The core objective of the Digital Xtra Fund is to increase the number and range of young people learning digital technologies and computing science related skills through extracurricular activity. Projects must clearly demonstrate how participants will be involved in digital making/creation and what skills they will learn.
Projects are sought which tangibly demonstrate exciting and stimulating ways of engaging young people. In particular, the Digital Xtra Fund is keen to support projects which appeal to:
- young people previously unengaged in digital technologies
- girls and young women
- young people from areas often excluded from digital technologies activities through lack of local facilities/geography (i.e. areas of high deprivation and/or rural isolation)
- young people from other underrepresented groups (i.e. minority ethnic groups or young people with disabilities)
The Digital Xtra Fund is also keen to increase the numbers of young people studying digital technologies or computing science related disciplines and pursuing digital tech careers. Therefore, activities which contextualise the skills learned and promote various pathways into a career in digital tech or computing science are also particularly of interest. Partnerships with other organisations such as industry, local or national government bodies, charities, schools, other extracurricular activity providers, etc. are strongly encouraged to help achieve this aim.