Digital programme proves a hit

Cheshire East’s Council’s Shift digital programme proved popular at recent visits to Congleton and Sandbach High schools. 

The latest activity brought Indonesian mobile maker space collective Waft to the two schools.

As part of the Foundation for Art and Creative Technology (Fact) futures programme, many pupils from the schools were able to develop and hone their skills in the art of digital and creative technology.

As part of Fact’s ongoing collaboration with Shift – this visit provided a unique opportunity to explore how mobile labs work and how to engage communities from different cultures with a range of creative and digital activities.

Echoing a rural geography and the accessibility challenges facing Cheshire East, Waft’s work focused on a motorbike-based mobile lab that travels out of Surabaya, in Indonesia, and into surrounding villages – to provide a wide range of activities for people.

This ranges from toy-making with younger children, to exploring maintenance of equipment, as well as art and science projects.

The partnership encourages the groups to build and design a pollution and weather sensor, which uploads data collected through the internet from around the schools.

Councillor Glen Williams, deputy cabinet member for culture, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for young people to experience different International cultures and to develop skills and broaden thinking around future technologies for their generation. This collaboration with Fact allows the council to bring international experiences to young people across rural areas of the borough.”