SOME Teignbridge schools are missing out on offers of grants to run arts-based workshops.

Nearly 60 schools in the area were notified by the Shaldon-based charity, The Helen Foundation, on how to claim £250 to underwrite the costs of an artist-based day.

But several have not even replied, which has frustrated Roger Kirk, one of the founders of the charity which supports youngsters in Teignbridge who want to break into the arts world.

All schools were emailed about the deal, which would mean they would only have to fork out about £50 for the workshops.

‘Schools themselves can select the type of artist they want and the time of the year that best suits them,’ he pointed out.

‘The offer is lower than in recent years, but last year was the most expensive in the nine-year history of the charity, because of the increased take up of subsidies by schools, and the challenging fundraising environment that many small charities are facing.

‘We are all too aware of the deluge of emails, letters and phone calls that flood into schools every day, so it’s easy to miss something or discover that the valuable spam filters that protect schools from unwanted emails, have swallowed charity emails too.

‘There’s no easy answer, but if schools think they have not heard from us, they can get in touch.

‘Send an email to contact@

thehelenfoundation or call 01626 871076.

‘We know how much young people value the stimulus, creativity and sheer excitement professional artists can bring into schools, and we do not want them to miss out.’