As the countdown to Christmas begins, we have been busy little elves feeling festive at every turn. Here’s the latest from Camphill MK! Adorable Snowmen Pennyland has four new residents! Four adorable snowmen made from socks and grains. Residents enjoyed making them, and we think that they look very festive. Waddesdon Manor Visit Lucie, Anna,...
We had a wonderful Sunday morning at our Christmas Jumper Jaunt. What a great turnout, considering the temperamental weather conditions. Our Christmas Jumper Jaunt raised over £1368 for our charity! We want to say a huge thanks to the award-winning superstars at the Redway Runners who volunteered their time and expertise to help organise the...
Big Give has selected our charity as one of their partners for their Christmas Challenge campaign. Big Give pledges to double the difference and match fund donations made to Camphill MK from the public between the 3rd – 10th December. They have already raised over £301million for almost 18,000 charity projects since 2008 and Camphill...
Join us for our Christmas Silent Disco on Monday 9th December at The Chrysalis Theatre MK. Festive fancy dress encouraged & good times guaranteed! Time: 6:00-9:00 pmExternal Guest Entry: £5 on the door. The disco will be slightly different from our usual booming discos but, instead, be more inclusive of those with other sensory needs. ...
Nominate us for the The Benefact Group £120,000 giveaway in December! The final phase of Movement for Good 2024, their 12 Days of Giving, runs in December, and they will give 120 charities £1,000 each over 12 days. The first draw occurs on December 5th and the last on December 20th, with 10 charities drawn...
Camphill MK is a charity providing unique person centred support, based on a modern view of the Camphill movement, for adults with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum condition, as well as a number of people living in the Milton Keynes area who have a learning disability. We have several fantastic new vacancies and want to hear...
As the festive season is (almost) upon us, it is a time for joy, celebration, and gift-giving. We have the power to make choices that bring joy to others and benefit the planet and its people. Ethical festive gifting is about choosing gifts that are kind to the environment, fair to workers, and support sustainable...
As many of you will know, we are in the process of building new, accessible homes for adults with learning disabilities and autism. Part of our Capital Plan expansion programme at Camphill MK, the first house building phase is in Pennyland, Milton Keynes. Local contractors Watson & Cox are the leading contractors bringing to life...
We will again swim lots of lengths at the 2025 Swimathon. Organised by Milton Keynes Rotary, they have selected Camphill MK, along with other local charities, as one of their beneficiary charities. Now in its 31st year, we’re inviting our supporters to sponsor our swims. On Saturday 22nd February 2025, we will swim in relay...
We welcomed artist Muna Ally to our first ‘art in residency’ program in July 2024. Muna graduated in Surface Design from the University of the Arts in London and is a photographer and ceramist. Muna delivered mono-printing sessions to our Pottery Workshop, and our participants explored different textures while making prints and created their own...
Well, that’s our Handmade Craft & Food Fair done for another year! We want to thank everyone, from visitors to stall holders, staff and residents, for such a fantastic event. This year, the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Marie Bradburn, opened the event, which raised £5200 to support our charity! This year, we had fewer...
Sofia Gallo, MasterChef UK contestant, private chef, and food writer, delivered three workshops for our residents to teach cookery skills. Sofia first approached Julia, who looks after our workshops, to ask for guidance around setting up as a CIC. Her idea is to open an artisanal pasta and macarons laboratory, by teaching and ultimately creating...
Why not immerse yourself in craft & creativity with our Creative Courses? If you’ve ever wanted to try pottery or ceramics you now can! Our courses are facilitated by expert tutors who share our ethos by meeting the needs of the individual, designing and delivering sessions for absolute beginners and those wishing to build on...
Our Christmas Jumper Jaunt returns on Sunday, 1st December 2024! Why not dig out your finest Christmas jumper and sign up for the fun, family-friendly 1-mile or slightly longer timed 5K route? This year, our Christmas Jumper Jaunt is supported by the Redway Runners. They’re an award-winning community running club based in Milton Keynes, welcoming...
If you’re in search of truly unique, handmade festive gifts that make a difference, then our Etsy shop is the place for you. Our diverse range of handmade creations are conceived in our Art and Craft, Weavery and Ceramics studios. The workshops we offer cater to all levels of abilities and cover a wide variety...
