Young football fans in Hammersmith & Fulham got a kick out of cutting-edge technology this week thanks to a robotics session led by Chelsea FC Foundation.
Local children aged 12-15 combined football and tech as they learned to programme robotic footballers at a workshop on Tuesday 20 August.
The session saw young people use tablets to control smart robotic balls to create artificial movements and guide their 'players' across mini pitches.
The hands-on session at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith was open – and free – to local young people as part of H&F Council's Summer in the City programme. Cllr Alex Sanderson, Deputy Leader of H&F, said:
Our sessions are giving local children hands-on experience with the tech of the future. It's a prime example of how our Summer in the City programme is bridging the gap between fun and learning."
Other STEM-based activities on offer this summer have included virtual reality games at Tudor Rose Family Hub, Fulham, and solar power workshops at Imperial College London's Invention Rooms in White City.
Our programme of free events and free food for local children and young people continues until 30 August.
Career opportunities for local pupils
The STEM opportunities continue for young people in Fulham with the 'Digital Blue Leaders Programme'.
A partnership between Fulham Cross Academy Trust and Chelsea FC Foundation, the initiative helps local pupils develop tech skills such as coding, robotics, and data analysis, while learning about career pathways and gaining work experience in the field.
"It's a really exciting project to upskill all the students in STEM, particularly in tech," Sally Brooks, Executive Principal at Fulham Cross Academy Trust, explained.
The initial six-month project is preparing students to be leaders at the upcoming 'Tech Slam UK' event in autumn where they'll showcase their projects and engage with industry professionals.
The nine participating pupils got to familiarise themselves with the robotics equipment at Stamford Bridge last month. They'll get to put their new skills into practice at the tech festival in October.
Sally added: "We're trialling the programme with Chelsea in the hope that it will be expanded and go to other schools."
Interested schools can get in touch with Stefano D'Errico, Senior Schools Education Officer at Chelsea FC Foundation. Email stefano.derrico@chelseafc.com to get involved.
