3 Bristol youngsters beat national competition

A Bristol University press release from the end of last week reports that 3 young people from Bristol overcame competition from across the country and have been recognised at the Young Rewired State Festival of Code 2014.

Chris Chapman and brothers Rhys and Owen Marsh won the ‘Code a Better Country’ category at the event with their app CityRadar.

They were supported and mentored by Bristol University student Tom Mortensson to produce their app, which they presented at Plymouth University.

The event marked the end of a week of experimentation where the young competitors were challenged to make websites and apps that address real-world issues.

CityRadar allows people to report issues in their community, such as graffiti or fly tipping, quickly using their mobile phones. The app is programmed to send a report to the local council (Hmmm. Sounds rather like the My Council app. Ed.).

Chris, Rhys and Owen developed the app at Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) over just four days, before heading to Plymouth with Tom.

During the festival the Bristol University and the Chartered Institute for IT (BCS) collaborate with KWMC, while staff, students and volunteers provide mentoring.

The Young Rewired State Festival of Code inspires young people to explore new skills, ideas, and careers.

Caroline Higgins, Outreach Manager from the University’s Faculty of Engineering, said: “At a time when many schools feel under-resourced and lacking in computing expertise, activities like Young Rewired State and Digimakers are playing an increasingly important role in inspiring the next generation of engineers and technical innovators.

“Since the launch of our outreach programme, we have seen a huge demand for this kind of informal learning activity. Working with our partners KWMC and BCS allows us to pool resources and have more impact, particularly in areas of Bristol that need it most.”

Does that mean you’ll be bringing your outreach programme to Barton Hill, Easton, Southmead and Lockleaze, Caroline? After all, those areas probably have undiscovered lurking geniuses too! 😉