Discovering42:Grow a grassroots museum in Cornwall

Aim

Discovering42 is a grassroots science and sustainability museum in Cornwall, help us transition to a bigger venue and create a makerspace

Our Story

Discovering42 is the UK's first dedicated science and sustainability museum. It began as a grassroots experiment to reimagine what a family day out at a museum could be if it was based on learning through play, built by artists, shaped by the community, and made almost entirely from waste materials.

Despite working on a shoestring budget, Discovering42 has thrived over the past five years. Thousands of visitors of all ages have explored our interactive exhibits and workshops. We’ve become a well-loved, award-winning museum where creativity, curiosity, and climate awareness come together. 

Why We Exist

Our work goes far beyond the exhibition. We’re dedicated to helping young people and adults discover their potential through informal, hands-on learning opportunities. We believe everyone should have the chance to learn by doing, taking things apart, figuring out how they work, and using their imagination to make something new.

Too often, schools lack the time and resources to offer this kind of practical learning, and many youth programmes focus mainly on sport or entertainment. While valuable, these don’t always equip young people with the transferable skills they need to feel capable and confident in adulthood.

In a world of screens and consumerism, many of us rarely see how things are made or that we can be the creators of solutions. Our unusual workshops highlight the power of experimentation and practical skill-building, proving that sustainability doesn’t mean giving things up, but discovering new possibilities.

At Discovering42, learning is intergenerational where children, parents, and grandparents learn side by side, sharing ideas and skills. We’ve seen how this strengthens relationships, reduces isolation, and improves wellbeing while reconnecting people with the joy of making. We also offer work and mentoring for under-16s, giving them the chance to develop confidence through responsibility and real-world experience.

Cornwall lacks wheelchair-friendly venues, and Discovering42 has been determined to offer a space that goes beyond accessibility and leads with research into inclusive exhibit design.

Our Next Step: Bigger venue with a Makerspace

The new Makerspace will be a welcoming “mind gym” for adults and teens, boosting wellbeing through creativity and connection. It will include a woodworking studio, digital fabrication equipment, and a plastic upcycling lab.

This community space will bring people together to learn practical skills, share ideas, and reimagine waste materials for projects and artworks. It will provide access to tools and equipment that are often too expensive or unavailable to the general public.

Whether just dipping in for a workshop or testing out micro-business ideas, the Makerspace will reduce isolation, build confidence, and nurture a sense of belonging.

Why Fund Us

We’ve now outgrown our current space. With your help, we’re aiming to raise at least £20,000 to help towards the costs of:

- Moving into our new, larger premises and fixing it up

- Creating more interactive upcycled exhibits 

- Opening our community Makerspace

- Offering studio space for local artists and makers

- Welcoming more schools, families, and visitors year-round

Your support will help us turn this vision into reality.

This project successfully funded on 7th February 2026