London Youth is the largest and longest running network of youth clubs in the capital, and we’re proud to support them to deliver their Digital Talent programme. The programme gives young people aged 16 to 24 support as they start their careers in London’s growing Tech sector.

Tech is one of the fast-growing sectors in the UK economy, yet too many young people are being left out. Young Londoners face high rates of unemployment, with those from Black, Bangladeshi and Pakistani backgrounds being twice as likely to be unemployed than their white peers.

Our funding has supported 15 young people to join the Digital Talent programme, where they can develop skills employers highly value through training, qualifications, and work experience.

How coding at the Albany changed my life

I first connected with the Albany by joining the Creative Coding Collective, which was twice a week, and later participated in an intensive one-week Advanced Coding Workshop.

Before I started the course, I was interested in coding, but now I’d say I have a passion for it. It’s made me much more disciplined as well. Because I enjoyed it so much, I’ve structured my own personal time to fit more coding in. I’d say I spend at least an hour everyday coding now. You have to put the work in for it to stick in your head and to make good progress.

It’s taught me to be more disciplined with my time in other areas of my life as well. The routine helps. It’s like when you know you have to get something done, and now you have the discipline from doing coding, you can transfer that to pushing yourself forward when you have to complete any task, even if it’s something you don’t want to do.

The trainers were so friendly, helpful and encouraging. Everyone who did the advanced course loved it. It was definitely a motivational atmosphere. I remember one of the trainers, Esther, was encouraging me to apply for jobs. There was one job I didn’t think I could apply for, because it was in a coding language I didn’t know. She encouraged me and said that I would be able to learn very quickly. And I did, thanks to her!

The course didn’t just teach me technical skills - we had to give presentations which helped build my confidence and “soft skills” as well. You feel confident in your knowledge when you feel you can easily communicate what you know to other people. This was a really important part of learning for me. I feel like I’m making progress and moving forward.

The Coding Collective has definitely changed my career trajectory. I studied graphic design at university. When I first graduated, I felt confused and unsure what path to go down. I was working as a studio assistant, and I realised that coding was rapidly becoming more and more important to the industry, for example with web design.

At first, I thought of coding as a big daunting task, but now I know I can do it, and it makes me feel like I can achieve anything.

The Creative Coding Collective was what made me go to the next level, it gave me the push and drive to try different things. Coding is my main focus now. It’s all I think about most of the time!

If I hadn’t done the course I’d probably still be applying for jobs in graphic design, but now I’m really focused on web development. I was able to code my portfolio website all by myself which was a big accomplishment, especially as its still so new to me!

Learn more about the Digital Talent programme at London Youth.