The Helen Foundation

The Helen Foundation operates as a charitable trust from Shaldon, with a clear focus on enhancing arts engagement among young people across Teignbridge in South Devon. Established as a living memorial to Helen Elizabeth Kirk, a local actor known on stage as Helen Owen-Taylor and Helen Hezel, the organisation reflects her deep conviction in the arts as a means to stimulate imagination and personal growth in children.

Helen’s own involvement in theatre-in-education work, both locally and further afield, underscored the unique contribution creative activities can make to young lives, a principle that guides the foundation’s efforts.

Central to its work, the foundation subsidises arts-based workshops in state-funded schools covering Key Stages 2 to 5. Through a partnership with the arts education charity Daisi, schools receive support to engage professional artists at the beginning of each academic year.

This arrangement allows educational institutions to choose practitioners and art forms that best suit their pupils, ranging from performing and visual arts to media and design.

Such initiatives bring specialist expertise directly into classrooms, offering hands-on experiences that complement regular curricula and broaden access to creative practice.

In addition, the foundation supplies the Best Endeavour in the Arts award to schools throughout Teignbridge. Available without charge to primary and secondary establishments, this recognition highlights students who demonstrate particular commitment in artistic fields.

Schools determine recipients based on effort rather than outright achievement, presenting a perpetual glass plaque alongside individual replicas and certificates. The approach emphasises persistence and enthusiasm, aligning with the foundation’s broader aim to encourage participation in the arts irrespective of innate ability.

Rooted in the communities around Shaldon and Teignmouth, the foundation draws inspiration from the local groups that shaped Helen’s development, including Shaldon School, Teignmouth Community College, and various theatre companies in the area. By sustaining these connections, it continues to foster opportunities that echo her experiences and values. The motto “dare to dream” encapsulates this ethos, promoting confidence in creative expression among the region’s youth.

Overall, the foundation maintains a steady commitment to arts enrichment through targeted school programmes and thoughtful recognition schemes, contributing to the cultural landscape of Teignbridge.