Two young people from Newbury are now helping inspire the next generation at the coding club where they first discovered a love of technology. Charlie Fox and Ashton Ferriera both began as young Ninjas at Code Ninjas in Newbury, working their way through the programme to earn the club’s highest achievement: Black Belt. Today, they are Senseis – the name given to instructors – supporting younger Ninjas through the same challenges and milestones they once faced themselves.

Charlie, 16, first joined Code Ninjas after a friend introduced him to the club, but it was the clear sense of progression that kept him motivated. “Seeing the Black Belt as a goal ahead of me was incredibly inspiring,” he said. “Knowing I could eventually create my own game really pushed me to keep going.”

One of his proudest moments came when coding first began to click. “Programming, especially JavaScript, felt like such an alien concept at the start,” Charlie explained. “Being able to understand it and then build something from scratch was genuinely mind-blowing.”

Charlie’s journey wasn’t always easy. When a close friend stopped attending Code Ninjas, he had to rely on his own determination to continue. “I kept reminding myself why Code Ninjas mattered to me and why I wanted to reach Black Belt,” he said.

For Charlie’s parents, the experience has been transformative. “Charlie started with very little knowledge and ended up with a real passion for coding and a huge boost in confidence. He couldn’t wait to tell us what he’d learned each week. We couldn’t be prouder.”

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.

Earning a Black Belt requires students to independently plan, design and build a substantial final project that demonstrates advanced technical skill, creativity and perseverance. The process mirrors real-world development and encourages independent thinking and determination.

16-year-old Ashton’s journey began with a love of video games and a desire to create his own. “Playing games made me want to create experiences that other people would enjoy,” he said. “The encouragement from my parents and the Senseis really helped keep me motivated.”

Balancing coding with school and other commitments was Ashton’s biggest challenge. “Time management was tough at times, but with support from the Senseis – especially towards the end – I was able to push through and finish,” he said.

Now supporting younger Ninjas, Ashton says becoming a Sensei has given him a new perspective. “It’s shown me how important patience is,” he said. “Being able to help someone work through a problem and see it finally click is really fulfilling.”

Ashton’s dad said Code Ninjas had become an important part of his son’s life. “One of the things I really liked was that Code Ninjas became Ashton’s space – his friends and his activity that he could truly call his own,” he said. “Seeing him achieve Black Belt has been amazing, but what’s been even more special is watching his confidence grow. He’s more outgoing, more interactive and far more socially confident than he was before.”

Both Charlie and Ashton hope their journeys show other Ninjas what’s possible. “Don’t give up when things feel difficult,” Ashton added. “Finishing your journey is something you’ll always be proud of.”

They are joined on the Sensei team by two other local teenagers, 16-year-old Fraser Hoult and 16-year-old Thomas Payne, who is currently a Red Belt working towards Black Belt.

Marcus Brind, Director of Code Ninjas Newbury, said seeing former students transition into Senseis is a proud moment for the centre. “Charlie, Ashton, Fraser and Thomas are fantastic role models for our younger Ninjas,” he said. “They show that Code Ninjas is about far more than coding – it’s about confidence, perseverance and community.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see students using what they’ve learned to support and inspire others, and in some cases take their first steps into work and future opportunities.”

To learn more about Code Ninjas Newbury, visit: www.codeninjas.co.uk/newbury-brk-uk