A DORSET company is helping youngsters reach for the stars – quite literally.

Atlas Elektronik UK has donated £2,000 towards a residential trip to NASA, in the United States for five young people from the Victoria Education Centre for Disabled Young People.

The youngsters will be pushing their boundaries on the trip, which is part of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, by undertaking astronaut training and visiting the Kennedy Space Centre and Cape Canaveral.

John Sutcliffe, head of business development at AEUK, said: “The young people who attend Victoria Education Centre are an inspiration. Their incredible enthusiasm, energy and desire to succeed in what will be an enormous challenge, both in their individual fundraising efforts and the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award itself is wonderful to witness.

The donation comes after Alison Dougle, a physical activity assistant at the Victoria Education Centre, approached AEUK and described the huge logistical and financial challenges ahead of the students, who also require carers to go with them to ensure they are well looked after.

Alison said: “We will work extremely hard to achieve this and through the incredible generosity of Atlas Elektronik UK the £2,000 donated has already paid for one student to make the trip.

AEUK has its headquarters at Winfrith, as well as waterside test facilities at Bincleaves in Weymouth. It has more than 300 employees and is the largest subsidiary in the Atlas Elektronik group.

A spokesman for the company said they are proud to support young people, and their interest in STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – subjects.

To donate to the young people at Victoria Education Centre, which is based in Poole, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/5-GO-4-GOLD