The Camphill Wellbeing Trust is a Scottish charity, based in Aberdeen, supporting the wellbeing of patients and their families through an integrated, person-centred approach to health, education and social care. The charity works with people of all ages, including those with learning disabilities, additional support needs, mental health challenges, cancer and long-term conditions, offering therapies, social prescribing (a non-medical option to help improve health) and community-based health initiatives.
In 2020, the Camphill Wellbeing Trust launched an ambitious and exciting initiative, The Compass Project, with the vision of transforming the former Waldorf School site in Aberdeen, into a centre offering practical solutions for healthy and sustainable lifestyles. Initially the Aberdeen Convalescent Hospital in 1897, the site had been unoccupied since the former Waldorf school closed in 2014.
Saturday 6th September marked an important milestone for the charity when it officially opened its multi-purpose North Point building on the site of the project, following vast restoration work. North Point will provide an accessible and welcoming space for the local community to enjoy different sports, physical activity, and connection. The official opening of the building was carried out by Iain Duguid, one of the Compass Project’s most committed volunteers, who has dedicated an impressive 610 volunteer hours at the site over the past two years!
He commented, “I just love spending time at Compass and always feel that my efforts here are both valued and impactful. Seeing the redevelopment of the North Point building has been great and it was a real honour to be asked to take part in the official opening.”
Aileen Primrose, Camphill Wellbeing Trust’s Chief Executive, added, “Camphill has an 80-year history of caring for the built and natural environment. Over the past five years, driven by our staff and powered by our volunteers, the sustainable transformation of the Compass site has been incredible and has continued this ethos. The renovation of the North Point building was a major component of the latest phase of our planned redevelopment of the overall site, and we are delighted that it is now officially open. Our thanks go to everyone who donated, in any way, towards the project, and particularly to all of our dedicated volunteers whose hard work and commitment have been critical to the significant transformation of the site to date.”
The opening was a key part of a day of celebrations at Compass, held to mark the progress achieved at the site to date, recognise the achievements of Camphill Wellbeing Trust staff and acknowledge the incredible support of the 1,200 local volunteers who have donated more than 13,000 hours of their time to the project since its inception in 2020.
The Camphill Foundation UK & Ireland provided a grant of £15,000 to the Compass Project in 2023, to help towards the cost of the development work, and it is wonderful to see their vision coming to life!
To find out more about Camphill Wellbeing Trust and their Compass Project, please click here.
