Primary students picked up some digital skills at a recent event in East Ham.

Sixteen pupils and their parents attended the Code Playground event last month, organised by Newham Council’s local Community Neighbourhood Team and Barclays Digital Eagles.

The event aimed to teach students from Mission Grove school, Al-Noor Primary school, Forest gate community school, Shaftesbury Primary school and Nelson Primary School, computer skills including coding – the engine that drives the latest computer game graphics and Hollywood blockbuster special effects.

Councillor Ken Clark, cabinet member for building communities, public affairs, regeneration and planning, said: “With more and more of our lives being conducted online it is vital everyone has a better understanding of how computers and the internet work.

“Digital Eagles is a great example of how Newham Council’s Community Neighbourhoods are working with other organisations to help residents get involved in activities and learn new skills.

“It’s not only children that can benefit from these schemes as our Community Neighbourhood link workers are setting up initiatives across Newham to help older or disabled people to stay active and connected.”

Kwabena Ofori-Awuah, Branch Manager at the East Ham branch of Barclays, said: “Our Digital Eagles work in local communities to give people the opportunity to learn and embrace digital skills, from sending an email, skyping family or learning how to bank online.

“We’re now expanding that support to include coding either online or in branch – so whether you’re seven or 107, you can take advantage of the opportunity to learn the emerging language of the new digital economy.”