Good neighbours in Gloucestershire
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e all feel more ‘at home’ if we get to know the people who live nearby. Our communities of Oaklands Park and The Grange are just three miles apart, and there’s plenty of coming and going between the two. Now people who live at the two communities are going the extra mile to be neighbourly. Weekly get-togethers are giving people the chance to visit and get to know each other. Every Monday and Tuesday, The Grange host a community lunch for friends from Oaklands Park. And on Wednesdays the folk at Oaklands Park welcome visitors from The Grange in return.
A real team effort Sharing a meal is a lovely way to get to know new friends, but there’s more to it than that. With between 20 and 50 people sitting down together every time, there’s lots of preparation to be done.
The first task is menu planning, wherever possible using home grown produce from the two communities. Will the courgettes be ready for the main course this week? And shall we use apples or berries - or both - in the dessert? And of course, everyone has a job to do - whether it’s chopping vegetables, setting the tables, serving food or taking out the compost.
Issue 67 • Winter 2018
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nd the first frosts are hardening the ground in the Larchfield gardens. The garden group have gathered the apples and beetroot to send to Botton Village for pressing delicious juices, for sale in our shops. Although summer is over and the harvest is in, there’s still plenty to do. Larchfield’s garden group have been milling the compost and leaf mould. The finished product is rich and crumbly, and will be perfect for the springtime sowing and mulching.
‘It’s a scramble getting it all ready in time, but sharing a meal brings us all together’ says Clare, the Day Opportunities Manager. ‘It means people who live in the communities and people who come to workshops can chat and get to know each other. And if family members are visiting, they can join us too.’
Keeping busy over winter
A gift from one generation to the next f you’d like to make a lasting difference to the lives of people in our communities, a gift in your Will is a wonderful way to do it.
Touching lives for many years to come Catherine has lived at Botton Village for many years, gaining confidence as she develops her weaving skills at her own pace. Younger members of our communities - like Tom who loves getting online with CVT Connect, and Guy, who’s keen to learn more about computer animation - may have more ‘modern’ ambitions, but they too need our support to fulfil their potential.
Facing the future It’s an unfortunate reality that state funding for social care is declining, and further cuts are possible. But thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we can cover the shortfall, enabling people like Catherine, Tom and Guy to lead fulfilled @camphillvillagetrust
www.camphillfamily.com
There’s a nip in the air...
Building bridges and links
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Published quarterly by The Camphill Family
Some jobs have a more immediate benefit. ‘We take apart old pallets and saw them into lengths to chop into kindling’ explains Sarah. ‘Some of the kindling is sold in the shop and we use the rest in the woodstove in our tea room over winter.’
and productive lives. Legacy gifts play a significant part in helping this happen. There are children growing up wth a learning disability today who may need our support in future to achieve their aspirations. We’re determined that Camphill Village Trust will be ready, supporting the next generation to shape their own lives in the way they choose.
@CamphillVillag1
Camphill Family Life is published by The Camphill Family, Camphill Village Trust, Botton Village, Danby, Whitby, YO21 2NJ Telephone: 01287 661238 Email: family@cvt.org.uk
To change how we keep in touch, or if you no longer wish to hear from us, please let us know using the contact details above. Registered as charity number 232402 England & Wales. The Camphill Family raises funds for the Camphill Village Trust Limited, a non-profit-making company limited by guarantee 539694 England.
Getting ready for Christmas Making the Christmas wreaths is the next priority. ‘They’re made of woven dogwood bases wrapped in newspaper and then straw, and then we put greenery and holly berries in’ says Sarah. The wreaths are sold in the Larchfield shop on the edge of Middlesbrough, and were very popular ‘We must have sold over 30 last year’ says Sarah.
If you’re looking for original handmade gifts this Christmas, why not call into one of our community shops? To find your nearest community, visit www.cvt.org.uk or call us on 01287 661238
Unique handcrafts at Botton Village ‘Sometimes I work alone and sometimes with Beth’ explains Catherine. Beth helps Catherine to set up the loom and they sit together and work out the pattern, then Catherine can get on with the weaving. ‘I have used this design before and it works really well’ says Catherine.
Something to consider We know that taking care of your family and friends must come first when planning your affairs. But when you’ve done this, we would be so grateful for any gift in your Will that you might consider as your legacy of friendship to the communities of the Camphill Village Trust. We value your privacy, and there’s no need to let us know if you’re leaving us a gift in your Will. But if you’d like further information on how to go about it, you can contact Fran Bogg at the Camphill Family Appeals Office on 01287 661294.
Meanwhile Kevin has been making paper briquettes to keep the fires going too. This involves ripping up the paper and soaking it, before packing it into the press. It takes a bit of muscle to get it all packed down, so there’s a real sense of satisfaction when the job’s done! It’s one good way of keeping warm on chilly days - or, as Kevin says, ‘just put on a thick jumper and get to work!’