It’s Trustees’ Week (4th – 8th Nov 2024) and we want to say a BIG thank you to all our wonderful Trustees! Trustees’ Week is a time for us to come together to celebrate the achievements of nearly 1 million trustees across the UK. Charities make a huge and positive impact on society and are...
Our Handmade Craft & Food Fair is back on Saturday, 9th November. Hosted inside our The Chrysalis Theatre MK, grounds & Cafe, which supports our vibrant community by providing a meaningful working life for adults with learning disabilities. Alongside our very own artisan baked goods, preserves, traditional textiles, ceramics & unique one-off art & craft items,...
We’ve been a hive of activity in the run-up to Halloween, as it’s got to be one of our favourite times of the year. Here’s what our residents have been up to. Tracy’s Window Halloween has got to be one of the best times of the year for Tracey. She started decorating her house at...
We have reached a significant milestone in our plans to create new accessible homes! Camphill MK’s trustees, leadership team, care staff, residents, funders and Milton Keynes Mayor Marie Bradburn headed to the roof of our £3m building to finish laying the base for the green roof and celebrate the completion of the structural work for...
We were so impressed with our Camphill MK Staff’s Got Talent evening. Showcasing our team’s broad spectrum of talents, everyone who stepped on stage is a winner. It was an incredible evening, from singing to dancing, swimming, and delighting our taste buds with culinary creations! A special thanks to Ewa for organising. Without her enthusiasm,...
We had a great time at our Murder Mystery evening at the Chrysalis Theatre. Thank you all for joining us! Our guests immersed themselves in an intergalactic mystery and embarked on a thrilling interstellar adventure to a mysterious space station beyond the wormhole. The fundraiser collaborated with the brilliant etcetera theatre company, with all proceeds going...
Join us for our annual Halloween Disco on Mon 21st Oct at The Chrysalis Theatre MK. Spooky fancy dress encouraged & ghoulishly good times guaranteed!Time: 6:00-9:00 pmENTRY: £5 on the door
Camphill MK Communities, a charity in Milton Keynes, is looking for someone to work with our finance team as a Payroll and Accounts Assistant in a part time flexible role. Responsible for setting up and running the payroll each month dealing with our staff team and supporting the existing finance function. Camphill is a vibrant...
Camphill Milton Keynes Communities is seeking an experienced House Coordinator for maternity cover. In this role, you will work closely with our Care & Support Managers to ensure the highest standards of care and support for residents, staff, and volunteers in line with our values. Key responsibilities include: Managing daily care services and activities for...
Do you have a passion for performing arts and the ability to work as part of a creative team within a day opportunity setting for adults with learning difficulties and autism? Based at our beautiful Chrysalis Theatre MK, the ideal candidate should be able to share their skills and experience to support people with a...
As a registered charity, Camphill MK has a board of trustees who commit their time free of charge and take responsibility for the governance and strategic leadership of the charity alongside the CEO. The board of trustees comprises 9 individuals with a variety of skillsets, supporting the future growth and sustainability of Camphill MK. This...
Our community, which supports adults with learning disabilities in Willen Park, invites you to be part of our story as we build new accessible homes. You are invited to make a ceramic tile to be part of our Tile Me a Story fundraising art piece for our Camphill MK site. Two years ago, we announced...
Our Arts & Crafts Workshop worked on the Camphill Flag Project for the Festival of Camphill. They designed and made a series of Batik silk flags for the opening ceremony and to decorate our grounds. These flags also featured in the Newport Pagnell Carnival and created lovely borders for our carnival float! Our participants started...
Join us for an otherworldly Murder Mystery evening on Friday, 11th October 2024. The year is 2124. And intergalactic mysteries are afoot. Embark on a thrilling interstellar adventure to a mysterious space station beyond the wormhole! Get ready for exotic encounters and wholesome eats as you unravel a deadly mystery lurking in the stars. Come...
We gathered in our Round House Paddock to celebrate the launch of our new polytunnel, The Grow Dome. Our garden team has worked very hard on the project, which started in 2023. We are immensely grateful for the funding from the National Garden Scheme, which followed a successful funding bid. This support has allowed us...
We currently have opportunities for Bank Support Workers to join us on a casual basis alongside our caring and dedicated team of support staff.Our team of Bank Support Staff will provide cover for planned and unplanned staff absences as well as bringing specific skills or experiences that we may require for short periods of time....
