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Schools across Edinburgh to benefit from Computer Clubs for Girls

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group and City of Edinburgh Council have announced a funding partnership which will enable schools across Edinburgh to take advantage of e-skills UK's award-winning CC4G (Computer Clubs for Girls) initiative.

CC4G are out-of-school hours clubs that provide 10 to 14 year old girls with a range of specially tailored activities designed to teach valuable technology skills while focusing on the girls' areas of interest such as fashion, celebrity and music. 

Currently, only around 15% per cent of Scotland's IT workforce is female. By demonstrating to young girls the exciting reality of careers in technology today, CC4G is addressing negative perceptions and encouraging more young women to consider a career in IT.

More than 30 Edinburgh schools are attending today's CC4G launch event hosted by RBS at their Edinburgh headquarters to find out more about the programme and register their interest.

Stephen Brannan, Director of Group Technology, RBS said:

"We are delighted to be supporting CC4G.  At RBS we are always looking for new ways to get involved with projects that really have an impact on the local communities we operate in, and we look forward to working with City of Edinburgh Council to deliver this important initiative."

John Sowerby, Senior Quality Improvement Officer, City of Edinburgh Council, said:

"We greatly appreciate the support of RBS in helping us to bring CC4G to Edinburgh schools.  CC4G provides valuable and fun IT learning opportunities for girls who might not previously have had an interest in this area.  The initiative also brings business and education together in a positive and rewarding way and we hope it will encourage participating schools to foster further links with business.  For City of Edinburgh Council the introduction of CC4G will help us to deliver key elements of our 'A Curriculum for Excellence' programme, which aims to develop knowledgeable, skilled and enthusiastic learners with the confidence to make a valuable contribution to society."

CC4G has been created by e-skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for IT and Telecoms. It was launched in Scotland in 2006, following a pilot by Fife Council. 

Karen Price, CEO, e-skills UK said: "We are committed to helping young people prepare for adaptable careers and lives in a technology-enabled world.  CC4G captures the imagination of girls at an age when their negative perceptions about IT start to become embedded.  Our research has shown that over two thirds of girls who participate in the clubs say they are now more likely to consider a career in technology. We are delighted that thanks to the support of RBS and City of Edinburgh Council, schools across Edinburgh will now be able to benefit from CC4G."

For more details on CC4G, visit www.e-skills.com/cc4g.

Posted on 28 Mar 2007