The Camphill Wellbeing Trust is a Scottish charity, supporting the wellbeing of patients and their families through an integrated, person-centred approach to health, education and social care.
In 2020, the charity launched an ambitious and exciting project – COMPASS, 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 has been unoccupied since the former Waldorf school closed in 2014.
The site of the project is naturally beautiful and historic and has huge potential to offer something quite special to many people in the surrounding community, however, this won’t be without challenge. The site consists of a C-listed main building; a multi-purpose hall; a craft, art and science block; kindergarten and primary school buildings as well as gardens and a woodland area – all to be refurbished / repurposed for use.
The Camphill Wellbeing Trust applied for a grant to go towards the development work, and last month, it was an honour to visit the COMPASS site and deliver a cheque for £15,000.
(Pictured Peter Bateson, Camphill Foundation UK & Ireland, handing the cheque over to Stefan Geider – GP (anthroposophic) at Camphill Wellbeing Trust and chair of Camphill Estates)
The aim of the project is to create inclusive spaces that serve and engage the local and wider community of Aberdeen, where the ethos and practices of the Camphill movement are implemented to benefit those who want to improve their health; maintain their wellbeing; or explore a more sustainable lifestyle.
The Project will demonstrate:
- sustainable building practices with conservation of the listed main building & sensitive repurposing of the others
- an integrated, creative health & education approach, supported by the natural & built environment
- sustainable social enterprise projects serving the local community and involving those with learning disabilities
- organic/biodynamic land use with nutritious food production, demonstration allotments, beehives, wildflower meadow and woodland
- repair, reuse & recycle practices minimising waste and encouraging sustainability
“CWT is very grateful to the Camphill Foundation UK & Ireland for this grant to support the further development of Compass, our ground-breaking project transforming the former Waldorf School site on Craigton Road into an exemplar hub demonstrating healthy, sustainable living practices, and in particular the development of our Enterprise Building. This will enable us to deliver healthy, low-cost cookery sessions in our Zero-Waste Kitchen, craft and upcycling/recycling activities in the workshop area, as well as set up and run a charity shop.” Anna Fulop, Enterprise and Development Manager, Camphill Wellbeing Trust.
The COMPASS team continue to display their determination in making this project a success and The Camphill Foundation UK & Ireland feel proud to support such an inspirational project that will have such a positive impact on the local and wider community of Aberdeen.
To find out more about the project, please click here.