During the October half-term MadLab ran seven sold-out workshops in central Stockport, all with a focus on digital making skills.

Aimed at families living in and around the town centre, we welcomed 120 people over three brilliant and busy days - who rated each activity 10/10 on average (thank you!)

Taking place in Stockport Museum to coincide with Digitober, we kicked things off with Get Coding with micro:bit, to make a Rock, Paper, Scissors game. Every 7-12 year old was given a free micro:bit, which they coded themselves and then sent into fierce battle.

"Absolutely brilliant fun and so great to be able to learn with the children so that I can help at home (not that he needs it though!)" - Parent

‍Save the World with Minecraft was led by Alan O'Donohoe. Now if you don’t know Alan, he’s a bit of a big deal in digital making education. Thousands of teachers have used Alan’s resources for teaching computing; he was one of the first DfE Computing at School master teachers, and is the founder of both Raspberry Jam and Hack To The Future. He’s also featured regularly in The Guardian, TES, The Sunday Times and on the BBC.

Alan showed over two dozen Minecraft fans and their families how to set-up and run Minecraft Pi Edition - an education-edition of the popular sandbox game for the mini-computer Raspberry Pi.

"I never knew you could run Minecraft on a Raspberry Pi!" - Parent

We wrapped up with Build Your Own Robot, led by Gizmobot’s Mark Haig, making robots from e-waste. There were colourful wires for hair, alligator clips for hands, cogs and buttons for eyes, speakers for hats and a range of fancy-dress robot clothes made of keyboard keys, ribbon cables and broken motherboards.

‍"Great skills for the kids to learn and lots of fun."  - Parent

We wanted to encourage creativity, get children thinking about reuse and recycling and introduce them to new ways of engaging with technology. As MadLab’s (newly-appointed) Junior Developer Joy Morris says:

‍"It gave them a chance to see that technology is not just an iPad interface. There’s a whole new level of physical tech you can get creative with. A great reminder in the face of current fears that AI is going to steal our creativity."

This programme - like many we run - is about supporting communities to understand and create, rather than simply use, technology.

It’s also about shoring up access to an arts education for children (and families) - in an environment where arts funding in state schools has been eroded and devalued. We strongly believe that urgent action needs to be taken, in order to provide better opportunities for future talent.

We have more workshops lined up for children, teens and adults in the coming months. Subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on social media to get involved! 

This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.