Formed in 2016,
the Keeping Digital Foundation have been working with the local community to create exciting projects and improve services across the region.
2018 - 2019
In 2018, we were finalists for Best Event at the Minster FM Listener Choice awards.
In 2019, yorkpijam.com was launched with free online activities for people across York, North Yorkshire and England to participate in, free of charge.
In May 2020,
York Pi Jam rolled out online e-safety support and guidance, making it easier for local parents to find advice and tips on keeping their young people safe online.
November 2020 - January 2021
In November, the lead of the project and organisation, Luke Castle, was nominated and won the York Press 'Spirit of the Youth' award.
In January 2021, it was announced York Pi Jam was to rebrand as the Keeping Digital Foundation from the 1st of March 2021.
In August 2022,
the Keeping Digital Foundation announced a partnership with 100% Digital York, a new partnership of organisations (including Keeping Digital Foundation) which aims to give residents in York the choice and opportunity to get online and know where to access help when they need it.
As part of this, Keeping Digital Foundation announced that they would be providing digital inclusivity support services across the city.
In April 2023,
the Keeping Digital Foundation announced the launch of free digital workshops at selected Digital Cafes, boosting digital skills in York residents.
The digital workshops were rolling out across selected Digital Cafes, including Sanderson House in Chapelfields and St Wulstan in Heworth, with further Digital Cafes to join the programme in the coming year.
The workshops aim to help residents get started on their digital devices and to help build their skills, from creating an email to buying and selling on eBay. The free, one-day workshops make it convenient to pick up new digital skills, and our volunteers are here to answer any questions residents may have.
In October 2023,
the Keeping Digital Foundation relaunched Gwiddle, a service providing free website hosting for UK students.
Gwiddle became part of our organisation in July 2023 and officially launched gwiddle.org on the 2nd of October 2023, with the aim to improve access to digital technology and also support young people in Computer Science education. To allow more students to get involved and try coding, we're providing free website hosting so students can test code and build exciting projects, with the aim to inspire the next generation.
We're on a mission to make Gwiddle home once again to hundreds of students who are taking their first steps in web development.
2016 - 2017
The Keeping Digital Foundation launched as York Pi Jam in April 2016, working on a city digital making event to give young people the opportunity to try out digital making and to pilot these activities for a larger roll out. With a hugely successful event taking place in 2017/18, York Pi Jam then created monthly digital making activities and worked with organisations across the city of York to host and organise more of these activities.
In March 2020,
a week before the first UK lockdown was announced to combat the spread of Coronavirus in our communities, York Pi Jam suspended all events and moved all of the worksheets online in a week. York Pi Jam then partnered with local media to advertise these free resources in papers (both online and digital). Later on in the year, York Pi Jam also introduced 'Code with us' which occurred every weekend and encouraged young people to create projects alongside the team online. Over the 12 weeks, over 2,000 projects were created by young people across the country.
In June and July 2020,
York Pi Jam announced it was relaunching York CoderDojo to provide more digital making activities for young people across North Yorkshire. In July 2020, yorkcoderdojo.co.uk launched.
In July 2020, Keeping You E-Safe was launched with characters designed by local design studio 'Buttercrumble'.
In March 2021,
we worked with local radio station YorkMix Radio to celebrate our rebrand and also to support local businesses. York CoderDojo also expanded with the launch of Selby CoderDojo.
In October 2022,
the Keeping Digital Foundation become a Community Interest Company, and launched more digital making activities across the region in places like Northallerton and Harrogate, with support of North Yorkshire County Council.
The first Digital Cafe also took place at Tang Hall Explore Library, providing digital inclusivity support to local residents helping them get connected.
In May 2023,
the Keeping Digital Foundation partnered with the Good Things Foundation, Virgin Media O2, Vodafone, and Three, to roll out the National Databank programme to Digital Cafes across York which are helping residents most at need.
The National Databank offers people struggling to stay connected free mobile data top-ups to help ensure they can access online services and keep in touch with family and friends.
We were also announced as finalists in the YorkMix Choice Awards for Charity of the Year!
Formed in 2016,
the Keeping Digital Foundation have been working with the local community to create exciting projects and improve services across the region.
2016 - 2017
The Keeping Digital Foundation launched as York Pi Jam in April 2016, working on a city digital making event to give young people the opportunity to try out digital making and to pilot these activities for a larger roll out. With a hugely successful event taking place in 2017/18, York Pi Jam then created monthly digital making activities and worked with organisations across the city of York to host and organise more of these activities.
2018 - 2019
In 2018, we were finalists for Best Event at the Minster FM Listener Choice awards.
In 2019, yorkpijam.com was launched with free online activities for people across York, North Yorkshire and England to participate in, free of charge.
