Nationwide International is giving its backing to education in technology with a donation to The Isle of Man Code Club, a weekend meeting point for all ages to advance their knowledge of the latest amazing advances in the world.

Young people, in particular, are taking advantage of the innovative facility at Mount Havelock in Douglas which is aimed at providing a focal point for people of all ages to develop coding skills, share their knowledge and experience and teach others how to use the technology that surrounds us.

The range of activities includes robotics, web design, 3D printing, coding, workshops and numerous ongoing projects.

However, The Code Club is not just for the young, and a warm welcome is offered to all ages to learn about new technology, with a wide variety of classes being staged throughout the year.

Steve Wilson from the Code Club said, “The Code Club will be open for people to meet, take lessons, or just grab a coffee and share ideas, look for inspiration or just talk about tech!”

The aim is to bring Manx coders together, supervised by experts in various fields of technology, once a week - on Saturdays - from 4pm to 6pm.

Steve added, “We’re always looking for people who can teach classes or give sessions on particular subjects. If you want to run a class on a particular speciality we’d love to host you. Likewise, if you want to give a talk on a specific field or speciality, we’d be happy to organise a session with you.”

By organising classes in various disciplines, the Code Club is keen to encourage co-operation between software developers on the Island and to provide events which meet the specific needs of people passionate about technology.

Current courses being offered include Scratch, Lego Mindstorms (thanks to Steve Bradley and Bob Jeavons) and HTML/CSS.

The Code Club is also looking for new volunteers to give their time and share their skills. As it is open to enthusiasts of all ages, the organisation has a Child Protection Policy to ensure a consistent approach towards the security and safety of minors.

Phil Dunne, Managing Director of Nationwide International, added, “We are very impressed by The Code Club. It is an innovative and inspirational venture for all ages, and we are delighted to give our support to the organisation.”

The Club has a number of new projects it would like to deliver, such as starting a drone club, and offers to support the initiative through donations or sponsorship would be gratefully received.

For more information about the Code Club contact Owen on 303765 or email: owen@codeclub.im.