The faces staring out at me as we completed the last team hangout were amazingly calm and the only hint of concern was the sight of our media man, idly stroking his beard before delivering his round-up of news from his frenetic corner of the machine that is the YRS Team.

Each member in turn had calmly updated us on their respective tasks.  A few slightly-too-twitchy grins followed the one or two reported glitches, but otherwise there was a hush signalling the lull before the storm of young fingers on keyboards across the country as The Festival of Code begins on Monday.

Why should I be worried? Because this wonderful team of individuals, the YRS staff, are helping me organise one of the most amazing weeks of the year, for the fifth time, when around 1,000 kids aged 6-18, across the UK will attend approximately 50 centres dotted around the country and make cool stuff with computers.                                                                                                                                                                        

The participants will arrive on Monday morning at their allotted local centre - maybe a local college, a software company, university - maybe a huge corporation, a start-up, a local government office. 

They will meet each other and those from the centre and also a myriad of mentors allocated to help them through the week. 

Next they will be introduced to a melting pot of open data from Government and beyond and, limited only by their own imaginations, they will then spend the rest of the week building websites, mobile apps, games, using that data in a constructive way and learning how to do that as they go.                                                                                                                                                           

On the Friday, the adventure really begins as they all travel to The Custard Factory in Birmingham for a weekend of fun.

That evening a whole range of fireside talks about all things digital from inspiring people and digital music from exciting performers will accompany the tapping of keys by young fingers as they continue to work with their teams furiously finishing their projects ready to present them to a series of amazing judges in six heats on the Saturday.

That finished they can relax, play and chat with other like-minded souls but all in an atmosphere of quiet anticipation as they await the next day’s finale. 

Sunday heralds the arrival of six shiny judges, chosen for their achievements in various corners of the digital world. The five best from each of the previous day’s heats will be announced and those teams will be readied to present their amazing projects one last time. 

The excitement will be tangible as the judges return after their deliberations over lunch to announce the winners of the Festival of Code 2013.                                                                                                                                                              

A fantastic week will be had by all.  So much will be learnt, so many new friendships forged which will last way beyond this week, so many new skills developed. And do you know the most amazing thing?  It’s free! 

And that is thanks to all of our centres that nurture these kids for the week - they do it voluntarily.  All of our wonderful mentors give up their time to help, guide, teach throughout the week and they do it voluntarily. 

Many of the staff at the Festival of Code are volunteers also.  The fantastic judges give their time freely. And our incredible sponsors give us the wherewithal to do the whole thing.

All this is happening in Birmingham for the second year running. A city breathing new life into digital investment and innovation, ensuring it has a rich pool of skills to make coding and creativity flourish.                                                                                                                                        

I know that when I look at the faces on the team hangout the week after Young Rewired State 2013, there will be no beard smoothing or twitchy grins, just happy smiles and bright eyes signalling the success of yet another Festival of Code.   

Let the festival begin!!!