Learner and Trainee Agreement
Trainee agreements are for enrolled trainees. Learners should sign the Learner agreement.
Definition of an Applicant
An Applicant is over 18, and is applying and taking our Introduction to Digital (ITD) course.
Definition of Learner
A Learner is over 18, has been invited to ITP, and agrees to the Learner terms.
Definition of Trainee
A Trainee meets the CYF eligibility criteria and agrees to the Trainee terms. In brief, to be eligible you must be over 18, on a low income, have enough time to do the course, and live close enough to attend class in person. We use a decision model to evaluate this called Rainbird. Read More about Rainbird.
Enrolment is per course and expires after one year.
Courses Agreements Guide
Each course has its own rules for participation. These rules are to help you succeed in the course. If you don't agree with the rules or don't understand them, please ask.
Course 1: Intro to Digital (ITD)
No agreement is required in ITD.
Course 2: Intro to Programming (ITP)
Attendance
Until you have completed the first module of ITP, in-person attendance is strongly encouraged but optional.
From the second module, you must attend class until your last ITP step has been approved. We recommend coming in person, but it's ok to attend online too. If you can't avoid it (e.g. because you're sick), it's ok miss one class as long as you let us know. If you need to miss more than one class, you should withdraw from ITP and join the next one.
Agreements
On being invited to ITP, all participants are asked to sign a Learner agreement. Everyone begins as a Learner, to give you the opportunity to try CYF out. We don't formally check the eligibility of Learners, and we don't enrol you or pay expenses.
Any time after you have completed the first module you can choose to enrol as a Trainee. This has its own agreement, and means we will check your eligibility. Once you are enrolled as a Trainee, if you need support to come to class, such as childcare or transport, we can help you with expenses.
You must be a trainee to participate in any course after ITP.
You probably do want to enrol as a trainee if you need financial support to participate in the course.
Course 3 - A : ITP Tracks
All participants in ITP Tracks must enrol as Trainees.
Course 3 - B : The Piscine
All participants in the Piscine must enrol as Trainees.
Course 4: Software Development (SDC)
All participants in the SDC must enrol as Trainees.
Course 5: The Launch
All participants in the Launch must enrol as Trainees.
Course 6: Software Development Tracks
All participants in SDC Tracks must enrol as Trainees.
Example agreement
Each course defines its own agreement with rules that make sense for that course. You will be sent your agreement by email and you can read it and make your decision. Here is the draft 2025 ITP trainee agreement so you can see what it will more or less say.
Trainee Agreement
This trainee agreement is for people participating in the Code Your Future Intro to Programming course as Enrolled Trainees.
Trainee Agreement, Intro to Programming
Code Your Future is made possible by teams of dedicated volunteers who give their time to support your goal of achieving a good job in tech.
If this is not your goal, please do not waste their time. It's okay to have other goals. Pursue them. Good luck! Come back to us when your goal is to train for and gain a good job in tech.
I confirm that I will
Follow the Code of Conduct
We expect our trainees to also fulfil the commitments below. Please read and sign this agreement.
As a trainee I agree to:
If you don't do these things, you will be dismissed as a trainee, because doing these things is what being a trainee means.
We will not dismiss you from our community. You are welcome to withdraw as a trainee and join us as a volunteer. You are welcome to reapply next time. You are welcome here.
Details
1. Do your work ✅
Our curriculum is free and open source. Everybody in the world can use it at their own pace and do whatever coursework they like, without obligation. But being a Code Your Future trainee is a privilege and a responsibility.
Coursework
If you fall behind with your coursework it is your responsibility to catch up.
I confirm that I will:
Submit my mandatory coursework on time
Not blindly copy-paste from AI, GitHub, or anywhere else because the point of this course is to learn to code
If you don't do your work you will be dismissed as a trainee.
If you have failed to meet your commitments, you may be invited to complete and sign a PIP. A PIP is a way to get extra support and resources to help you succeed.
Collaboration
Working together is expected at Code Your Future. Software is built by teams.
I confirm that I will
Credit the people I worked with on any document
Add my co-authors on any pull request
Coursework submitted without this, but with answers shared between trainees, will be treated as deception.
If you lie about your work you will be dismissed as a trainee.
2. Come to class ✅
If you prefer to only learn online you should take an online course instead. Our programme is in person.
I confirm that I will:
Aim to attend attend 100% of the Intro to Programming classes after my enrolment until my last step has been approved. I can do this in person or online, but I will try to come in person when possible.
Withdraw from the cohort if I have to miss more than one class (but know that I'll be welcome back in the next cohort).
Notify the class channel if I am unavoidably absent ✅
If you don't come to class you will be dismissed as a trainee.
Leave
You may need to take unavoidable medical leave. You may be detained or moved by the Home Office. A war may start in your country. These are all unfortunately normal at Code Your Future and we understand, but we do need to know where you are. You must tell us as soon as you can.
If I need to take unavoidable leave I confirm that I will
Email my region as soon as possible ✅
Complete a leave form ✅
3. Take part on Slack ✅
Slack is how we communicate. We monitor Slack activity.
I confirm that I will
Install Slack on my main computer ✅
Answer @mentions within 72 hours ✅
Ask or answer at least one question a week in my class channel ✅
If you don't take part on Slack you will be dismissed as a trainee.
4. Ask for Help ✅
It is your responsibility and right to ask for help as a Code Your Future trainee.
I confirm that I will
Ask for help when I need it ✅
Your cohort is filled with smart people who have experience and support they can share with you. Work together. The wider CYF community can help too. It’s full of graduates who have already been on your journey, and other professionals who want to help you succeed.
If you are facing a serious challenge (homelessness, cancer, detainment etc) that affects your learning, email cs@codeyourfuture.io and get signposted to specialist help.
When you need help, you must ask. We will help you. Our goal is your success.
Withdrawing From The Course
You must contact us to withdraw from the course.
Leaving the course does not mean leaving our community. You may return as a volunteer and/or you may apply for a future cohort.
I confirm that I will
Email my region ✅
Complete a Withdrawal Form ✅
Return any equipment I borrowed ✅
(If you don't do this, you can't come back.)
Many CYF grads have withdrawn, returned and got good jobs in tech. We will welcome you back when you are ready. We will welcome you even if you were dismissed.
You are welcome here even if things have gone really wrong before.
Removal From Course
Participation in the course is overseen completely by CodeYourFuture staff. All decisions are final and cannot be contested.
If you have withdrawn or been removed from our course, you are welcome to re-apply, unless you have been permanently banned for a Code of Conduct violation.
Everyone here wants to help you get a good job in tech, for real. That is the whole point of Code Your Future.
Please now sign this agreement.
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