CodeYourFuture addresses the systemic digital divide that prevents those furthest from the job market, specifically refugees, asylum seekers, and individuals from low-income backgrounds, from gaining professional tech careers.
Mission
Our mission is to help people from underrepresented backgrounds learn tech skills and change their lives. We start with training in coding, but we also prepare people for many different jobs in tech, including remote and flexible work. Our support includes teaching, mentoring, job search help, and a strong, caring community. We work with employers and volunteers to make sure our students are ready for the workplace. Our aim is not just to teach, but to help people build real careers and brighter futures.
Code Your Future delivers a 12-month technology and engineering education programme that moves adults from low-income backgrounds into technical careers. The programme develops practical engineering skills aligned to employer demand and prepares participants for entry into the technology workforce.
The programme has a staged pipeline:
- Introduction to Digital (ITD) – 4 weeks (part-time)
ITD builds baseline digital capability. Participants learn to work with data and spreadsheets, use AI tools responsibly, and build a basic website. - Introduction to Programming (ITP) – ~13 weeks (part-time)
ITP develops core programming skills. Participants learn JavaScript, Python, SQL, and version control. ITP prepares graduates for entry-level technical roles, including Data Analyst, QA Tester, IT Support, and Business Analyst. - Checkpoint – ~3 weeks (part-time)
Assesses readiness for advanced training, in which participants complete individual and team projects, demonstrate working software, and complete technical reviews. - Software Development Course (SDC) – ~12 weeks (part-time)
Prepares participants to contribute to production systems. Participants learn system design, debugging, testing, and maintaining existing codebases. They work on problems involving performance, reliability, and trade-offs.
Delivery Model and Contact Structure
The programme uses a flipped classroom model in which participants complete self-study during the week and attend weekly in-person Saturday sessions. Their study includes:
- technical and professional skills workshops led by industry volunteers
- pair programming and group projects
- presentations and code reviews
- employability sessions
Support
Financial support is provided for childcare, transport, and technology access. Community Builders provide pastoral support. Education Trainers deliver individualised technical feedback. These inputs improve retention and progression.
Impact
Since its inception in 2016, CYF has expanded across multiple cities, which include London, Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham in the UK, as well as Glasgow in Scotland and Cape Town in South Africa.
After redesigning our programme to match the industry standards in 2024, we are seeing a great result in our hiring numbers. Considering how difficult the market has been, we have seen 60% of Software Development graduates secure full-time tech roles.
Our 10th Anniversary is this year, and we are very proud of having over 300 graduates who successfully transitioned into tech and digital careers since we started in 2016, and close to 45% of them were women.
