Grants totalling £100,000 have been awarded by Digital Xtra Fund to more than 20 extracurricular programmes across Scotland, in a bid to create the next generation of digital experts. 

The programmes are designed to support some of Scotland’s hardest-to-reach young people and improve digital skills in areas such as coding, data science and computer-based problem-solving.

Grant award recipients for 2019 include:

• Wear-a:bits, which introduces the basics of coding through wearable technology to young people from areas of Glasgow facing multiple deprivation.

• STEAM Ahead, an initiative to teach coding and digital creativity at libraries in the Outer Hebrides.

• Resilient Robotics, an Islay-based initiative designed to develop young people’s perseverance when building robots – a process that can sometimes require a lot of trial and error. Resources for Resilient Robotics will also be made available in Gaelic.  

Created in 2016, the goal of Digital Xtra Fund is for young people across Scotland to have access to digitally creative activities to increase the number of young people entering highly skilled digital careers, bridging the current skills gap in Scotland.

Read the full story: FutureScot