A science education project which started in 2013 with just £500 funding has now been presented with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025 for bringing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) topics to some 30,000 young people.
Discovery Planet CIC, based in Ramsgate, was officially set up in 2014 by Xanthe Pitt, Nikki Hildesley and Dr Vicky Mason, to bring accessible, creative and educational experiences to the heart of the community in Thanet.
In November last year it was announced that the work had been recognised with the King’s Award – the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
On Saturday (April 11) The Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain and deputy Paul Barrett MBE made the official presentation in a ceremony held at the Royal Temple Yacht Club.
The event was attended by Discovery Planet volunteers, supporters and Ramsgate mayor Laurie Hudson.
Mr Barrett had been tasked with making the assessment of Discovery Planet and said he was ‘convinced Discovery Planet was worthy of an award.”
He said that decision was not up to him but when he found out the CIC had been recognised, he was “thrilled.”
Lady Colgrain praised the ‘positive impact on the community’ and said Discovery Planet had been selected from “a significant number of nominations.”
She said this was due to the “quality and research” of the work and thew “unique way (Discovery Planet) approaches educating young people and the whole of society in STEM.”
She added that the workshops were ‘wonderfully imaginative’ and that the award was also a celebration of volunteering.’
Nikki joked that with her E in physics GCSE and Xanthe’s D in domestic science they were the obvious choice for the STEM scheme!
She said the whole team was ‘delighted’ the receive the award and thanked volunteers, the University of Kent, Ramsgate Historical Society and all the young people who had taken part in workshops.
She also revealed Discovery Planet now has three new directors who were previously all volunteers.
Discovery Planet is one of 231 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the prestigious award for 2025.
Well deserved. Discovery Planet is brilliant and has had such a positive impact on young people and their understanding of science. Have been a few times supporting groups of young people and they’ve always been helpful and engaging. Well done to all!