In March 2020,
a week before the first UK lockdown was announced to combat the spread of Coronavirus in our communities, York Pi Jam suspended all events and moved all of the worksheets online in a week. York Pi Jam then partnered with local media to advertise these free resources in papers (both online and digital). Later on in the year, York Pi Jam also introduced 'Code with us' which occurred every weekend and encouraged young people to create projects alongside the team online. Over the 12 weeks, over 2,000 projects were created by young people across the country.
In May 2020,
York Pi Jam rolled out online e-safety support and guidance, making it easier for local parents to find advice and tips on keeping their young people safe online.
In June and July 2020,
York Pi Jam announced it was relaunching York CoderDojo to provide more digital making activities for young people across North Yorkshire. In July 2020, yorkcoderdojo.co.uk launched.
In July 2020, Keeping You E-Safe was launched with characters designed by local design studio 'Buttercrumble'.
November 2020 - January 2021
In November, the lead of the project and organisation, Luke Castle, was nominated and won the York Press 'Spirit of the Youth' award.
In January 2021, it was announced York Pi Jam was to rebrand as the Keeping Digital Foundation from the 1st of March 2021.
In March 2021,
we worked with local radio station YorkMix Radio to celebrate our rebrand and also to support local businesses. York CoderDojo also expanded with the launch of Selby CoderDojo. The Keeping Digital Foundation also announced it was launching a new campaign to push for better mental health funding to improve services across the city and region for young people who were suffering from low mental health as a result of the pandemic and pressures on exams and education.
In August 2022,
the Keeping Digital Foundation announced a partnership with 100% Digital York, a new partnership of organisations (including Keeping Digital Foundation) which aims to give residents in York the choice and opportunity to get online and know where to access help when they need it.
As part of this, Keeping Digital Foundation announced that they would be providing digital inclusivity support services across the city.
In October 2022,
the Keeping Digital Foundation become a Community Interest Company, and launched more digital making activities across the region in places like Northallerton and Harrogate, with support of North Yorkshire County Council.
The first Digital Cafe also took place at Tang Hall Explore Library, providing digital inclusivity support to local residents helping them get connected.
In April 2023,
the Keeping Digital Foundation announced the launch of free digital workshops at selected Digital Cafes, boosting digital skills in York residents.
The digital workshops were rolling out across selected Digital Cafes, including Sanderson House in Chapelfields and St Wulstan in Heworth, with further Digital Cafes to join the programme in the coming year.
The workshops aim to help residents get started on their digital devices and to help build their skills, from creating an email to buying and selling on eBay. The free, one-day workshops make it convenient to pick up new digital skills, and our volunteers are here to answer any questions residents may have.
In May 2023,
the Keeping Digital Foundation partnered with the Good Things Foundation, Virgin Media O2, Vodafone, and Three, to roll out the National Databank programme to Digital Cafes across York which are helping residents most at need.
The National Databank offers people struggling to stay connected free mobile data top-ups to help ensure they can access online services and keep in touch with family and friends.
We were also announced as finalists in the YorkMix Choice Awards for Charity of the Year!
In October 2023,
the Keeping Digital Foundation relaunched Gwiddle, a service providing free website hosting for UK students.
Gwiddle became part of our organisation in July 2023 and officially launched gwiddle.org on the 2nd of October 2023, with the aim to improve access to digital technology and also support young people in Computer Science education. To allow more students to get involved and try coding, we're providing free website hosting so students can test code and build exciting projects, with the aim to inspire the next generation.
We're on a mission to make Gwiddle home once again to hundreds of students who are taking their first steps in web development.
Our founders
Luke Castle
Co-Founder and Community Coordinator
Luke founded York Pi Jam in 2016, running free digital making activities across the city of York. In 2020, he launched the Keeping Digital Foundation with his close friend and now co-founder David. Founded in the IT room in their sixth form, Keeping Digital Foundation was to be the new home of our growing digital making activities and digital inclusion support services. In 2022, Luke helped grow Keeping Digital Foundation into a registered CIC, with the organisation now running six Digital Cafe services and supporting hundreds of young people every year to develop new tech skills.
What's your 3pm pick-me-up snack? Kinder Bueno and a can of Coke Zero
Tea, Coffee or Hot Chocolate in your mug? All very good options, 100% more of a flavoured tea person though
Favourite colour? Green (obviously)
What's your favourite thing about Keeping Digital? So difficult to pick! Has to be attending our digital making activities and seeing the impact of our services on young people across the region - that and building a charitable organisation I'm so proud of with my best friend!
David Thompson
Co-Founder and Volunteer Coordinator
Bio coming soon