An arts-based charity set up in memory of a budding South Devon actress is already providing a helping hand to up-and-coming local performers - just months after it was established. Helen Kirk, 24, from Shaldon, died following a road accident on Boxing Day 2005. In January 2006, Helen's family, together with her boyfriend Ben Galloway, launched a charitable trust in her name to help local young actors, musicians, and artists. The Helen Foundation's main message is: "Just go for it - dare to dream!". That dream has already been realised for some talented young people, among them South Devon group Hey Molly.  | | Hey Molly on stage at the Eden Project |
The four-piece group are Jordan West (lead guitar and vocals), Ollie Irwin (lead vocals and guitar), Matt Key (bass guitar), and Rob Perry (drums). They won a competition run by the Helen Foundation and Teignmouth trio Muse to support Muse at their sell-out concert at the Eden Project in Cornwall in August 2006. Helen's parents, Roger and Annie, were at the Eden concert, and Roger went onto the stage to introduce Hey Molly and tell the audience about the Helen Foundation's aims. He told BBC Devon that it was amazing to see the charity's vision become reality: "Having this linked to the Helen Foundation and seeing people perform - this is what it's all about. "The Helen Foundation is all about inspiring people to show off their artistic talent." Muse are among the founding patrons of the Helen Foundation. All three band members knew Helen from the age of 10 and were devastated when she died. There is a dedication to Helen on their 2006 CD, Black Holes and Revelations, and it was their idea to hold a support band competition for the Eden gig.  | | Roger and Annie Kirk at the Eden Project |
Hey Molly's appearance at Eden received a lot of media publicity which has helped to raise the profile of the Helen Foundation. However, the charity's work is largely concentrated on schools in South Devon Prizes are offered for schools to hand out to the student who shows the greatest endeavour in the arts. There are also bursaries available to help young people aged 7-18 who would otherwise not be able to pursue the arts. And workshops are held, with specialist tuition on hand. The charity has already come a long way in such a short time and is achieving what it set out to do. And as Annie Kirk said as Hey Molly were strutting their stuff on the Eden stage: "Let's hope they get noticed as a result of it. "This is Helen's spirit living on." For more information about the Helen Foundation, visit the website linked from this page. | 
