women of camphill

Celebrating Morwenna Bucknall

On International Women’s Day we celebrate Morwenna Bucknall, one of the founders of Camphill MK Communities. Here’s a film, created by Jeremy Cooper, featuring the many people whose lives she’d touched, in her lifelong quest in helping others.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this film, your memories were invaluable in the making of this project.

Women of Camphill – Alison F

Posted by: Alicja McCarthy Tags: adults with learning difficulties, adults with learning disabilities, camphill communities, charity, community, donate, interview, milton keynes, women of camphill | Categories: Blog

April
25

We chat with super-star DJ and resident of 13 years, Alison F, about life at Camphill MK and about her pursuits in helping others to enjoy music in a social setting. CMKC: What’s your most memorable experience in the community? AF: I remember living in Appleyard with Vicky and Karen in my first year because I was not well, they really looked after me. They are my heroes. CMKC: How important do you think women are to this community? AF: Women have done a lot of good jobs. CMKC: Do you think women’s influence has changed over time in the community? AF: Women are excellent planners and good organisers. CMKC: What’s your expectation of yourself and the community for the future? AF: I am a master DJ at Groovy Gecko. I would like to help more wheelchair users and blind people to join the club and have more fun in the future. CMKC: Who in your opinion is a hero of Camphill? AF: Vicky, Tammy, Csilla and Alison S. CMKC: What is your favourite thing to do outside the community? AF: I love spending time with my dad’s side of the family, going to weddings, helping to look after the little ones and spending time with friends.

Women of Camphill – Ginny

Posted by: Alicja McCarthy Tags: ability, adults with learning difficulties, camphill, camphill communities, charity, community, milton keynes, recruitment, women of camphill, workshop | Categories: Blog

April
17

We chat to Ginny, our Shop Workshop Coordinator, about her first experiences of Camphill and how fifteen years later, she’s still impressed by the balance of strong men and women in the community. CMKC: How long you have been involved with the community? G: I joined 15 years ago, initially working in the Café. Three years ago I started to look after the shop. CMKC: What’s your most memorable experience in the community? G: There are many memories. Around 16 years ago, one of my friends suggested we meet up for lunch at Camphill Café. At that time I didn’t know anything about Camphill but was very impressed while visiting. Two weeks’ later, my husband showed me a job advert of Camphill Café and said: “here is a perfect job for you.” So I applied and was shortlisted for an interview. When I came for the interview, a group of elder house mothers (now called house coordinators) sitting around the table in Whitethorn and asked me all sorts of questions. I was very impressed with them too. CMKC: How important do you think women are to this community? G: In my view, women are nurturers, they have different instincts to men, and most of them are very intuitive, these qualities are important for a place like ours. CMKC: Do you think women’s influence has changed over time in the community? G: Camphill has a history of having some really strong women, as well as strong men, just as today. Women, as well as men, while responding and adapting to the changes, have always been evolving and reinventing themselves with time. CMKC: What’s your expectation of yourself and the community for the future? G: To evolve and to be more creative. CMKC: Who in your opinion is a hero of Camphill? Andrew M and Clare B – both are very hard working and helpful; both are doing very well. Andrew likes a challenge and enjoys being stretched. Clare is just lovely to be around. CMKC: What is your favourite thing to do outside the community? G: I love to go to London with my daughter. We would normally visit The Wholefood World in Kensington and have lunch at Planet Organic. There are so many exhibitions in London that provide a lot of inspiration. I also enjoy playing and learning lyre and giving my dog Lucy a lot walking; dogs are amazing …

Women of Camphill – Anna D

Posted by: Alicja McCarthy Tags: adults with learning difficulties, camphill communities, camphill milton keynes, charity, community, milton keynes, women of camphill | Categories: Blog

April
9

For our Women of Camphill project, we chat to resident Anna D about life at Camphill MK Communities and why women are great at companionship and personal improvements. CMKC: What’s your name and what’s your role in the community? AD: Anna, resident. CMKC: How long you have been involved with the community? AD: I came in October 2008, the same year as Manoela. CMKC: What’s your most memorable experience in the community? AD: When I moved to Whitethorn, I got a lot of help from Caroline, Josune and Vanessa. CMKC: How important do you think women are to this community? AD: Really really important, because without female members, how boring would it be!? CMKC: Do you think women’s influence has changed over time in the community? AD: Women take on different jobs when there are opportunities, same as woman residents, as they are constantly improving themselves. CMKC: What’s your expectation of yourself and the community for the future? AD: I would love to see a woodwork workshop. CMKC: Who in your opinion is a hero of Camphill? AD: Tammy and Guimin. CMKC: What is your favourite thing to do outside the community? AD: I like to walk to town with my parents and eat out. CMKC: Who within the community would you like to nominate for a Q & A? AD: Josune. She was my house coordinator, and she worked very hard to look after the house.

Women of Camphill – Tamsin

Posted by: Alicja McCarthy Tags: adults with learning disabilities, camphill communities, charity, chrysalis theatre, humans of camphill, milton keynes, women of camphill | Categories: Blog

March
30

Continuing with our series of interviews with the Women on Camphill, we chat to resident Tamsin about the importance of looking out for one another and how adapting to challenges can inspire confidence. CMKC: What’s your name and what’s your role in the community? T: I’m Tamsin, a resident at Camphill. CMKC: How long have you been involved with the community? T: Many years! CMKC: What’s your most memorable experience in the community? T: Janne and Lucas wedding two years ago. CMKC: How important do you think women are to this community? T: Women are very important. We look after each, especially in vulnerable situations. CMKC: Do you think women’s influence has changed over time in the community? T: Women take on new roles when it’s necessary. I remember helping out in a nursery in Downs Barn a long time ago, and the experience helped me to be more confident. CMKC: What’s your expectation of yourself and the community for the future? T: I would like to see more plays in the theatre. CMKC: Who in your opinion is a hero of Camphill? T: Joan and Hanne. CMKC: What is your favourite thing to do outside the community? T: Going to the cinema to see different films and also going to the theatre.