News

Celebrating Code Project: Bots for Good

24 April 2023 - 3 minute read

Written by Megan Venn-Wycherley, Programme Manager

While the tech industry has revolutionised the world around us, disadvantaged young people frequently confront significant barriers to tech careers, limited by access to resource, finance and professional networks. Altitude Foundation’s Code Project programme aims to address some of these barriers by providing young people aged 13 to 16 across the North East with a springboard to tech careers, through a multi-day hackathon focused on digital skills development, teamwork and industry mentorship.

This year, our Code Project was back with a bang! We invited young people from all across the North East to participate in the Code Project: Bots for Good hackathon. Their challenge? To use their skills to create robots that could tackle real-life issues within their communities. With the assistance of mentors and specialists from Altitude Foundation and Open Lab – Newcastle University, 34 young people worked in teams to design and present innovative tech solutions to problems such as littering, social care, and mental health through social robots.

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But it didn’t end there – young people are supported by those closest to them, including their parents, teachers and communities. To celebrate their all achievements, we invited their family and communities along to the Code Project Showcase to learn more about what they’d created. We had over 65 attendees who came along to learn more – from parents, teachers and university researchers. It was such a great buzz, celebrating what each team had achieved in such a short period of time!

It goes without saying that I’m beyond proud of what the Altitude team have achieved with the Code Project this year. This has been another milestone in our mission to support disadvantaged young people in the North East, and the team have been working tirelessly to deliver innovative programmes and initiatives to empower young people with the skills, knowledge and networks they need to succeed in tech. I can’t wait to see what we achieve next!

However, Altitude cannot achieve this goal alone! Are you an organisation or individual who can provide mentorship, funding or resources? If you are looking to make a difference in the lives of young people in the North East, reach our to us here on LinkedIn or by messaging us at enquiries@altitudefoundation.org. Only through our collective support can we provide disadvantaged young people with the tools and guidance to smash barriers and provide the opportunities they need to succeed in the tech industry and beyond!

Ready to code for change and build bots for good?

7 March 2023 - 2 minute read

The Code Project is back and better than ever!

Code Project: Bots for Good is a free holiday hackathon for young people in Years 9, 10 and 11 across the North East, taking place on April 13th and 14th 2023. During this time, young people will work together in small teams to develop a digital solution to a challenge in their community – using robots!

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The two-day event provides hands-on experience working with digital technologies, developing their programming and making skills. Young people will receive guidance from computing experts in a variety of fields, learn key team working skills and have the chance to showcase their work, allowing them to gain valuable experience and skills that can benefit them in their ongoing education and future plans for work. Young people can get hands-on with physical computing, no matter their skill level and walk away with their very own micro:bit device to keep!

How can you apply?

To apply for the Code Project, young people will need to first fill out an expression of interest form at bit.ly/codeproject2023. After receiving the expression of interest, Altitude will then contact parents and a student-nominated teacher for supporting information for their application.

Based on the information provided, Altitude will then determine if the student is eligible to participate in the Code Project. Students who are accepted will be notified and provided with further information on how to prepare!

Congrats Code Project Cohort of 2022!

10 May 2022 - 2 minute read

Each year, we invite young people to take part in the Altitude Foundation Code Project for a chance to learn more about electronic prototyping and how digital skills can help improve lives around the world. In 2022, our young people were challenged to create digital prototypes that addressed either a challenge for Life on Land or Life under the Sea, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Every two weeks, we would get together virtually to learn more about planning a prototype, writing project proposals, programming and more! Each student contributed amazing and imaginative ideas for how computing could help solve problems such as light pollution, noise pollution, litter on beaches, poaching, overfishing and ocean acidification. 

For our finale, students attended a full day Hackathon at the Centre for Life Making Studio! This was a final chance to finish any programming and designs before trustees and parents were invited to attend the Exhibition! All attendees had a chance to talk to students about their prototypes and how these would address the UN Sustainable Development Goals that were part of the Code Project Challenge.

We’re hoping that students will take the opportunity to showcase their fabulous ideas as part of the Do your:bit Challenge from the micro:bit Foundation, so they can share their ideas even more widely – We can’t wait to see what they get up to next!

