Announcing Code Xtra, a new strategy for Digital Xtra
Since 2016, Digital Xtra has awarded over £1,189,000 in grant awards to 210 computing initiatives across Scotland. In turn, our grant recipients have positively engaged tens of thousands of children and young people in coding, robotics, machine learning, cyber, and games development while also highlighting the future career opportunities these skills provide. The equipment and training purchased has also laid the groundwork to engage tens of thousands more. We are very proud of this achievement and are extremely appreciative of the hard work and dedication from our grant recipients, as well as our Partners and Supporters, without whom none of this would have been possible. We are grateful to everyone who has helped make such a difference over the past ten grant cycles.
Through the grant awards programme, Digital Xtra has been a part of many fantastic initiatives and ideas. We have acquired a clear idea of what works well and what could be improved to further develop Scotland’s ecosystem of extracurricular tech and coding clubs. Digital Xtra will now take these lessons and apply them to a new phase for the charity, one that we believe will create a larger and more sustainable impact on non-formal digital learning in Scotland’s communities. We call this strategy ‘Code Xtra’ and it will replace the charity’s grant awards programme for the foreseeable future.
Under this new strategy, Digital Xtra will develop a national network of community coding hubs hosted by select delivery partners. In turn, each hub will support the start-up and scale-up of other coding and tech clubs in their local area in three ways:
deliver computing science and AI activities for the local community
provide instruction and guidance for local educators
act as a lending library with equipment and resources
Expressions of interest are now open for community-based organisations who may be interested in hosting a Code Xtra community coding hub. Each coding hub will be provided with a suite of cutting-edge LEGO Education equipment and resources, micro:bits and accessories, as well as ongoing training and support. More information can be found here and an online information session will also take place on 3 Feb (the registration link can be found on Digital Xtra's website).
Please note: Expressions of Interest for the first tranche closed on 26 February 2026.