Do you have a passion for the environment and want to share your knowledge of vegetable and flower growing and sustainable horticulture practice? We’re looking to employ a permanent, full-time Gardens Day Opportunities Support Worker. The job role offers an opportunity to work alongside adults with mixed abilities to develop and maintain our beautiful gardens,...
In 2019, we embarked on an epic flax growing, processing, and spinning project. Initiated by Emi Fujisawa, our Art and Craft, Weavery, and Ceramic Workshops leader, the long journey has been a true collaboration across our workshops, which also include our Gardens and Tools for Self-Reliance. Keen to proceed with the experimental growing and processing...
Camphill Communities from all over the United Kingdom came together for the very first Festival of Camphill, hosted at Camphill Milton Keynes. The three-day event represented 17 different Camphill Communities and welcomed over 250 people, including staff, residents, volunteers, co-workers, and alumni. The Festival of Camphill 2024 was the first event of many years across...
Thanks to a successful MK Community Foundation funding application, we purchased 100 silent disco headsets. The special headsets enable users to choose their music, including the volume and how long they want to be part of the disco which helps those with learning disabilities and autism. We have increased the number of individuals we support over...
On Saturday, 27th July 2024, brilliant and brave individuals soared through the skies to raise funds for our community. Taking place at the Hinton Airfield, near Brackley, the skydive was thrilling and unforgetable. The aim was to raise vital funds for our Capital Plan to build new accessible houses for more residents with learning disabilities and autism....
We are recruiting an experienced part-time Care and Support Administrator with strong communication and organisation skills to support our Care Management Team. The role is not just interesting and varied but also crucial, requiring attention to detail and the ability to empathise with a diverse range of people. Salary: £17,000 per annum for 25 hours...
Camphill MK patron Martha Kearney presented her last Today programme on Radio 4 last week. But the award-winning journalist and broadcaster is not done. Martha is preparing for her new series, This Natural Life. After six years at the helm, Martha Kearney presented her final edition of Today, Radio 4’s flagship morning news programme, alongside...
We had a blast at the Newport Pagnell Carnival—the biggest and longest-running carnival in the MK area! Despite the rain, the turnout was fantastic! It was lovely to see so many friendly faces waving at our freshly decorated lorry. Our workshops spent months preparing beautiful handmade decorations and fabulous costumes for the special day. Those...
On Saturday, 13th July, four of the Camphill MK team were invited to the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Countess Howe’s Unsung Heroes Garden Party. Our Facilities Manager Simon Death was invited for his work at Camphill, particularly working diligently behind the scenes to drive forward our big build plans. Simon has significant responsibility in a very...
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Music for Camphill charity concert at Chrysalis MK. The special evening featured outstanding music from the Musica Charity Choir and the Bradwell Silver Band. We thank them for their talent and their time. The event was a tremendous success, raising nearly £2000, which exceeded our expectations. These funds...
Our Garden Workshop made hot compost. We want to introduce hot composting so that we can better use our grass cuttings and spend less on buying compost. Everybody in our Garden Workshop pitched in, measuring and mixing the grass with woodchip in the correct proportions, wetting it as required and stacking it up. The next...
The Community Energy Fortnight, a significant event running from 1-14 July, is a platform that aims to elevate the status of community-led and owned energy. It’s a call to inspire new individuals, businesses, and organisations to join hands in creating a people-powered, sustainable, and resilient energy system. Back in 2016, as part of our commitment...
We’re recruiting a part-time Head of Finance. We are welcoming certified/QBE accountants to apply to become a part of our rapidly expanding senior leadership team. This role offers a unique chance to contribute to the growth and development of a £5m charity that supports adults with learning disabilities, in a person-centered environment that values community...
We’re thrilled to be awarded the SME MK and Buckinghamshire Best Business in Milton Keynes with more than 50 employees in 2024. The SME Awards recognise businesses with fewer than 250 employees. We were also a finalist in the Community Business of the Year category. Julia and Lucy had the pleasure of collecting the award....
Congratulations to all on an outstanding performance of ‘Our Neighbour Thor: A Sibling Saga‘, a multidisciplinary production, at The Chrysalis MK Theatre. The collaborative project was a huge undertaking, and seeing the fruits of everyone’s labour was lovely. The puppets and props were charming, even the scary ones. The actors exuded confidence, and it was...
We’re thrilled to announce that our very own Head of Development, Lucy Davies, was awarded the Women Leaders Community Impact (Volunteer) Award and our Trustee Elizabeth Sheldon was recognised for her contribution towards science, notably with STEM. Lucy’s dedication and hard work to our charity and the wider community have made a real difference. We...
