The Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire communities

Background on the Aberdeen communities

 

The six communities in Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire provide education, training, work and supported living within a therapeutic environment for around 250 individuals, the majority of whom have complex special needs. Most come to Camphill through local authority placement.

Each of the Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire communities is a separate charity, but united by their common purpose, ethos and their links within in the Camphill Movement. 

CAMPHILL SCHOOL ABERDEEN

Camphill School Aberdeen provides a multi-disciplinary programme of care, education and therapy for around 100 pupils, aged from three through to 25 who have complex special needs. In total, some 350 individuals live and work on the Camphill School campuses.

The school has three campuses in Aberdeen – Camphill, Murtle and Cairnlee. The latter provides further training for young adults aged 16 to 25 years.  

The placements are local-authority funded and the pupils are mainly resident. All pupils, whether day or residential, belong to a house community. Within these house communities, life is shared with house coordinators, teachers, therapists and student co-workers – the majority of whom live in, some with their families.

Recognising the high standard of provision, Camphill School Aberdeen holds the national Autism Accreditation, awarded by the National Autistic Society in a scheme supported by the Department of Health. 

As part of its commitment to high standards in special needs education, the school offers co-workers a chance to participate in the BA Programme in Curative Education run in partnership with the University of Aberdeen.  This practice based training is the first of its kind in the UK and results in a recognised professional qualification for residential care work.   

Curative Education is a multi-disciplinary professional approach to the physical, emotional and spiritual well being of children and adults with complex special needs. It includes care, education, craft and artistic activities along with a medical, therapeutic element.

Amber Kindergarten, Camphill’s Early Childhood Centre located on the Murtle campus, is part of Camphill School Aberdeen.  An inclusive nursery for children with or without special support needs, Amber Kindergarten is registered with the Care Commission and has a partnership agreement with Aberdeen City Council Education Department . 

• The Camphill School Aberdeen website is at www.camphillschool.org.uk

NEWTON DEE COMMUNITY

Newton Dee Community, in the Bieldside area of Aberdeen, is a centre of the Camphill Village Trust. It creates home, meaningful work and personal development opportunities for adults with learning disabilities and other special needs. 

In all some 180 people live and work within the Newton Dee community. Around half have some learning disability. The ethos of Newton Dee is that everyone brings to the community different qualities and abilities. Every member of the community is respected and appreciated as an individual. 

Newton Dee’s home life is based around large and small households ranging from four to 16 people. These offer supported living, some within the context of a family setting. There are also apartments, bedsits and independent living opportunities within the community. 

Extending to 180 acres, Newton Dee has some 20 houses within its wooded grounds. The community’s two organic farms, operated on biodynamic principles, extend to 120 acres. 

In addition to the farms, Newton Dee’s residents may work in the store, café, bakery and gift shop, which are all popular with the local community and visitors. Work opportunities are also provided by the community’s market gardens and a number of workshops and services, including the joinery metal, craft and toy workshops. 

Camphill Architects, located in Newton Dee, is responsible for the unique design of many of the Camphill Movement’s buildings locally and around the world. 

• The Newton Dee Community website is at www.newtondee.org.uk 

BEANNACHAR 

Beannachar – in Banchory Devenick just outside Aberdeen – is a training centre for young adults with special needs. The community provides a therapeutic environment within which the young people can find the support and guidance they need to develop their potential. 

Some 60 people live and work in the Beannachar community, providing support for up to 32 students, between the age of 18 and 30. Most of the students live in the community, but there are up to 11 day places.

Meaningful work opportunities include the organic, biodynamic farm, the market gardens, three kitchens and a laundry. There are also workshops for woodwork, weaving, candle-making and the Beannachar Herb Workshop, which produces a variety of herbal products. Some students attend college in Aberdeen. 

• The Beannachar community website is at  www.beannachar.co.uk

SIMEON CARE

Simeon, on the Cairnlee Estate in Bieldside, is the only community in the worldwide Camphill Movement which specifically meets the needs of older people. The residents come from many backgrounds. Some may have been Camphill co-workers or residents, some come from the local area, others from further afield. 

Co-workers and their families live together with 17 residents. All residents have their own bedrooms, but share community life in the dining room, sitting room and kitchen. Members of the Simeon community organise many social and artistic activities and residents enjoy holidays and weekend breaks together.

• The Simeon Care website is at www.simeoncare.org

TIGH A’CHOMAINN

Based in a former manse in Peterculter, Tigh a’Chomainn is a home catering for six independent young people, aged 16 upwards, who have special needs. Tigh a’Chomainn (which means Common House in Gaelic) provides the support of living in an extended family unit. There is also provision for one respite care place.  

In keeping with its status as a home for those with a degree of independence, most of the residents go out to work during the day. Tigh a’Chomainn is close to the shops, library and other facilities in the Peterculter area of Aberdeen, and most residents try to lead a relatively independent lifestyle.

• The Tigh a'Chomainn website is at www.camphilltac.org.uk

CAMPHILL MEDICAL PRACTICE

The Camphill Medical Practice on Murtle Estate provides a full range of NHS primary care services to the local community, along with the intensive specialist care required by the children and adults with special needs in Camphill Aberdeen City and Shire communities. 

The practice also offers a specialised approach to developmental problems, learning disabilities, mental health problems, long term illnesses and cancer, receiving referrals from GPs and other healthcare professionals throughout the North East.  

Its innovative approach is based on Anthroposophic medicine and therapies. This holistic approach treats each person as an individual, recognising the importance of physical, psychological, spiritual and social wellbeing for full health. 

Extending, rather than replacing conventional medicine, doctors practising Anthroposophic medicine have additional understanding and therapies which they can bring to the treatment of their patients. Patient, doctor and therapist are seen as partners in the healing process.

In 1999 the practice won the Innovative Practice Award from the Royal College of General Practitioners for this integrated and radical approach to primary care. In 2006 achievement of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ Quality Practice Award recognised its continuing development and ‘excellent standard of care and service’.  

• The Camphill Medical Practice website is at www.camphillmedical.org.uk

 

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ken@kenmcewen.co.uk

 

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