Celebrating One Year of Code Ninjas Trafford: Empowering Young Coders

One year ago, two Manchester dads set out to bring something special to Trafford’s youngest tech talent. Today, Code Ninjas Trafford is celebrating its first anniversary – marking 12 months of helping local children build games, solve problems, and discover a genuine love for coding.

Run by longtime best friends and Manchester locals Vishnu Kumar Tellakula and Raja Manikanta Diddi, the Sale-based centre grew from a personal search for better STEM opportunities for their own children. When they couldn’t find exactly what they were looking for locally, they decided to create it themselves – and the response from families has exceeded their expectations.

“Honestly, it’s been an amazing year,” said Raja. “We opened our doors hoping a handful of families would take a chance on us. What’s happened since has been incredibly special. The best moments are when a parent tells us their child suddenly feels more confident in computing at school or when a student preparing for GCSEs says they finally ‘get it’. That belief in themselves is what really matters.

“We’ve had children designing games as Mother’s Day presents, young people juggling rugby training but still rushing here because they don’t want to miss coding, and students who stay curious long after their session ends. Watching that spark grow is something we’ll never get tired of.”

At Code Ninjas, children aged 5-14 learn to code in a safe, supportive, and seriously cool environment. Guided by Senseis, they work through creative challenges that introduce coding, robotics, and the fundamentals of AI in an age-appropriate way – helping them build games, write code, and think like engineers. While the emphasis is on fun, Ninjas also develop resilience, problem-solving skills, and confidence that often extend beyond the classroom.

Over the past 12 months, Code Ninjas Trafford has supported more than 130 children on Washway Road in Sale. More than 150 have taken part in holiday camps, and through a partnership with Heyes Lane Primary School, over 75 additional pupils have been introduced to coding since last summer.

For Vishnu, some of the proudest moments have come from seeing students take what they’ve learned and apply it beyond the classroom. “One of our Ninjas, who’s preparing for her GCSEs, told us the foundations she built here helped her move faster and feel more confident in Computer Science lessons,” he said. “Another student, who was nominated for the Duke of Edinburgh Award, enjoyed the experience so much they chose to complete an internship with us.

“But it’s not always about big achievements. Sometimes it’s just the look on a child’s face when they fix a bug on their own or launch a game they’ve built from scratch. That quiet ‘I did it’ moment is priceless.”

Feedback from families has reinforced the centre’s community impact. “We regularly hear that children ‘can’t wait for coding day’,” added Raja. “Parents tell us they’ve noticed improvements in focus, independence, and even how confidently their child explains things at home. Knowing we’re playing a small part in their growth means everything to us.”

Looking ahead to year two, the pair are focused on building on that momentum. Plans include the introduction of dedicated AI programmes, robotics clubs, and enhanced GCSE and A-level computer science support, alongside strengthening partnerships with local schools.

“Technology is shaping every career path,” said Vishnu. “We want Trafford’s children to feel comfortable with it, confident in it, and excited by it. If we can help them think critically, stay curious, and believe they can create – not just consume – technology, then we’re doing our job.”

To celebrate its first year and welcome more families into its growing community, Code Ninjas Trafford is hosting Open Days on 7th and 14th March from 1-4pm at the Washway Road centre. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore the centre, meet the team, and see how children can build confidence and coding skills in a fun, supportive environment.

To learn more about Code Ninjas Trafford, or to find out more about the upcoming Open Days, visit: http://www.codeninjas.co.uk/trafford-gtm-uk