Darlington Libraries

We would like to offer a STEM based weekly activity session to children aged 8+ during the summer holiday.

Currently our digital offer is extremely limited. STEM activities are delivered by outside providers incurring substantial costs which therefore reduces the frequency in which they can be delivered.

We would like to purchase equipment which would allow us to deliver activities in-house. We would launch the new equipment with weekly sessions during the school summer holidays targeting children aged 8+; an age group we wish to engage more with.

If successful with this £250 grant we would purchase a Sam Labs Team Kit for £399.95 with the library paying the surplus. This would allow us to work with groups of 10 children introducing coding into our library for the first time. Research suggests that Sam Labs is the most versatile for us to use and it connects to varying devices via Bluetooth technology as opposed to others which require a cable connection or software download. Therefore, it is the most accessible and easy to use. It has varying levels of coding software so can be used by a wide age range and allows children to progress on their coding journey.

After the initial project is completed the resources would add another dimension to our existing Lego Clubs and holiday activities with various age groups.

Please consider Darlington for this grant, the equipment will be purchased and used by August, with an evaluation submitted by October.