codebar runs free evening coding workshops in Brighton every other week

codebar^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7}, a charity that runs free coding workshops, holds an evening session in Brighton every other week. The next one is on 10 November at StoryStream, 38-39 West Street, from 6.30pm to 9pm. The one after is on 24 November at MPB on Ship Street.

The evening starts with free pizza at 6.30pm, all of it veggie and vegan. From 7 until 9, students code with volunteer coaches. codebar aims for one coach to every two students working on the same tutorial, or one-to-one help with your own project where coaches are free. Its tutorials cover HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Ruby. There’s an optional trip to the pub afterwards.

It costs nothing. Companies host the workshops or provide the food, and the coaches give their time. The workshops are for women, LGBTQ people and others underrepresented in the tech industry, and they’re open to every level of experience. You don’t have to want a job as a developer. The FAQ says codebar “is about getting people excited about programming”.

Places go by RSVP, and you won’t be let in without one. Cancel by noon on the day if you can’t make it: three no-shows without cancelling and you’re off the invite list for four weeks. Bring a laptop if you have one, or email codebar if you don’t and it will try to help.

The StoryStream room is up one flight of stairs with no lift. MPB has a step at the entrance, and codebar asks wheelchair users to get in touch beforehand.

Coaches don’t need a laptop. codebar asks them to read its coaching guide and get to know the tutorials first. The Brighton team is on brighton@codebar.io.