Skill and practice - teamwork too!
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here’s a unique and personal story behind every item on sale in our community shops. Catherine is weaving a beautiful fleece rug in one of Botton Village’s workshops, where we caught up with her to find out more.
‘Everyone has their own job to do. We share tasks around to get production right’ says Beth. So after the fleece has been washed and teased, Catherine gets to work. Using a wet cloth so that her hands are damp, she prepares the fleece by moulding it into ‘sausages’ on her knees so that it won’t separate or catch in the loom. Then the weaving can begin. It takes concentration and focus - and this brings an added benefit ‘Weaving makes me feel great, really relaxed’ says Catherine.
A real ‘Botton Special’ The fleece Catherine uses is from the organic sheep at Botton’s Stormy Hall Farm. The three breeds in the flock - Blue Face, Texel and Swaledale - give excellent wool. ‘The fleece is strong but soft perfect for the loom.’ Original handcrafts produced by the people who live and work in our communities are always popular especially in the run up to Christmas. With the added bonus of organic certification, and the low carbon footprint of locally sourced materials, whoever buys Catherine’s rug - or any other handmade product from one of our shops - can be sure it’s made with love and care.
In this issue: Art with a heart • CVT Connect • Good neighbours
Creative corner
Introducing CVT Connect
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ocial media is a huge part of everyday life - both for the younger generation and increasingly their parents and grandparents. People who live in and visit our communities are no different, with smartphones and tablets growing in popularity.
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e want the people we support to have a voice in this newsletter, so we’re really pleased that Guy, from Larchfield has given us permission to share one of his original comic strips. ‘I’ve been drawing most of my life’ says Guy ‘But I think in the last few years my drawing has incredibly improved.’ Guy enjoys all the arts and crafts on offer at Larchfield, but his unique talent is cartoon drawing. And everyone at Larchfield can benefit, because Guy contributes an original comic strip to the regular Larchfield Link newsletter. The comic strip features Gary the Beaver - a character of Guy’s own creation: ‘Beavers are my favourite animals’ he explains. ‘But they are rarely seen as the main characters in cartoons. I like animal characters - when I draw humans, it doesn’t feel right. I just drew him down on paper and the idea stuck.’
Learning to stay safe online
A talent for visual storytelling Each short comic strip which Guy creates tells a story without words ‘I use a kind of picture language in speech bubbles, instead of dialogue. And lots of visual humour’ says Guy. The comic strip even has a relatable cast of characters, and
Of course, staying safe online is important. That’s why a group of 14 people from different Camphill Village Trust communities came together, to develop CVT Connect. This secure website allows members of our community to connect with each other, share ideas and celebrate their successes together.
everyday life themes. ‘One of my supporting characters is Greg, Gary’s brother. Greg’s a more successful guy, he has a better suit and is really strong so Gary’s a bit jealous!’ Attending a film club in Stockton has helped Guy learn more about animation and drawing techniques. Now he’s keen to develop his computer animation skills to take his cartoons to the next level. Guy is always keen to share his cartoons with a wider audience, and we’re so grateful he’s allowed us to reproduce one here. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
After the first trial of CVT Connect, the working group held a consultation to iron out any problems. Now they’re planning a relaunch of the improved version, with new ‘easy to use’ features. For example, anyone who finds remembering letters difficult can choose a picture for a password. And if you forget, the ‘reset’ button will alert a local member of staff who can help you get back online.
Technology with a personal touch What sets CVT Connect apart from other social networking sites is the combination of online and offline support. ‘We’re planning regular drop ins,’ says Phil, the project manager behind CVT Connect. ‘With tablets available in every community, every week, so that people can get online with the help of a staff member who will explain what it’s all about.’
Sparking new conversations ‘It’s safer than Facebook because only people from Camphill Village Trust can join, and means that everyone from different communities can chat and share news’ says Tom from The Croft, who’s a keen user of CVT Connect. ‘The drop in sessions are a great idea too - I’d tell everyone to give it a go!’
Art with a heart
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hat was the verdict after the Berith and Camphill Partnership hosted their first Art Exhibition in September. The Exhibition, which ran for four days in BCP’s community hall, was opened by the Deputy Mayor of Dudley.
Sharing responsibility The community worked together to plan the event. ‘We held monthly planning meetings to discuss how to display work, and logistics like refreshments, stalls, entertainment, special guests and parking’ says Jenny. The group even worked together to design and co-produce a leaflet and poster to advertise the event.
