A Cumbrian charity that has inspired more than 63,000 young people has been presented with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Pete Woolaghan, co-founder and chairman of the REACT Foundation, which has been inspiring young people across Cumbria to enjoy science and engineering since 2004, said the award – the equivalent of an MBE – was recognition for the amazing work by the group’s volunteers.
Pete, who set up the foundation along with pioneering business REACT Engineering’s co-founders Steve Knight and Trevor Craig to mark REACT’s tenth anniversary, said: “This award is about the volunteers. They are the people who make it happen and make it real. This is recognition for all that they do to help young people.
“It’s also a thank you to the wider group of people across the community, teachers in schools. colleges and universities, and parents who help support the work of the foundation.
“The REACT Foundation is about motivating young people into careers in science and engineering. I want the foundation to open young people’s eyes to what opportunities are out there so they can make informed decisions.
“I don’t want one young person in Cumbria growing up not knowing about engineering and science.
“It may not be for them, but I want to make sure no child grows up without knowing it’s an option and therefore doesn’t miss out on opportunities.”
Lord-Lieutenant presents the award
The Lord-Lieutenant of Cumbria, Claire Hensman, presented the REACT Foundation team with the Queen’s Award yesterday.
“The projects and schemes run by this remarkable, volunteer-led organisation are extremely inclusive, and more than 63,000 children have been involved with the excellent work carried out by the REACT Foundation since it was founded in 2004, and that is an incredible figure,” she said.
“Charities often rely on volunteers who have retired but what sets the REACT Foundation apart is that there are often young volunteers closer to the age of participants, and that certainly helps the effectiveness of the message that they too can forge careers in the industry.
“The REACT Foundation is indeed an excellent and remarkable charity which is efficiently operated, and I can think of no worthier winner of the Queen’s Award.”
Targeted programme for young people
The charity runs an extensive, targeted programme of events for young people including annual Science Shows sponsored by RWE and the University of Cumbria, and led by outreach developers from the national Science Museum in London.
The Foundation’s Science Shows have grown to reach 7,500 young people in Cumbria annually and more than 84,000 students since they began.
The charity also runs ICanToo programmes with local schools, a midweek REACTioneers evening club for young children in the community which has been visited by Princess Anne and held a groundbreaking Infinity science festival in Cumbria attended by Professor Brian Cox.
All the activities are run by volunteers, including visits to science events aross the UK.
Kyle Hannah, 27, a senior consultant engineer for REACT Engineering and volunteer for the REACT Foundation runs activities for young children at the weekly REACTioneers club.
He said: “If it wasn’t for REACT then I wouldn’t have known about what great opportunities in engineering were out there, so for me, volunteering is a way of providing that advice and guidance to young people to highlight the career paths and inspire them to take this route.
“It’s so rewarding volunteering and teaching young people, and I see it as my way of giving something back for helping me on my career journey.
“I get such a kick from volunteering because I like to learn, and preparing a session also allows me to learn new things if I have to research particular topics.”
Far-reaching impact
Volunteer, and a trustee of the foundation, Kayleigh Daniels, has seen the positive impact the work by volunteers has on her three daughters, Poppy, 12, Scarlett, 9, and Edith, 8.
Poppy, who wants to be an astrophysicist when she grows up, attends REACTioneers club with her sisters and has been visited by foundation volunteers in school. She said: “They help make science fun, and I love learning new things and getting to do lots of experiments. I definitely want to learn more about science in the future because of the sessions.”
Steve Knight, who founded the REACT Foundation with Pete Woolaghan and Trevor Craig, said: “When we started the foundation, our goal was to create opportunities for young people in West Cumbria who didn’t necessarily know they could go on to study STEM subjects in higher education.
“We wanted to encourage people to study these subjects at university or start careers in the industry, and when you see one young person get a university degree or get a job in engineering, then you know the work the foundation is doing is worthwhile.”
Phil Redfern, managing director of REACT Engineering which supports the REACT Foundation with both time and financial backing added: “We support the REACT Foundation because we fundamentally believe that helping young people in our community is the right thing to do.
“A lot of people give up their free time and volunteer to support the work of the Foundation. It’s great to see them receive this recognition.”
