AN ambitious campaign by Camphill School Aberdeen to increase the number of placements available for young people with learning disabilities and additional complex needs will help parents return to sustained employment – providing vital support during the current cost of living crisis, its Executive Director has said.
The charity, which is based across three campuses in the west of Aberdeen is aiming to expand the number of day and residential places it offers to young people aged 16 – 25 years old by 60% as part of a £10 million Building Futures, Transforming Lives capital appeal campaign. Its unique approach integrates education, lifelong learning, and expert care within a therapeutic environment as part of a shared living community with onsite medical support.
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Many parents who turn to Camphill, have previously been unable to work because of a shortage of reliable or full-day care provision. A study by the charity has found that 48% of parents were able to improve their employment status once their child began attending Camphill School Aberdeen. According to Poverty Action, families with a disabled child are two and a half times more likely than other families to have no parent working for more than 16 hours a week.
Alex Busch, Executive Director at Camphill School Aberdeen, said: “There are approximately 350 young people with complex needs aged 16-25 years without sufficient access to day services in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. This not only has a hugely detrimental impact on those individuals but it also often means that the opportunities for their primary carers to work are significantly hindered too and in most cases makes it very difficult for family members to find employment that works around care needs.
“With the cost of living crisis showing no signs of easing, expanding the number of places we are able to offer children and young people in the region has never been more urgent. In the last two years alone, we have seen a 250% increase in placement enquiries and that is growing every week. Our integrated approach allows us to provide consistent and tailored support to children and young people that truly unlocks their potential.”
Kate Monahan, whose son Wilf is now a residential pupil, says the support of Camphill School Aberdeen has transformed both hers and Wilf’s lives and has enabled her to take on some part-time working hours.
Kate said: “I truly don’t know where I’d be without the support of Camphill School Aberdeen, as being a full-time unpaid carer over many years is so overwhelming. Working was not really possible before Wilf became a resident at the school. I’m only now in a place mentally and physically after years of being Wilf’s caregiver 24/7 and fighting for his rights, where I can consider resuming work.
“During my time at home with Wilf, I was unsupported and isolated. I had nobody to turn to who understood what our family was going through. I had lost my self-esteem and my health really suffered due to stress and burn out. My resilience and well-being remained rock bottom and are still only partially restored”
Kate continued: “Looking after a child or young person with complex additional support needs is an essential full-time job, of love and dedication, but over time it becomes mentally and physically exhausting, which is often underappreciated in wider society.
“We are so lucky that Wilf secured a place in residential care at Camphill School Aberdeen, where he is settled and his needs are met, as we were in crisis. Many families aren’t as lucky and the current pressures of the cost-of-living crisis added to precarious, challenging lives will only make things worse. I am so grateful to Camphill that I now have an opportunity to help support my own family in a very different way.” Kate added.
The charity’s expansion plans include creating a social enterprise, called Murtle Market, on its Murtle Estate campus, near Bieldside. The market, which will be open to the public, will offer zero-waste organic produce and refilling store, a takeaway café, an internal awards centre and a heritage hub. It’s anticipated that more than 18,000 people in the local community will have access to the market’s refill products and organic, local and seasonal produce, saving a potential 41.5 tonnes of CO2 in its first year of trading.
As part of Camphill’s Learning For Life programme Murtle Market will create meaningful work experience and skills development opportunities for an additional 40 young people aged 16 – 25 years old both at the market itself and within the charity’s 15 vocational workshops, which include woodwork and bike repair workshops, craft therapies and organic farm. Work to develop the Murtle Market is expected to begin in Spring next year.
“Supporting parents to have the opportunity to seek and sustain long-term employment is one of the key aims of our Murtle Market along with ensuring each of our young people is able to transition to a positive destination when they leave Camphill School Aberdeen,” added Alex.
In addition to the social enterprise, phase one of the capital campaign will also see the development of a new 11-bedroomed residential house with independent living wing on the Murtle Estate. The home has been designed to be environmentally sustainable and fully accessible. It will also allow immediate access to outdoor spaces, retaining the connection to nature.
Since launching in February this year, the school has raised £2.3 million towards its £10 million target and has just over 38% left to raise to fulfil phase one (the social enterprise and the house) of its vision. Murtle Market is set to break ground in summer 2023 with the construction of the residential home expected to commence towards the start of the year.
To find out more about their capital fundraising appeal and how you can support Camphill School Aberdeen’s vision, please visit https://www.camphillschools.org.uk/capital-appeal/
