Discovery Planet delivers a programme of accessible learning experiences from a welcoming venue on Ramsgate High Street
Everyone in Thanet has access to an inspiring space, where they can participate in enriching activities, and build a vibrant, cohesive community
-
To deliver a programme of inspirational, enriching learning activities, with an emphasis on STEM.
-
To broaden participation by listening to our community and identifying barriers to taking part.
-
To provide opportunities for people to come together and find joy through shared positive experiences
-
To enhance our offer by collaborating with a range of individuals, organisations, and businesses
-
To maintain a creative, innovative approach, pushing boundaries to inspire participants.
-
To create opportunities for work experience and volunteering.
-
To contribute to a vibrant High Street.
-
To provide infrastructure support to other individuals and organisations, so that they can deliver activities of benefit to the community.
Discovery Planet was founded by Xanthe Pitt, Nikki Hildesley and Dr Vicky Mason when we first brought a planetarium to Ramsgate in 2014. Since then, over 25,000 people have enjoyed our interactive workshops, events and exhibitions. Our team has expanded to include volunteers of all ages and walks of life, and we collaborate with a wide range of organisations, individuals and businesses. We now operate from a former optician’s shop on Ramsgate High Street, which has been transformed to create Discovery Planet HQ, a bright, welcoming, and inspiring space for the whole community.
Discovery Planet is a social enterprise, which means that any revenue we generate is invested back into producing activities of benefit to the community.
Over the years we have mentioned in the British Science Association’s 2018 Impact Report; used as a case study in a paper published in Research for All, featured as an example of best practice in a book published by Imperial College, smashed flowers, put our heads in real clouds, danced an Ethiopian Limbo, eaten beetles, and much more!
Winner of the Royal Society of Chemistry Inclusion and Diversity Prize 2024
Shortlisted for a Creative Lives Award 2024
Winner of the South East Physics Network Award for Innovation 2023
Winner Ramsgate Society Award 2023
Winner of the Ogden Trust Award for Longitudinal Projects to Widen Participation 2022
Winner Heart of the Community Award from Kent Media and London Array 2018
Commended National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement - Images of Public Engagement Awards 2017
47, High Street, Ramsgate, CT11 9AG
In 2022 we took over a former optician’s shop on Ramsgate High Street and used our magic to transform it into Discovery Planet HQ; a bright, welcoming, and inspiring space for the whole community.
From DPHQ we run a year-round programme of workshops, with a focus on STEM, developed in collaboration with University researchers and exciting local businesses.
We also run activities designed to connect the community through shared positive experiences. High Street Social Club, for example, was set up to tackle loneliness and isolation, and Happy Mondays, run by a team of local experts in creative engagement, ensures that people have a safe place to socialise and express themselves each week. In 2023 we celebrated the positive contribution of Migrants with a party and an exhibition, and will do the same this year,
Our space is available for other local organisations and individuals to hire at affordable rates, so that they can run activities of benefit to the local community. We can support you to develop your idea, facilitate the event, help find some funding, or simply let you get on with it. Just get in touch by calling Nikki on 07887 614 581