Another year has gone so fast, and what a year it’s been! Here we are, a few days into 2026, taking time to reflect on the amazing, impactful work done by the entire team here at Girls Into Coding (GIC) and our amazing community of girls
GIC hosts events, workshops, bootcamps, and other tech and engineering education events for girls aged 10–14, with the goal of bridging the continuing gender gap in tech and engineering education and careers. 2025 sees us get ever closer to that goal, and the scope of our work continues to expand as we head into the new year.
Our Continuing Social Impact
GIC aims to provide opportunity and inspiration for girls as young as 10, so they have the encouragement and support to pursue tech and engineering education or careers.
In 2025, GIC significantly advanced this goal, reaching an astonishing 5,000+ girls through:
· Hands-on tech and engineering workshops
· Lightning talks by inspiring women in STEM
· Q&A sessions
· Inspirational tech content in multiple formats
· Bootcamps
· Themed events
· Outreach events
And more! We’ve hosted over 100 workshops for girls, exploring topics as diverse as robotics, sustainability, AI, and CAD/CAM.
As well as learning tech and engineering skills that they can carry into the future, these workshops teach a range of transferable skills essential for virtually any career choice. Girls learn how to collaborate and innovate, gain real-life problem-solving skills, and see their confidence soar.
One parent commented: “J. has started GCSE Computer Science and is the only girl in her class! So, the girls Into Coding community and seeing girls doing coding [is] all the more important!”
Girls learn from each other in positive peer-to-peer learning environments — a key component of our successful programme. Surveys indicate that more than 90% of event and workshop participants report an increased interest in pursuing a STEM career, underscoring the engaging and empowering nature of GIC’s offerings.
Another parent highlighted this further: “S. got level 7 in computing at the end of Year 8 (expected level was 5) and the computer teacher uses her as a TA. That is all down to Girls Into Coding workshops which give her the knowledge and confidence.”
Protecting the Environment
One of the themes GIC has been exploring with these young innovators is sustainability and “Tech for Good.” In other words, projects and innovations that can tackle environmental concerns, ranging from sustainable agriculture to climate change.
One project explored the intricacies of agricultural technology, or AgriTech. Girls were supported to create automated harvesting machines, showing the possibilities of integrating technology for modern farming solutions.
Another exciting project explored recycling plants, an essential aspect of any circular economy. Girls learned how to create and engineer projects like this, but also how they contribute to a more sustainable and positive society.
The impact? Over 75% of workshop and event participants now express an interest in working on environmental tech in the future. Getting girls into STEM early helps create the problem-solvers of the future.
Inspiring New Initiatives
As well as furthering girls’ interests in Tech for Good, GIC has promoted several new programmes and initiatives. Crucially, our Mentor to Mentee programme has become a full-blown development cycle, helping enthusiastic, regular GIC workshop attendees become mentors to other girls.
These mentors get the chance to truly stretch their skills and engage in self-improvement. They assist other GIC mentors in delivering the workshops, hold presentations, host talks or Q&A sessions on exciting topics, and foster the next generation of girls invested in tech and STEM topics.
The Mentor to Mentee programme is incredibly empowering and helps give girls the confidence to reach for their goals in all aspects of life.
GIC Community Voice brings together a group of diverse young people who then help shape the direction, content development, and delivery of the entire GIC programme. They have input into the workshop formats, themes, resources, kits, and may even help with testing to ensure new design decisions work. We continuously foster the belief that these girls are never too young for their voices to be heard and valued.
Exciting Events
Of course, one of the most popular aspects of GIC is the range of exciting events we hold for girls in tech and engineering topics. All of these workshops are entirely free, including kits designed by our team, packed with the physical resources to create robots or pursue a range of engineering projects.
GIC Bootcamps are another thrilling way for girls to get into tech and engineering, meeting new people and engaging with tech companies and numerous role models in the industry. The 2025 bootcamps encouraged girls to explore the intersection between technology, engineering, and the environment. They learned how to promote sustainable practices and saw real-world applications of technology and engineering for sustainability.
These events promote better communication, collaboration, and genuinely effective teamwork. Girls also learn practical skills like programming, various engineering techniques, using electronic components like sensors, and so much more.
One parent said: “S. had a great bootcamp, [she] really enjoyed it, and I love how she was able to make something so intricate with the laser cutter. A fabulous experience for her.”
Creating Communities Via Inclusivity
GIC events and workshops have always included girls from a range of backgrounds, creating diverse communities. It’s a simple fact that diversity fosters innovation. A range of different voices helps create solutions that serve more people.
With that in mind, in 2025 we made a conscious effort to ensure girls with special educational needs are included in our events and workshops. Tech and engineering are for all girls, and by focusing on inclusivity, we’re ensuring that the changemakers of the future are making those changes for all, not just a select few.
Technology and engineering combine to create a huge force for supportive and inclusive education for those with additional needs. But being inclusive of SEND participants is about more than that. Including disabled innovators can actually improve the output of tech companies and organisations by exploring perspectives previously ignored.
2025: A Year in Highlights
With so many achievements this past year, it’s challenging to choose the standout moments! However, here are a few that really show the impact GIC is making.
GIC was featured on BBC London during the 2025 Children in Need programming. The organisation was highlighted for its work “…to inspire young girls to get into technology and engineering.” Founder Avye talked about the style of the GIC workshops and showed many of the attendees creating and making incredible projects. Avye talked on the importance of the workshops making girls feel “…confident and comfortable…” with a willingness to explore their passion for tech.
Avye has also been chosen to be featured in the BBC’s new Global Women initiative. She is one of just 50 young women from around the world chosen to amplify women’s storytelling and showcase those educating communities.
Avye and co-founder Helene are also delighted and honoured to be featured in the Artists First: Contemporary Perspectives on Portraiture exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Artist Giana De Dier created a stunning series of photomontage portraits celebrating changemakers from Britain’s African and Caribbean diaspora. It’s humbling to see our journey with Girls Into Coding recognised in such a meaningful way, alongside so many other inspiring individuals.
GIC partnered with Civo Tech Junction & Hackney Depot (formerly known as Batch.Space) and ADA College to help deliver inspiring tech experiences to new beneficiaries. We also continued our partnership with Plus X Innovation at their new, state-of-the-art facility. Other strong, continued partnerships that helped us reach more girls included work with Imperial College, The Good Hotel, and Sparta Global.
What’s Next: Hopes and Goals for 2026
How can we continue our impact into 2026 and beyond:
· Engage at least 5,000 girls via hands-on workshops, lightning talks, and other inspirational tech resources
· Develop more kits for workshops on sustainability and climate change
· Run more events exploring “Tech for Good”
· Expand development of hands-on workshops, including aspects like IoT, AI, Kinematics, robotics, and more
· Deliver more bootcamps, leveraging our partnerships with tech organisations and innovation spaces
· Build apon our mentee to mentor development
Before the age of six years old, most children, regardless of gender, have an equal enthusiasm for technology. The fact that this enthusiasm wanes in girls by the age of nine highlights the lack of support and opportunities on offer for those girls. By engaging girls from 10 years old and up via fun tech and engineering education, peer-to-peer learning with other girls, and inspirational talks, workshops, and events run by women and girls in tech and engineering, we can make that gender gap disappear.
Happy New Year to all our readers, attendees, supporters, and the many partners who all help support tech and engineering education for girls from all backgrounds.
