Building Futures in Cyber: TECgirls Cybersecurity Challenge Day Returns

Cybersecurity might sound serious, and it is, but at TECgirls, we believe learning about it should be fun, hands-on, and seriously inspiring.

Last week, our Cybersecurity Challenge Day returned as part of the TECgirls programme, welcoming Year 7 girls from across Cornwall for a full day of interactive workshops, tech challenges, and a good dose of digital curiosity.

With the goal to open the door to the exciting world of cybersecurity, showing young girls that it’s not just something other people do. It’s something they can do too.

Held at the STEM & Health Skills Centre in Bodmin, the day was packed with four brilliant workshops led by some of the UK’s top cyber minds and role models. The girls solved problems, cracked codes, explored networks, and stepped into the shoes of real-world cyber pros.

Here’s a glimpse at what they got stuck into:

Logic & Coding

Our TECgirls team kicked things off with puzzles and programming challenges to help build the logical thinking skills that are at the heart of all things tech.

All with the help of Turing Tumbles. If you’ve never seen one before, Turing Tumble is a marble-powered logic game that lets players build mechanical computers. Using ramps, gears, bits, and interceptors, the girls worked in teams to solve a series of increasingly complex puzzles by building machines that could process logic the way real computers do.

As marbles raced through their creations, triggering chain reactions and flipping switches, it all started to click — quite literally. The girls weren’t just learning how computers work, they were thinking like engineers, experimenting, problem-solving, and collaborating as they tackled each new challenge.

By the end of the workshop, they had a deeper understanding of coding logic and a big boost in confidence. Plus, lots of laughter and a few proud high-fives as their machines came to life.

Cryptography

In a rare opportunity to work directly with cybersecurity professionals, the girls dove into the fascinating world of encryption and secure communication. They learned how information can be hidden, protected, and passed along securely including how important these techniques are in everything from messaging apps to national security.

Using interactive puzzles and hands-on challenges, the girls worked through ciphers and hidden messages, testing their logic and creativity at every step. They explored how patterns, symbols, and clues come together to reveal meaning, and they started to understand the role that cryptography plays in the digital world around them.

It was an eye-opening session that showed them how to think like a codebreaker and gave them a real sense of the power behind encrypted communication.

Networks

In the Networks session, the girls explored how digital information travels from one device to another, across secure systems, and around the world. With support from GCHQ Bude, they took a closer look at how computers and systems connect, communicate, and protect data while doing so.

Through games and simulations, they got to see what happens behind the scenes when we browse, message, or stream. They learned about the structure of networks, the importance of firewalls and protocols, and how professionals work to keep those systems running safely and smoothly.

This session helped demystify one of the most critical parts of the tech world and sparked lots of curiosity about how things actually work under the surface of everyday tech.

Cybersecurity Skills

With support from our friends at Cognition Creative Learning CIC, this workshop was all about exploring how to stay safe in a digital world and think critically about the technology we use every day.

The girls were introduced to the core principles of cybersecurity, including ethical hacking, digital safety, and how to approach online threats like a real analyst.

Through a series of interactive challenges and simulations, they learned how to spot vulnerabilities and think like problem-solvers. The girls were set the task of cracking LEGO safes using lines of code to unlock the hidden treasures inside. Each team had to work together to understand how the system was secured, identify the flaws, and then write the correct code to open the lock.

The workshop was packed with "aha" moments. By the end of the session, the girls had not only cracked the codes, but also gained a new appreciation for the kind of thinking cybersecurity professionals use every day.

Lightning Talks That Lit Up The Room 

To end the day on a high, the girls were treated to a series of lightning talks from some truly inspiring women in cyber.

Olivia M from the South West Cyber Crime Department shared her personal journey into the field, detailing the steps and experiences that led her to a career tackling digital crime. Her story gave the girls a relatable and real-world example of how a passion for tech can evolve into a powerful career path.

Charlotte from CyberFirst offered a broader view, talking about the wide scope of careers available in the cybersecurity sector and the exciting opportunities the future holds for young women in tech.

And our very own Betsy from TECgirls delivered a powerful talk on cybersecurity and mental health,  an often-overlooked topic, reminding us that tech is about people too, and that resilience, well-being, and support are key parts of a sustainable journey in this field.

A Day Powered by People

We couldn’t have done it without this amazing group of people and organisations who gave their time, energy, and brainpower to make the day happen: GCHQ Bude, CyberFirst, Cognition Creative Learning CIC, South West Regional Cyber Crime Unit, CyNam and Kernow Soroptimists.

What’s Next?

With ongoing support from their schools and encouragement from the TECgirls team, the girls who took part will have the space to keep exploring, questioning, and building their confidence in cybersecurity.

All of this leads up to an exciting milestone — the CyberFirst Girls Competition in November. Last year’s event helped boost entries to the CyberFirst Girls Competition in Cornwall from just 7 teams to over 30. And the impact is already being felt.

As Craig Finch from Camborne Science Academy shared:

“Can I say how impressed I was at the levels of support and industry leading expertise on display yesterday and how well the day ran. Our girls loved every minute of it and it showed.”

This year, we’re aiming even higher and we’re doing it thanks to an incredible community of volunteers, partners, and supporters who believe in creating opportunities for girls in tech.

Let’s Keep the Momentum Going

We’d love to run more events like this, but we need your help. We’re currently looking for funding and support to keep this energy alive and growing. If you believe in the power of early inspiration and real-life role models, we’d love to hear from you. Visit our Support Us page to find out more.