The Future of Camphill School Aberdeen - Building Futures, Transforming Lives

Camphill School Aberdeen has been delivering life-transforming opportunities for children and young people with complex additional support needs for over 80 years. Their capital appeal campaign to raise £10 million in 10 years - Building Futures, Transforming Lives - will safeguard the incredible work the charity does for a further 80 years and beyond.

The charity has seen an unprecedented increase in demand for its services in recent years. But with their 10-year vision the charity will increase its capacity by 60% extending its workshops, developing a social enterprise, and building three new residential homes. Currently Camphill School Aberdeen provides day and residential support to over 100 children and young people with learning disabilities and complex additional support needs, but with the extension of the services Camphill School Aberdeen will be able to take an additional 60 day and residential students at the acute end of the disability spectrum.

Phase one: Residential House (number one) and Social Enterprise.

Phase one is expected to commence in the autumn, with the planned construction of a £3 million, 11-bedroom house, with independent living wing. Camphill School Aberdeen has already secured 50% of the funds for the home but more is needed to make it a reality.

The new residential house has been designed by award-winning Glasgow architects - Collective Architecture - who worked with Camphill’s young people to create a home that will be environmentally sustainable and fully accessible.

The first phase of the project also includes the development of a sustainable social enterprise, which is central to providing young people will opportunities to develop their skills. The plans aim to extend the charity’s bike repair workshop, organic farm shop, and refillery store to the wider community. As well as this, it aims to promote its 80-year history and showcase the traditional arts and crafts made in the workshops by students taught at the school.

Young people supported at Camphill often struggle in mainstream education and other care options - but thrive at Camphill School Aberdeen. Children and young people at Camphill grow in confidence, independence and fulfil their potential – often achieving outcomes their families never thought possible. The school’s unique approach integrates education, lifelong learning, and expert care within a therapeutic environment as part of a shared living community with onsite medical support.

The charity hope as many people as possible will get behind the campaign, the local communities support can truly transform the lives of children and young people with very complex additional needs.