Camphill Community, Milton Keynes

Our speaker on 19th September was Tim Davies, CEO of Camphill Community in Milton Keynes.
This is a working community of 70 people, for adults with learning difficulties but sufficient independence to benefit from an urban situation. Partly integrated into the surrounding community, the eight households of Camphill Milton Keynes offer a secure and stimulating environment.
There are 37 Camphill Communities in the UK. The first was founded in Aberdeen in 1939 by Karl König, who had escaped Nazi persecution in his native Austria. It was König's view that every human being possessed a healthy inner personality that was independent of their physical characteristics, including characteristics marking developmental or mental disability, and the role of the school was to recognize, nurture and educate this essential self. The communities' philosophy, anthroposophy, states that "a perfectly formed spirit and destiny belong to each human being." The underlying principles of König's Camphill school were derived from concepts of education and social life outlined decades earlier by anthroposophist Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925).
Camphill Milton Keynes has land cultivated organically, and beehives. The bees helping to pollinate the plants. Other environmental initiatives include extensive solar power generation. Residents tend the gardens and bees and produce food for the cafe and shop. These are open to the public and staffed by residents. The community also has a superb bakery. Several of our Club members are regular customers.
The community places great importance on its residents meeting, eating and talking together.  
Camphill also has workshops at Pennyland where they refurbish tools to be sent to developing countries through "Tools for Self Reliance".
Camphill Milton Keynes hosts the excellent Chrysalis Theatre, at which Rotary Clubs including ours have held events. The theatre also plays an important role in the cultural development of Community residents.
Camphill Community provides an important and positive service in Milton Keynes. It is well worth a visit to the cafe and shop to meet the residents and learn more.