20/1/2020

Cardiff Council in partnership with Cardiff University, is providing children and young people with a unique and innovative opportunity to help shape the future of Cardiff by using a virtual game platform. 

‘Craft Your City' is a Child Friendly Cardiff initiative which aims to engage young people in a range of strategic developments by using Minecraft Education.

Developed by Cardiff's Education Service and Cardiff University School of Computer Science and Informatics, the digital approach sets a series of real-world challenges and provides a way for young people to share their ideas of how they would like Cardiff to look in the future.

The initiative launches this week with a competition inviting school aged children to redesign an area of land located behind the National Museum in the heart of the city centre, with the winner influencing the repurposing of the land.

Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "Cardiff's aspirations to becoming an internationally recognised Child Friendly City,placing the rights and voices of children and young people at the heart of the city's policies, strategies and services is progressing.

"Unicef UK hasrecently recommended that the Council submits for Child Friendly City recognition in the Autumn of 2021, acknowledging the work we have already undertaken toinvolve children and young people in decision making.

"We are committed to building on this and this latest scheme endeavors to engage with children and young people allowing them to express theirideas to improve an area in the city centrethrough a platform they are familiar with.

Dr Catherine TeehanfromCardiff University School of Computer Scienceand Informatics said:"Cardiff School of Computer Science have been working as part of the Techncocamps programme at for the last seven years.  We have a dedicated outreach team at the school who are committed to providing support and resources for digital education across South East Wales. 

"We are really excited to be part this innovative initiative in our home city and using game-based learning to engage with a wide range of children and young people." 

Entrants will be provided with a geographically accurate representation of the site in which young people can create their own worlds and experiences, with a focus on preserving and promoting green spaces.

Minecraft Education is a multi-platform video game whichenhances creativity, problem-solving, self-direction, collaboration, and other life skills which usesbuilding blocks, resources discovered on the site and the users own creativity.  

Technocamps is a Welsh Government funded initiative which has allowed Cardiff School of Computer Science to establish an outreach team which includes over 120 student STEM Ambassadors. 

Our Technocamps team deliver free workshops to schools from South East Wales and support the continuing professional development of teachers across the region. The scheme also provides family and community events where digital workshops are delivered to facilitate small scale digital creative projects. 

The competition pack can be viewed at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ALPttXjCqkCB6Vc88ljUhdHrwqgCM9V-?usp=sharing

Entries can be from one person or working as a group
The closing date is Friday 26th February 2021 at 5pm.
Shortlisted entries will be notified on 5th March 2021.