Are you a young person aged 14-18 and want to learn more about our programme of activities? Fill in our Registration of Interest form using our Airtable link  https://airtable.com/shrpS7rkDif36eJt5 

Do you want to work in an ambitious new charity based in the North East?

25 April 2022 - 1 minute read

Are you passionate about expanding young people’s STEM horizons? An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, inquisitive STEM Outreach Officer to support Altitude Foundation’s programme delivery, as we seek to become a beacon of excellence in tackling social mobility for young people aged 13-18. 

Continue reading “Do you want to work in an ambitious new charity based in the North East?”

Want to see a real digital workplace in action?

11 April 2022 - 1 minute read

Are you aged 14-18 and living in the North East? Interested in a career in digital, design or video game development?

On 30th May 11-1pm, we’re inviting you to attend our first digital careers event of 2022 to visit Infinity27! Infinity27, a Gateshead-based 3D design and video game company, will be opening their doors to share their exciting tech journeys with us! The event will have us exploring their motion capture studio, a fun demonstration of the virtual reality environments they create and a look at their upcoming game – Samsara!

If you’re already part of the Altitude Foundation programme, you can use your Online Community access to register your place on the trip or if you’ve not joined us before, you can register for a spot here.

The event is completely free to attend and we will organise all transport to and from the event – all you need to bring is yourself!

If you have any questions, contact us via email at enquiries@altitudefoundation.org

National Careers Week 2022

4 March 2022 - 1 minute read

National Careers Week (NCW) is a week dedicated to the celebration of careers guidance and free educational resources across the UK. The Week encourages educators to bring together students, local employers and advisers through careers events and activities.

NCW, organised in partnership with The Natwest Group, has been designed to provide a focus for careers guidance to help support young people leaving education. It takes place at a crucial time in the academic calendar to help students access the best support at the right time.

#NCW2022 takes place from 7th-12th March 2022 – read more about it here!

To find out more about the Altitude Foundation’s careers support see the Digital Careers Gateway.

Launching the Digital Careers Gateway

7 February 2022 - 2 minute read

What is the Digital Careers Gateway?

Are you an undergraduate or postgraduate student studying in a STEM field at a Higher Education Institutions in the North East of England? Interested in a career in tech? Want to build valuable skills and relationships to help you get there?

In 2022, Altitude Foundation are launching a new, fully-funded programme to support students to develop vital  personal and professional skills to support them in their onwards transition to future study and employment. The programme will run between February and June 2022.

What is involved in the Digital Careers Gateway programme?

Through the Digital Careers Gateway, we aim to support students to develop vital employability skills by providing mentorship in CV writing, job applications, and presentation skills alongside our staff and professional volunteers.

The Digital Careers Gateway programme also offers students access to mentors from local tech companies in the North East who can provide employment guidance and specialist knowledge of the digital sector in the local region. 

Digital Careers Gateway participants will also have the opportunity to volunteer at our school-oriented events. Here, you will get hands-on with fun educational technology, and work with young people from areas of socio-economic deprivation in the North East, encouraging these young people to develop digital skills through your own passions and knowledge of computing!

Who can apply?

All applicants need to be studying towards the completion of a STEM degree within a Higher Education Institution in the North East of England (Newcastle University, Northumbria University, Durham University, Teesside University or Sunderland University). We welcome students from any stage of their degree, both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

If you have any questions about the Digital Careers Gateway programme, please email info@altitudefoundation.org

If you would like to apply to the scheme, please use the following application form . As we have limited places available, applicants will be subject to a screening process.

The Code Project

22 November 2021 - 2 minute read

The Altitude Foundation Code Project is here! 

What is the Code Project?

The Code Project is a structured activity where participants attend a series of workshops where they will design, program and build a working product prototype with support from  Altitude Foundation staff, university and industry volunteers. The prototype, made using the BBC micro:bit, will help tackle real world issues faced by participants and their communities. Final projects will receive feedback and awards from an expert panel of industry professionals, education partners and Altitude Foundation trustees!

The project gives participants the chance to exercise agency, planning, determination and creativity – skills that professional developers use.

When is the Code Project happening?

