FAQ's for Organisers & Champions

If a question you would like to ask isn't here, you can ask at [mailto:info@coderdojo.com info@coderdojo.com]. Please say you were looking for it here. We can then update this list of questions and answers for parents and send you a copy.

The Questions
What do I need to do to set up a dojo?
 * See Organising a Dojo.

'''Where do you find your volunteers? What level of IT skills would they need?'''
 * We find a good mix of programmers from the industry alongside interested parents and community volunteers with a healthy dose of students to liven things up works well. As long as people are enthusiastic about helping kids to develop their coding skills it doesn't really matter what their technical ability is.

Is there a teaching pack?
 * Every dojo is different both in style and in what is taught in the dojo. Look here on this kata wiki for resources for mentoring that have been shared.

'''How do I get a background check set up for my mentors? Insurance for the dojo? What about child protection awareness training? Written codes of conduct?'''
 * Garda Vetting (in Ireland), Insurance, child protection awareness training and safe systems for working with children all take some work to set up. It is something the whole organising group needs to pay attention to, and it is important to involve parent volunteers in this otherwise the technical mentors end up doing everything, and being overloaded, or things that should be done don't get done.  Many dojos have been through the steps already and are keen to help new dojos that are starting out.  There is an e-mail google group for open and general discussions about child protection systems and youth work in coderdojo.  Ask about it at [mailto:info@coderdojo.com info@coderdojo.com] if you want more information.