Icelandic group visits Camphill

Community from Iceland see work of Camphill

First published 25 Aug 2008

Members of The Camphill Village Trust (CVT) are hosted 22 Icelandic visitors at its two Scottish communities, Newton Dee in Aberdeen and Loch Arthur, near Dumfries.  

The visitors are council members from Icelandic community Solheimar, a community similar to the Camphill communities, which cares for 42 individuals with special needs and learning difficulties.  Solheimar is returning the visit which saw British CVT trustees from 11 communities spend time in the Icelandic community last year. 

As well as visiting CVT’s two Scottish communities, the Icelandic guests will have the opportunity to meet Aberdeen City Council members and officials at the Town House, visit the Murtle Estate and enjoy a ceilidh performed by a band from the Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire community Beannachar. 

Chief organiser and Chairman of the Local Management committee of Newton Dee, Barry Fenwick comments:

“We are really looking forward to our guests coming all the way from Iceland on a fact finding visit.  Solheimar actually preceded Camphill, opening in 1930 – the trustees will find out about Camphill’s history when they visit the archive of founder Karl Konig on the Camphill Estate in the Milltimber area of Aberdeen. 

“Our community has many similarities with Solheimar and it’s a great opportunity to share our sector leading practices and ideas with people so dedicated to making a difference to the lives of people with special needs.”

Petur Sveinbjarnarson, CEO of Solheimar and Director of the CVT continues:

“We have a great relationship with the Camphill communities of Britain and felt that it would be a good opportunity to discover CVT’s two Scottish communities and some places of interest at the same time.  When trustees visited Iceland we took them to see some of the sights and we are looking forward to doing the same here.”

The Newton Dee community is one of six communities in Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire.  Started at the Camphill Estate, Aberdeen in 1939 the Camphill Movement now extends to 100 centres in 23 countries worldwide.

Solheimar:

Solheimar was established on July 5, 1930 by founder Sesselja Hreindis Sigmundsdottir.

Around 100 people stay within the Solheimar community, 42 of which have special needs or learning difficulties. 

Solheimar has a council of representatives all of which have a term of four years.  They may be re-elected following this.  An executive board is also elected with a term of one year.  Petur Sveinbjarnarson has been the Chairman of the executive board of Solheimar since 1984.

Camphill Village Trust:

The Camphill Village Trust is a national charity supporting adults with learning disabilities, mental health problems and other special needs. They support people in their home life, work, social and cultural activities through our 11 urban and rural communities in England and Scotland.

The 11 communities of the Camphill Village Trust are part of the Camphill Movement which consists of around 50 communities in the UK and Ireland and more than 100 in some 20 countries worldwide. 

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