The Helen Foundation

03/10/2026

GLENDINNING ACADEMY
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The production of “Matilda” was a tremendous success, showcasing the talent of so many students. Hard work, commitment and creativity from both staff and students brought the performance to life!
Student in year 9 said: It was euphoric and united so many people across the school. It was the most connected I’ve ever felt in my life: I’d do it again 10 billion times over, if I only could.”

Lois Harris (Director/Student support worker) said:
“This has to be the stand-out moment of my time so far at Glendinning. While Matilda is a story about courage, determination & believing in oneself, this year’s production reflected those very qualities in the young people on stage.

Throughout rehearsals students stepped outside their comfort zone and discovered strengths they’d never realised. Watching these students grow in confidence over the past 6 months has been the most rewarding part of this production. Every one of them should be so so proud.

Lois continued: I’d like to extend sincere thanks to The Helen Foundation, and its special Ella Philp Fund, for their large grant which supported the huge costs of staging such a performance. THF has helped create opportunities that our students will remember for years to come. I was awarded the Helen Foundation trophy in my school back in 2016, and it’s been a major part of my musical and professional journey. It’s so nice to give to my students now, the experiences that I received when at school.

The success of “Matilda” was a celebration of courage, friendship and the remarkable achievements that can happen when young people are given the opportunity to shine.

📸 GlendinningAcademy - Miss Trunchbull (Romanie, Yr 11)

02/10/2026

ALL SAINTS’ MARSH TRIUMPH!

(‼️ Children’s comments to read in “Comments”.)
Year 6 pupils at All Saints Marsh Primary enjoyed an exciting “Play in a Day” workshop with Konflux Theatre. During the day, pupils worked together to create and perform their own production, All Change, before presenting it to friends and families. The project encouraged children to think positively about their move to secondary school while exploring issues that mattered to them. Most importantly, they were able to develop their own ideas and take real ownership of the performance.

The school was delighted to see pupils take to the stage with confidence, courage and pride.

01/10/2026

CELEBRATING A WHOLE SUMMER OF CREATIVITY AND ACHIEVEMENT

The Helen Foundation has had wonderfully busy summer months, celebrating the creativity, talent and dedication of young people across Teignbridge schools. Many schools presented The Helen Foundation Award, recognising the young person who has shown the “best endeavour in the arts” during their time at school. We are delighted to share some of their inspiring achievements.

In addition, 12 schools staged musical theatre productions with the help of grants of up to £600 per school from The Helen Foundation and its associated Ella Philp Fund. The funding helped schools with the expensive performance rights plus costs including staging, lighting, room hire, props and publicity.

Read on, Facebook followers, to realise just some of the fantastic performances and achievements - whole group and individual - that we’ve been thrilled to support!

A STAR PERFORMANCE in an ALL-STAR “MATILDA” - Kingskerswell Primary School

Kingskerswell Primary School Drama Club enjoyed great success with its production of “Matilda”, with pupils impressing audiences through their confidence, enthusiasm and fantastic performances.

The school's Helen Foundation Award went to Gracie Murray Coller, who also took the lead role of Matilda. 🤩

The production also helped many children overcome their fears and grow in confidence.

They said:

“This year I was delighted to perform in Matilda. I took strong enjoyment in playing the mean but excellent Agatha Trunchbull. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without an outstanding directorial team. I learned that my nerves mean I care.”

“I was very proud to receive the role of Matilda. This was a big step for me as I’ve never had a main part in a show before, but I was determined to overcome my fear and fulfil the role. I loved doing the performance. I enjoyed it so much that I wish I could do it again! I did struggle to learn my lines, but I learned them just in time. Being the main role was such a big step, but I did it and all my years of drama have helped me get more confident.”

“I’ve learned to face my fear, and it also helped me step out of my comfort zone. I just love singing and dancing and acting. I’m really glad my school has a drama club. Before doing drama, I didn’t want even to say things in front of the class, but now I can sing a really hard song in front of 200 strangers.”

17/07/2026

This is wonderful to see! Hurray for Moretonhampstead school, with a fantastic entertainment directed by Mrs Luxton - who used to be one of my star school library helpers, back in the day, at Teignmouth Community School -

05/04/2026

Sweet! A supremely happy performance, clearly: our lovely trio of Honorary Patrons last week celebrated the 25 years since performing their first time at the O2 Academy Brixton in London. Reports say it was just wonderful to share the happiness!

12/03/2026

Meanwhile on Monday, Year 8s …. not just African themed printing with Simon Ripley (Double Elephant) but ALSO (simultaneously and equally ensured to get a good share of the allocated THF £800 funding, those same Year 8s were drumming and later performing in public on Djembe drums🪘🪘 and other African percussion instruments. The latter workshop was timed in perfectly by Allan Kerr from Shumba Arts to produce a superbly well-rounded day of art & music for a large year-group of 120 pupils.

Thank you to both music and art departments for perfect planning, helped by Daisi Arts, and to 120 students claiming their rightful stake in a thoroughly 🎭 Arts-ful 🎭 day!!

12/03/2026

So thrilled to have funded, on Helen’s 45th birthdate, this fabulous Double Elephant Print Workshop in the very school that Helen attended and loved. Well done students, staff, and Simon from Double Elephant in Exeter - AND, equally, that fantastic SIMULTANEOUS djembe drum tuition session from the mighty , involving extra percussion instruments and tying in with Simon’s DOUBLE ELEPHANT African art & printing session. 👏👏👏

Hope that the final performance went well? Comments anyone?

Shumba Arts

10/02/2026

A brilliant post from a very recent art workshop in Newton Abbot, led by Claire Jo Harmer a lively professional artist & experienced teacher - and what’s more she is Daisi registered which has become a perfect fit for THF funding, given all the stipulations on DBS, insurances and trusted practitioners that we and schools hold high in esteem.

Here’s the school’s take on the workshop day offered by Claire: we are SO happy that it was as excellent as we (and Daisi Arts) had promised!! 🤩

🎨This term, Years 4 and 5 had local artist joining them for a painting skills session.
🖌️Claire brought along her fantastic tools and showed us how to make and mix water colours properly.
🫟We loved using her resources and enjoyed practising with different brushes and wax before creating our own stories with creatures!
🤗It was an amazing day and we're so looking forward to hopefully working with Claire in the future.
☺️We are also incredibly grateful to The Helen Foundation who have enabled this experience to happen with their generous full funding.
Daisi also, which drew up the needed contracts between school, the artist Claire, and the funding charity,

10/02/2026

Can’t wait for Thursday evening- the standard of this school in Teignbridge is just SO high!
Try to get there if you can!

Don’t forget to join us for Live Sessions, our music concert taking place on Thursday at 6pm in the College Hall. This student‑led event features a fantastic mix of solo and small‑ensemble performances, all chosen by the performers themselves.
Free tickets are available via Ticket Source — please use the link below to reserve your seats. We’d love to see you there!
https://bit.ly/4sRzLO5

10/02/2026

Could be just the ticket for a musical youngster! The education team for this orchestra have a brilliant track record, including in relation to local music festivals. Ask Teignbridge council for any possible bursaries to help….

Calling secondary school teachers, parents, and carers! Do you know a student looking to gain work experience in an arts organisation? We’re on the lookout for brilliant young people (in years 10-13) who want to learn what it’s like to work behind the scenes at one of the UK’s favourite orchestras!

Deadline to submit your application form: Wednesday 4 March, 10am. Full details and how to apply here… https://bsolive.com/projects/work-experience/



Arts Council England