ORDER FORM out of my own head. I use watercolour paint and acrylic paint. Watercolour is easier but I like both.’ A huge range of artistic styles and talents were on display. Christina sold a painting of the Dutch bulbfields, while Francis, who is a big fan of Doctor Who, displayed a handmade Tardis. And Sandra performed a song: ‘I did Whisky in the Jar which is my best song. I’d never sung in public before so I was a bit nervous.’ The Exhibition was a great success, and the group is planning a community meal to celebrate. ‘Everybody worked so hard and the artwork was wonderful’ says Jenny. ‘It was a chance for everyone to get the recognition they deserve.’ ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE:
CARD DESIGN
Showcasing our talents Sandra is just one of the talented artists who submitted a number of works of art. As well as an enormous lion rag rug, she exhibited several paintings. ‘I painted a dolphin, an owl and a raven’ Sandra says ‘I like painting animals. I painted them
NUMBER OF PACKS
PER PACK
MARY & JOSEPH
£4.25
SNOWBALL FIGHT
£4.25
CHRISTMAS COLLAGE
£4.25
SHEPHERDS VISITING THE MANGER
£4.25
SNOWMAN WITH HOLLY
£4.25
THE MANGER / THREE KINGS
£4.25
ROBIN ON A POST BOX / CHRISTMAS CANDLE
£4.25
BOTTON HALL SNOWMAN
£4.25
SNOWY PATH AT BOTTON
£4.25
BOTTON POST BOX
£4.25
CHRISTMAS CAT
TOTAL
£4.25
SANTA’S POLAR BEARS
£4.25 SUBTOTAL CARDS
DONATION (OPTIONAL)
HAMPERS & GIFT SETS
NUMBER
A SWEET TASTE OF ORGANIC BOTTON
A SAVOURY TASTE OF ORGANIC BOTTON A BIGGER BITE OF BOTTON
Due to the shelf life of some food products, all hampers / gift sets will be dispatched in the last week of November. If you wish you receive your hamper on receipt of payment please tick here.
POSTAGE* £1.75 / £3.30
PER HAMPER**
TOTAL
£15.00 £15.00 £30.00
SUBTOTAL HAMPERS
DONATION (OPTIONAL) TOTAL
*Postage of £1.75 covers 1 pack of cards. £3.30 covers 2 to 5 packs. If you require more than 5 packs please add an extra £1.75 for an extra single pack or £3.30 for every additional 2 to 5 packs. All cards are sent out by Second Class post. Please allow time for your order to be processed and sent. **Hamper prices include postage & packing Like us on facebook.com/camphillvillagetrust
www.camphillfamily.com Tel: 01287 661238 Email: family@cvt.org.uk Please return your completed order form to: Camphill Family, Camphill Village Trust, Botton Village, Danby, Whitby, North Yorks, YO21 2NJ Registered charity number 232402 England and Wales and is a non-profit company limited by guarantee 539694
Christmas card leaflet_V8.indd 1
Thank You! W Hampers & Gift Sets
NAME:
This Christmas, give the unique gift of a taste of Botton Village. Our tasty hampers and gift sets contain beautiful hand-crafted, organic food with provenance, which has been grown and made by people who have learning disabilities or mental health challenges. Wrapped with care for that special gift.
e’ve been delighted by the response to ourA sweet first tasteever of organic Botton A 260ml jar of organic strawberry preserve, a 260ml jar of organic marmalade , Christmas card and gifts brochure, and organic ginger biscuits. All made by people we support in our Botton which was sent out with September Foodcentre,the Bakery and Garden Teams. newsletter. Thank you so much if you purchased something. The card A savoury taste of organic Botton A 260ml jar of organic red tomato chutney, a 260ml jar ofcreated organic traditionalby apple people & designs from raisin chutney and organic seeded, savoury thins. All made by people we support in our ourBotton communities - have certainly Foodcentre, Bakery and Garden Teams. proved popular. We onlyA bigger had bite oflimited Botton A bumper hamper which contains a fine selection of our hand-crafted, organic foods supplies available, so we’re no longer with provenance. A jar of organic strawberry preserve, a jar of apple & raisin chutney, an organic sticky malt loaf, organic seeded savoury taking orders. thins and organic ginger biscuits. Together with organic tea, grown, dried and mixed to our own If you only usually us inin recipe. hear All made by from people we support our Botton Foodcentre, Bakery and Garden Teams. December but would be interested in receiving a cards and gifts brochure during the year, you can tick the box on the enclosed reply form and we’ll pop our latest brochure in the post to you when it’s available. Allergy information Please note that some of these products may have been made in an environment which processes other products which may contain dairy, wheat, nuts and eggs.
Christmas Collection
Camphill Village Trust is delighted to offer you our range of Christmas cards and gifts, which have been designed and made by members of our communities, both people we support and staff. People we support are involved in the packing and sending of the cards and gifts, providing valuable opportunities for learning new skills and personal development. CVT is exceptionally proud of the amazing talent in our communities and we hope you will support this creativity. 20/08/2018 02:19