Local families celebrate the launch of Cheltenham coding dojo
On Saturday 9th October, families from across Gloucestershire came together to celebrate the grand opening of a brand-new kids coding studio – Code Ninjas, launched by local dad-of-two and experienced IT specialist, Dafydd Moore. The family-focussed business owner was determined to make it a day to remember for video-game-loving kids in his community.
“Our launch event went amazingly well. We had a great turnout and the kids all had a brilliant time,” explained Dafydd. “After such a positive reaction, I’m so excited for what the future has in store. We want to thank all of the wonderful families who came along to wish us well. We’re over the moon with the positive feedback we’ve already received since the grand opening and have been so happy to see how many ninjas have signed up for activities. The Code Ninjas team and I were proud to welcome so many local families on the day and want to thank them for celebrating our launch with us.”
Code Ninjas is the fastest-growing kids coding brand in the world, with 400 other likeminded business owners, like Dafydd and his wife Mel, launching their own kids coding studios across the US, Canada and, since 2019, the UK. Code Ninjas in Cheltenham is the first of its kind in the county – and a much-needed digital hub for tech-loving kids, like Dafydd and Mel’s own children, living locally.
“We’re based at Gloucestershire College’s Cheltenham campus, within the brand-new cyber training facility – the new site only opened to students a few weeks ago so there’s a lot of exciting developments for the tech-savvy students of Cheltenham. The team at the college have been so welcoming and are really pleased to see our complementary curriculum being delivered from their very own IT hub. We’re proud to partner with such an esteemed provider of primary education and hope that our programme will help their students, and all other children aged 7-14 living in our community, develop their love of gaming and tech,” added Dafydd.
Dafydd and Mel decided to launch their own kids coding studio when searching for coding camps and clubs for their own sons, William, 13, and Oliver, who is 11. The couple are passionate about equipping the next generation of coders with the skills needed to excel in a digital world.
“At Code Ninjas, we want our kids to develop a real passion for technology, so while the programme is loads of fun, it is also very educational. They are learning the language of the future – we want to give kids a gift that lasts a lifetime. I’ve worked in the technology sector for a number of years and so truly believe that technological education is the future. Learning about computers at such a young age is crucial because it helps build the vital foundations for future success,” said Dafydd.
Amongst the crowd on the opening day was Andy Bates, CFO at Gloucestershire College, who launched the official event with a speech on the new era of coding opportunities for children living locally, thanks to the launch of Code Ninjas. The packed schedule of activities, games and competitions then commenced, with children taking part in robot and drone-building challenges – there was even a chance to win a whole host of prizes in the interactive Wheel of Fortune game.
Dafydd and Mel have been overwhelmed by the positive response from kids and parents alike. One parent, Julie, who brought her ten-year-old daughter along on the day, said: "The teachers are amazing, they were patient and professional and they put the children first. They are extremely knowledgeable and fun, they actively listened and are excellent on problem-solving and communication. I would recommend Code Ninjas to anyone - and have been singing their praises to all who listen!"
And one newly enrolled ninja – the name given to students – simply told Dafyyd and Mel that the day was ‘the best party ever!’ on his way out of the door. The Code Ninjas mantra is ‘kids have fun, parents see results®’ – for the Code Ninjas team, this isn’t just a motto, but a commitment.
To sign up or find out more about Code Ninjas, visit: www.codeninjas.co.uk/cheltenham-gls-uk