FINAL ROUND-UP OF THF’S SUPER-BUSY SUMMER ACTIVITIES...

BLACKPOOL PRIMARY SCHOOL, LIVERTON – PERCUSSION AND RHYTHM WORKSHOP

The school wrote:

"Year 5 pupils took part in an exciting percussion and rhythm workshop here at Blackpool Primary School. The session was led by Daisi-registered artist Lyndon Forster and kindly funded by The Helen Foundation.

The workshop was lively hands-on introduction to rhythm and percussion. Pupils explored a variety of instruments, worked as a team, and expressed themselves through music - all while having a lot of fun! It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they created rhythms together and learned new musical skills. It was fantastic to see pupils so engaged and enthusiastic about music. Opportunities like this are invaluable in enriching our curriculum and inspiring young minds. Thanks for the generous support of The Helen Foundation, all pupils were able to participate at no cost to the school, helping us ensure that every child could enjoy this creative experience. We are proud to continue offering opportunities that support curiosity and enrich learning.”

Pupil feedback 

“Thank you for making it fun and it was a blast of excitement. I have never seen a hand-pan before, but I really enjoyed it.”

“I would definitely like to save up for a hand-pan when I’m older. I had so much fun.

"The hand-pan was super fun.”

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COOMBESHEAD ACADEMY  - CARDBOARD PORTRAITS 

The school wrote:

“Students at Coombeshead Academy had an unforgettable opportunity to work alongside internationally-renowned sculptor James Lake as part of a creative workshop designed to support and inspire learners preparing for their GCSE art qualifications. The multi-day workshop, delivered in collaboration with Daisi Arts and generously funded by The Helen Foundation, gave students hands-on experience with professional art techniques, creative problem-solving, and valuable insights into life as a working artist. James Lake, known for his powerful large-scale cardboard sculptures and inclusive approach to art-making, guided students through a series of projects while encouraging them to think outside the box,  both literally and creatively. The experience not only enhanced students' technical and conceptual understanding of art but also offered them a meaningful opportunity to connect with a working artist, bringing fresh perspective to their studies.

The school extends its sincere thanks to James Lake, The Helen Foundation, and Daisi Arts for their generosity, creativity, and commitment to empowering young people through the arts. Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said:"Giving students access to professional creatives is an important part of helping them see what’s possible through the arts. This workshop is a brilliant example of how partnerships can bring curriculum learning to life, and we’re proud to see our schools nurturing the next generation of artists."

Student feedback

“James showed me some great ideas to structure my sculpture. I made an anglerfish which was challenging, but I managed to do it. James was very helpful and supportive as well as going out of his way to make sure we all got the most out of our time”

“I was really proud of my piece and the workshop was really cool to do as we have never done anything like that before. As a result of participating in the workshop, I've learnt brand new ways of manipulating cardboard to create detailed shapes.”

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MORETONHAMPSTEAD SCHOOL – PLAYWRITING ABOUT DARTMOOR PRISON

The school wrote:

“Moretonhampstead School enjoyed a hardworking and highly creative day with MED theatre last term. The children had complete creative ownership throughout the process, generating ideas for the plot and characters, writing the script themselves and then rehearsing and performing it as their own small theatre company. Their play saw modern day children from Moretonhampstead and Princetown meeting ghosts from various eras all the way back to the Napoleonic Wars. The ghosts were pacing the corridors of Dartmoor Prison - a creative way to bring this local history element of their learning to life. This was a Helen Foundation-supported workshop project managed by Daisi Arts. It wouldn’t have been possible without THF support.”

The children said afterwards:

“Learning my lines was hard because I can’t memorise lines, but I overcame this by practising all day.”

“The hardest thing for me was performing for an audience because I don’t like people watching me.” 

“I loved getting into character and putting on an Irish accent.” 

“The hardest thing to do was not to laugh at my fellow actors during the funny scenes!”

“I learned that to overcome your fear, first you have to face it.”