Page 9 - C.A.L.L. #39 - Spring 2015

Caring village faces upheaval

Sue Nelson
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk

For almost 60 years Botton has been a bustling community where able-bodied
volunteers have devoted their lives to providing an environment that enables
people with learning disabilities and other special needs to accomplish things in

their lives that would otherwise be difficult or impossible.

Run by the Camphill Village Trust, home life is provided in an extended family

setting in a number of houses, with the volunteers – called co-workers -
providing succour and support to those with special needs who are treated and

looked after as part of the family. In return for providing this precious family
life, co-workers get their accommodation and living expenses paid.

The trust’s philosophy has always been that each member of the community has
their own unique capability that they contribute to the life of the village.

So they might work on the village farms or in the shop, the bakery or café. They
could be found in the village creamery or perhaps the bookshop, sawmill or craft

shop. But wherever they go in the village, whatever they contribute, the
Camphill ethos allows everyone to offer something of themselves to the
community, bringing dignity, self worth and achievement.

Now all this appears to be under threat. Co-workers – many of who have devoted
their lives to Botton, bringing up their own families here while providing a family

home to those with special needs – are being told their voluntary role will
disappear and some of them will be taken on as employees. Those who aren’t will

have to leave the village.

Villagers will apparently be encouraged to live more independently with paid

shift-working care staff taking care of their needs. The fear is that out will go
the family home philosophy and in its place will come a hostel-like doctrine
similar to the care in the community provision we see in our towns and cities.

And the real foreboding is that ultimately Botton itself will disappear as a
result. Paid care workers and managers take over, family homes are broken up,

the sharing philosophy ebbs away and the village’s self-sufficiency vanishes.

9