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       Camphill  moves  forward  –  the  families’  voice  and  perspective  

 Camphill  Families  and  Friends,  as   the  voice  of   families,  would   like   to  present  a  special   families’   perspective   on   the  way   in  which   Camphill   is  moving   forward  amid  the  current  changes  and  challenges.  Our  recent  series  of  very  well  attended  meetings   on   the   challenges   facing   Camphill   have   produced   a   sympathetic  understanding  of  these  developments.      Our  meetings   have   also   revealed   the   truly   vast   amount   of   family   support   and  enthusiasm   that   can  be  harnessed   to  benefit  Camphill.     Families  are  a  positive,  independent  and  powerful  voice  that  can  be  used  to  represent  and  articulate  to  the  world  at   large  the  successes  of  Camphill   intentional  community  living.     It   is  after  all  we  families  who  place  so  much  trust  in  Camphill  and  want  our  relatives  to  continue  to  lead  such  enriching  lives  within  Camphill  communities.    Armed   with   this   knowledge   and   commitment,   we   are   now   in   a   position   to  present   our   own   perspective   on   the   essential   question   -­‐   How   to   retain  Camphill’s  principles,  practices  and  activities  in  a  time  of  transition.    We   present   our   perspective   to   all   stakeholders   in   Camphill   –   to   residents,  trustees,   co-­‐workers,   managers,   employees   and   families,   to   all   charities,  communities,  groups  and  individuals  who  hold  Camphill  dear.  We  shall  continue  to  do  so  in  further  meetings  and  forums  at  all  levels.    There   are   several   crucial   issues   which   are   key   to   Camphill’s   future.   We  acknowledge  that  the  many  Camphill  charities  and  communities  are  at  different  stages  in  responding  to  the  challenges.  Some  have  already  developed  extensively  the  sort  of  changes  which  we  support  –  for  which  we  thank  them  -­‐  while  others  are  about  to  do  so.  While  we  recognise  that  there  are  many  and  various  ways  of  reaching  the  same  goals  and  that  much  further  detailed  discussion  is  needed,  our  perspective  is  simple  and  clear  on  the  following  matters  and  we  urge  all  Camphill  stakeholders  to  help  in  their  successful  implementation.    

1. Strategic  leadership    Strategic   leadership   for   the  whole  of   the  Camphill  Movement   is  needed  within  a  more  clearly  structured  English  and  Welsh  region.  We  strongly  encourage   and   support   any   initiatives   that   will   lead   to   such   a  development   so   that   Camphill  might   experience  more   effective   support  and  might  speak  with  one  voice  to  the  outside  world.  

2. Management  

We   would   urge   that   management,   while   adhering   to   charity   law   and  social  care   legislation,  should  be  participatory  and   inclusive,  drawing   in  all   component   groups   in   the   community   who   have   so   much   to   offer,  

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especially   in   matters   concerning   the   community-­‐based   life   of   the  intentional  communities  in  which  our  relatives  live.      

 3. The  role  of  Camphill  co-­‐workers  

As   families  we  know   full  well   that   the   close,   supportive  and  motivating  relationships   between   Camphill   co-­‐workers   and   our   relatives,   together  with   the   enriching   community   life   provided   by   co-­‐workers,   are   the  keystones  of  our  relatives’  lives.      In  this  context  we  would  support  the  following  developments:  

• The   vital   role   and   concept   of   Camphill   co-­‐workers   should   be  retained   and   emphasised   in   the   spirit   of   the   Camphill  Memorandum.  We  are  truly  concerned  about  the  continuing  loss  of  carrying   co-­‐workers   and   we   urge   Camphill   charities   and  communities   to   develop   innovative   and   revitalising   ways   of  recruiting  and  retaining  co-­‐workers.      

• There   should   be   parity   between   needs-­‐based   and   employed   co-­‐workers.   This   will   recognise   the   swiftly   increasing   numbers   and  the   continuing   role   of   employed   co-­‐workers.   Most   importantly  Camphill  should  recognise  and  emphasise  the  essential  similarities  between   different   types   of   co-­‐workers,   particularly   their  anthroposophical   intent   and   their   commitment   to   the   intentional  community.    

 • The   concept   of   community   should   be   extended   to   incorporate  

other   groups   such   as   employees,   families   and   local   people   who  might   wish   to   be   associated   with   the   community   in   a   variety   of  ways.   This   has   already   started   to   happen   through   the   Camphill  Essentials  project  and  we  strongly  urge  its  further  development.    

4. Personalisation  We  believe   in   the  personalisation  and  human  rights  agenda  but  believe  that   it   is   essential   that   it   be   implemented   in   the   context   of   a   Camphill  intentional  community.    

5. Communication  We   strongly   encourage   the   start   already  made   in   several   charities   and  communities   in   increasing   all   round   communication.   Families,   as  stakeholders   and  partners,   need   and   value   regular   and   full   information  about  what   goes   on   in   their   individual   community   and   also   at   a  wider  charity  level  and  Camphill  level.    

6. Family  Partnerships  As   families  we  realise  how  exceptionally  supportive  and  helpful  we  can  be   as   stakeholders   and   partners   in   the   on-­‐going   development   of  Camphill.  We  would  like  to  support  the  formation  of  Family  Partnerships  

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in  each  Camphill  community  or  charity.  Families  are  a  force  waiting  to  be  harnessed.   On   the  wider   level  we   provide   an   independent   voice   in   the  public  arena  and,  at  a  local  level  within  each  community,  we  could  set  up  effective  partnership  working.    

7. Cross-­‐Camphill  co-­‐operation  We  urge  Camphill   communities   and   charities   to  work   together   because  they  have  so  much  to  learn  from  one  another.  Communities  that  are  now  embarking   on   change   can   learn   much   from   the   experience   of   those  communities  who   have   found   practical  ways   to   keep   alive   the   spirit   of  Camphill.       CFF   can   provide   a   vital   forum   for   the   cross-­‐pollination   of  ideas.    

 To  our  members  

 We   encourage   all   our   members   to   help   to   spread   the   word   of   our  campaign  among  families  and  others  who  hold  Camphill  dear.    We  urge   you   to   attend  our  next  meeting   in   London  on  23rd   June   to  develop   practical   ways   of   retaining   Camphill’s   principles,   practices  and  activities  amid  the  current  changes.      To  all  stakeholders  in  Camphill  who  receive  this  message    Our  message  and  our  campaign  are  addressed  to  all  stakeholders   in  Camphill  and  to  all  who  hold  Camphill  dear.  Please  would  you  pass  this  on  to  others  who  might  be  interested  and  able  to  help  us.      WE   WILL   BE   DELIGHTED   TO   HEAR   ANY   COMMENTS   AND  SUGGESTIONS   THAT   YOU   MIGHT   HAVE   ABOUT   OUR   CAMPAIGN,  PARTICULARLY   ANY   POSITIVE   SUGGESTIONS   ABOUT   ITS  ESSENTIAL   PURPOSE   –   TO   RETAIN   CAMPHILL’S   PRINCIPLES   AND  PRACTICES  IN  A  TIME  OF  CHANGE  AND  CHALLENGE.    PLEASE  SEND  YOUR  COMMENTS  TO  EVAN  DAVIES,  CFF  SECRETARY  (evanandjennifer@hotmail.com;   6   Raisdale   Road,   Penarth,   CF64  5BN)  WHO  WILL  PASS  ON  YOUR  THOUGHTS  TO  THE  TRUSTEES.