Work together to create a session routine

Setting up a positive and productive Code Club starts with involving your young creators in making the rules. This is a great icebreaker that gives them a sense of ownership. During this first session, spend about ten minutes asking the kids for their ideas on how the club should run. You can then use our “Club rules” template or let them get creative by drawing their own posters to display the rules. This helps create a fun, safe space where everyone can learn and thrive.

Discuss how to help each other

The best Code Clubs are built on a foundation of mutual support. At the start of a session, take a moment to set some ground rules on how to help each other. Talk about what to do when you get stuck. You can use the motto “Ask three, then me” to encourage young people to try to solve problems on their own before asking a mentor. Also, discuss how to give helpful feedback when testing each other’s projects. This creates a supportive and collaborative environment where everyone can do their best.

Activities for any session

These activities are great for kicking off any regular Code Club session, once you have your initial club rules and routine in place.

Use an icebreaker

An icebreaker is a quick, 15-minute activity. It’s a great way to start your Code Club session, helping everyone get to know each other and switch their focus from other activities. We suggest using an “unplugged” activity” — one that doesn’t require a computer — to help them transition.

Showcase a finished project

If your club is all working on the same project, a great way to start is by showing your creators the finished product they’ll be building. Our projects include a completed example just for this purpose, but you can also show one you made yourself. Seeing the final result gives creators a clear goal and can even spark ideas for how they can make the project their own.

A child engages with a laptop displaying a coding program, while a sign reading 'We made this' is prominently featured in the background.

Demonstrate a tricky section of code

Before the session, look for a part of the project that might be tricky for your creators. Taking a few minutes to show them a new idea — like how to layer code blocks or use a specific function — can be very helpful. This type of short demonstration gives creators the confidence to work more independently.

Explore projects together

Before a session, think about the projects your club will work on. The Code Club projects page has been updated with a fresh, new look and is filled with projects on a variety of topics, like space, art, and games. You can explore these together with your club to find the perfect projects for your group.

Explore the Code Club Leaders’ guide for more tips and information on getting your sessions up and running smoothly.

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