FAMILIES flocked to the heart of Boscombe to celebrate the grand opening of a brand-new kids coding studio – Code Ninjas.

Launched by local STEM guru Neil Carrington, the family-focused business owner was determined to make Saturday September 11 a day to remember for videogame-loving kids in his community.

Amongst the crowd on the opening day was the Chairman of BCP Council Nigel Hedges and the mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor David Kelsey, the latter of which kicked off the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Neil said: “It’s amazing to see how our ninjas - the name we give to our students - are progressing in our dojo during these tough times. Last year was challenging for everyone but for kids it will have been especially difficult.

“To be able to celebrate the launch of the first kids coding hub in our community now that restrictions have eased was a real highlight.

“The Code Ninjas team and I were proud to welcome so many local families on the day and want to thank them for celebrating our launch with us.”

Children were invited to participate in a whole host of fun activities including robot building, drone piloting, video-game creation and other STEM challenges.

Bournemouth Echo: The Chairman of BCP Council Nigel Hedges and the mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor David Kelsey attended the opening of Code Ninjas inside the Science Zone at the Royal Arcade in Boscombe on Saturday September 11

With the Code Ninjas coding studio based inside the Science Zone at the Royal Arcade in Boscombe town centre, families took full advantage of the engaging and exciting activities on offer.

Neil added: “At Code Ninjas, we want our kids to develop a real passion for technology, so while the whole programme is loads of fun, it is also very educational. They are learning the language of the future - we want to give kids a gift that lasts a lifetime.

“Having worked in the community as a STEM specialist for a number of years, I truly believe that technological education is the future. That’s why we aim to teach children aged five to 14 to think and solve STEM problems using coding, engineering and robotics.

“Learning about computers at such a young age is crucial because it helps build the vital foundations for future success.”

Bournemouth Echo: The Chairman of BCP Council Nigel Hedges and the mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor David Kelsey attended the opening of Code Ninjas inside the Science Zone at the Royal Arcade in Boscombe on Saturday September 11

One parent, Emma Rose, who brought her children along on the day.

She said: "What a great experience. My six-year-old and 12-year-old loved it - and so did I.

“I can't wait to bring them back. They tailored the sessions to the interest of the children, which was great."

Code Ninjas in Boscombe is the first of its kind in the town – and a much-needed digital hub for tech-loving kids living locally.

The Boscombe business are also hosting Parents’ Night Out evening, where parents drop their children off with us after school for a few hours whilst we work through some fun activities and sort out their dinner.

To sign up or find out more about Code Ninjas, visit: www.codeninjas.co.uk/bournemouth-dor-uk.