The Code Project will launch on 11th February 2022 and will close on 15th July 2022. Our Code Project runs in tandem with the Micro:bit Educational Foundation’s ‘do your :bit challenge’. Do your :bit is a global micro:bit challenge for 8 – 18 year olds that pulls together creativity and technology to come up with solutions for the Global Goals.

Where will the Code Project take place?

The Code Project workshops will be hosted both in-person and online, with some taking place at Durham University. This gives participants the opportunity to experience university-style learning and engage with current university students. 

Who can take part in the Code Project?

The Code Project is open to students in Year 9, 10 and 11. Priority will be given based on the following Altitude selection criteria:

  • Attending a target school
  • Pupil Premium eligible;
  • Young Carer;
  • Care Experienced;
  • EHC plan in place;
  • Receiving SEN support;
  • Living in a neighbourhood which has a high level of financial, employment or education deprivation.

How can I take part in the Code Project?

Students who want to take part in the Code Project can apply by filling out this form: Code Project Registration. Following this, will seek supporting information from the student’s parent/carer and nominated school contact. 

The deadline for student applications is 21st January 2022.

The deadline for supporting information is 28th January 2022.

We’re so excited for the launch of the Code Project! In the meantime, we are happy to answer any questions via email, telephone or social media.

Get in touch with us!

Email: 1600@altitudefoundation.org

Tel: 0191 345 4420

Twitter and Instagram: @altitude_ne

Read our Code Project brochure!

We’re hiring!

27 July 2021 - 1 minute read

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, innovative and passionate Programme Manager to take the charity’s intervention programmes to the next level as we emerge from the pandemic and tackle post-covid educational disadvantage.

Continue reading “We’re hiring!”

What can we learn from the pandemic about designing the interventions of the future?

27 May 2021 - 1 minute read

In the first of an occasional blog series, we look at what the pandemic has taught us about the future of social mobility work.

Few organisations can claim to have been fully ready for the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the country over the last 15 months. At Altitude, until very recently, our meeting room still had a Coronavirus risk assessment flipchart on the wall that envisaged disruption lasting only until the summer holidays.

Continue reading “What can we learn from the pandemic about designing the interventions of the future?”

Could you be our new Programme Officer?

26 April 2021 - 2 minute read

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, inquisitive and passionate Programme Officer to support Altitude’s programme delivery.

We are looking for a talented Programme Officer to deliver meaningful change for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Region. This role would be particularly suited to a recent or upcoming graduate, and will suit anyone interested in tackling social challenges, developing the workforce of tomorrow, and contributing to the success of the Region’s digital economy.

You will primarily be responsible for assisting the Programme Manager to deliver Altitude’s activities, developing our offer to create high-impact interventions that nurture participants’ digital skills and knowledge of the Regional tech economy. Coding activities will particularly focus on developing participants’ knowledge of Python and Javascript using the Micro:bit, an open source computer education tool. You will apply tried and tested pedagogical techniques, to enhance the impact of the activities you are involved in.

The role is designed as a comprehensive one-year package, to help you further develop the skills, attributes and abilities that will support you to excel and flourish in your future career. You will gain in-depth skills and experiences through delivering all aspects of our programme and through dedicated training. Your colleagues will be committed to ensuring you get the most out of this opportunity, aligned with your own personal career objectives.

Does this sound like you? We’d love to hear from you!

To submit an application, please send a CV and completed application grid to applications@altitudefoundation.org. You can find the application grid here. Please note that your application will not be considered without a completed grid setting out how you meet the person specification. You can read the full advert at the link below.

Applications close at 11:30pm on Sunday 20th June 2021. 

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Altitude Announces School Holiday Project for 13-18 Year Olds

28 February 2021 - 1 minute read

As the Government confirms that schools will return to full in-person teaching from 8th March, Altitude Foundation continues to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop their programming and coding skills. We are offering to support ten teams of up to three young people aged 13-18 to take part in this year’s do Your :bit project, from the micro:bit Foundation.

Continue reading “Altitude Announces School Holiday Project for 13-18 Year Olds”

Join our Team!

11 January 2021 - 1 minute read

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our team as Altitude’s new Events and Communications Manager! We are looking for a dynamic, innovative and committed candidate to help us to develop our profile, reach our audience and deliver high-quality events and interventions for our programme participants.

Continue reading “Join our Team!”