Dell EMC & Barnardos Announce Details on Limerick Code Work Club

Dell EMC Ireland has launched a series of Code Work Clubs in Limerick, Cork and Dublin developed in partnership with the company’s charity partner, Barnardos Children’s Charity. The Code Work Clubs are delivered weekly in communities where Dell EMC operates in Limerick, Cork and Dublin. The first of the sessions ran in late 2017 and early 2018 and acted as a pilot programme to refine the curriculum.

To date the Code Work Clubs have been introduced in Barnardos centres in Limerick, Cork and Dublin with students in each county completing one eight week course and over 40 young people participating in the programme to date. This is the second term of the Code Work Clubs in Roxboro, Limerick.

Dell EMC recognised that Barnardos has a network of well-established homework clubs and friendship clubs throughout the country where young people could benefit from an introduction to digital skills. With this in mind the Code Work Clubs were established by Dell EMC team members who created a new, interactive curriculum to empower today’s young people to become tomorrow’s innovators. Team members from Dell EMC lead the sessions and are on-hand to teach the children essential coding skills and help them to understand the advantages of computer literacy.

Denis Kelly, Senior VP, Global Consumer Services and Site Leader at Dell EMC Limerick said: “We are delighted to work closely with Barnardos to address the growing digital divide that exists in Irish society. It’s important for us as a company to reach out and directly work with the young people in all parts of the community to help them develop their coding skills as these young people are our future leaders. It’s exciting and a great achievement for them to see their own progression as they move onto a higher level each week. Our team members have embraced the new Code Work Clubs and are the driving force behind their establishment. By partnering with Barnardos, they are leaving a legacy of good for children in disadvantaged communities.”

Suzanne Connolly, Barnardos CEO said: “Our partnership with Dell EMC has had a number of positive impacts on the children we work with, through the Code Work Clubs in Limerick, Cork and Dublin in particular. Code Work Clubs have provided the children with key digital skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. We were delighted also, that the children got to experience a visit to the Dell EMC campus for an end of term tour which was incredibly beneficial for them as it opened up a world of possibility and instilled aspirations for their future.

The open approach that the company is taking in terms of delivering the course is helping the young people achieve great things on a weekly basis. We are delighted to have the opportunity to work together to harness the skills of the Dell EMC team to help improve digital literacy amongst children.”

Three Code Work Clubs have been established to date in Knocknaheeny in Cork, Roxboro in Limerick and Finglas in Dublin.

For more information on the clubs, visit https://www.barnardos.ie/how-you-can-help/fundraising/corporate-support/why-partner-with-us/meet-our-partners.