Chris Chapman and brothers Rhys and Owen Marsh won the ‘Code a Better Country’ category at the national event with their app CityRadar.

They were supported by mentor and University of Bristol student Tom Mortensson to produce their app, which they presented at Plymouth University.

The event marked the end of a week of experimentation where the young competitors were challenged to make websites and apps that address real-world issues.

CityRadar allows people to quickly report issues in their community, such as graffiti or fly tipping, using their mobile phones. The app is programmed to send a report to the local council who can then flag the issue once resolved. 

Chris, Rhys and Owen developed the app at Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) over just four days, before heading to Plymouth with Tom.

During the festival the University of Bristol and Chartered Institute for IT (BCS) collaborate with KWMC and staff, students and volunteers provide mentorship.

The Young Rewired State Festival of Code inspires young people to explore new skills, ideas, and careers.

Caroline Higgins, Outreach Manager from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Bristol said: “At a time when many schools feel under resourced and lacking in computing expertise, activities like Young Rewired State and Digimakers are playing an increasingly important role in inspiring the next generation of engineers and technical innovators.

“Since the launch of our outreach programme we have seen a huge demand for this kind of informal learning activity. Working with our partners KWMC and BCS allows us to pool resources and have more impact, particularly in areas of Bristol that need it most.”