The family behind a science museum for children

When your children ask to visit a science museum, but there are none in the local area - what is the solution? For one couple it was to create their own.

Roy and Natalia Jones, from Delabole, Cornwall, are not scientists but decided to set up a not-for profit Community Interest Company and opened Discovering 42 in November 2021.

What started as one family's wish after lockdown to make educational museum trips accessible and affordable for their children has turned into a mission to give as many Cornish families on a budget the same experience.

In four years, the Bodmin venue has had 40,000 visitors, giving them a chance to explore science, art and sustainability in a hands-on way without the expense of travelling further afield to cities like London or Bristol.

Now it is expanding - moving to a disused factory in the same town with seven times the space for exhibits, a chemistry cafe and a new "maker space" where the public can create their own inventions.

Every exhibit is sustainably made with recycled materials by different artists, tasked with illustrating the different scientific principles behind things like light, sound and gravity.

It is hands-on and aims to use art to make science and engineering fun and interactive so children can learn through play.

Natalia said: "Bringing kids up in Cornwall, it's an amazing place for them.

"But during wet weather and the off season when everything is closed down, we kind of struggled to find places for them that were enriching and not just soft play areas where kids have fun, but you just sit there not knowing what to do with yourself.

"So we kind of just decided to make this for everyone."

The museum has won four awards since it opened and Roy is looking forward to expanding its offering.

He said: "We will bring some of exhibits from the last place, but we are also looking to create loads more.

"We've got a lot more space here so it means we can focus on different age ranges.

"There's also room for a maker space, which is really exciting.

"We are going to have wood working and metal working and laser cutting, 3D printing and just give access to all those tools that you might not have room for at home or can't afford."

The museum's founders are still fundraising to cover the costs of the move, with £85,000 raised through crowdfunding and money from The Postcode Lottery, council grants and the Town Regeneration and Investment Programme.

They said another £35,000 was needed to pay for fixing the electrics in the building which they plan to be open on the 28 February for Bodmin's contemporary arts festival, Flamm.

The aim of the maker space is to allow people of different ages to exchange ideas and skills with a plastics lab, artists' workshops and a scrap store.

Oak Cowles, who is studying science at A-level, said he was particularly excited about the space.

He said: "I definitely think the next generation of inventors and scientists could be born here."

Another student, Madeleine Gardner, added: "It's about access and making sure everyone can have that opportunity.

"It's just nice to have something you don't have to stress about the cost."

There is now room for a cafe at the site too, but its got a twist as the drinks are a learning experience.

All of the "magic mocktails" on the menu included a chance to learn about the different properties of liquids.

Roy said: "They all show children different scientific principles that you'll find in chemistry.

"So we've got one about density, making foams and polymers and all sorts of fun stuff.

"It's all about hands on play and learning science through play."