This June is PRIDE Month, and we at Camphill MK want to celebrate inclusion, diversity, and love! Sadly, sometimes, it is still the case that people with learning disabilities and autism are somehow seen as separate from general society, perhaps not even having sexuality. But, of course, people with all disabilities have the same range...
Last year, a group of us took part in the Good City project organised by the City Discovery Centre and MK Council. The Project “In 2023, Milton Keynes grows ever bigger and welcomes more new residents. The Good City project aims to use The Plan for Milton Keynes to introduce local residents to the original...
Join us for a very special evening from the Musica Charity Choir and the Bradwell Silver Band for our Music for Camphill concert at the Chrysalis Theatre on Saturday, June 22nd, 2024. Immerse yourself in an evening of live music by Musica and Bradwell Silver Band, all in the spirit of supporting Camphill MK. The concert will feature both choral...
We are excited to offer a unique and exciting job opportunity for a dynamic, driven and person-centred Deputy Care and Support Manager to join our growing team. Set in a beautiful community location near Willen Lake, Camphill Milton Keynes is an established charity and provider of Supported Living and Day Opportunities for adults with learning...
Join us for ‘Our Neighbour Thor: A Sibling Saga’, a multi-disciplinary performance, on Friday 14th June at The Chrysalis Theatre. ‘Our Neighbour Thor: A Sibling Saga’ is not just a puppet play, it’s a unique visual art performance crafted by the talented residents of Camphill MK. This collaborative masterpiece is the result of three diverse...
This week, June 3rd—9th, we’re celebrating 40 years of Volunteers’ Week 2024. We’re deeply grateful for the significant contributions of ALL the volunteers who have supported our charity since the 1980s. Their dedication has made a profound difference, and we’re excited to inspire more wonderful folks to join us in making an impact. Volunteering is...
Two of our team members were recently recognised for their hard work with an afternoon at Buckingham Palace: our very own CEO, Tim Davies, for his exceptional work within the disabilities field at Camphill MK, and our Head of Development, Lucy Davies, for her work supporting the creative sector in voluntary pursuits. Tim was invited...
We’re progressing on-site with our ambitious Capital Plan to build new accessible homes for more adults with learning disabilities and autism. Our contractors, Watson & Cox, have begin piling which will see less concrete used in the build, reducing our environmental impact. We are not ‘driving’ piles but ‘augering’ them, which is less impactful to local neighbours and wildlife with less...
We’re hosting our Camphill Fancy Dress Character Disco on 10th June 2024. Fictional character fancy dress encouraged & good times guaranteed with guest DJs. Address: Chrysalis Theatre, Japonica Ln, Milton Keynes, MK15 9JY Time: 6:30pm-9:00 pm ENTRY: £3
We are thrilled to announce that we have successfully reached the finals of the SME MK and Buckinghamshire Business Awards 2024. What an achievement! Being recognised as a finalist in two categories reflects the success of our charitable business over the past year. These achievements and the winners will be celebrated at The DoubleTree Hilton Hotel,...
We are delighted to have received the MK Community Foundation’s Gold Award for ‘most inclusive organisation’. Cllr Emily Darlington presented Carolyn with the award in memory of her mother-in-law, Carole Baume, who supported and championed communities in Milton Keynes for many years. The panel chose Camphill MK for not just the work we do to support the residents...
Join Tom Bridle, our registered Care & Support Manager, also the author of our book, ’40 Years of Living, Working and Celebrating Together’, for a FREE talk hosted by Willen Village Heritage Association on Saturday, 11th May 2024, at St Mary Magdalene Church, Willen at 3:30pm. If you are curious about local history or just...
We are seeking to employ a Head Gardener (Day Opportunities Workshop Coordinator) to lead our fantastic team of horticulturists. You will have a passion for environmentally friendly and therapeutic horticulture activity and have experience managing green spaces and edible plant production. Working with a dynamic group of people with mixed ability to maintain and develop...
It’s Earth Day today! And our resident poet, Lucie, who’s pen-name is Doris K Williams, wrote a beautiful poem called Heal the World. She also designed a poster for her poem, which we wanted to share with you all. The first Earth Day was in 1970, and it mobilised millions of Americans from all walks of life...
Last week, our community celebrated the life of Andrew Wyndham, who passed in February and has been a big part of our community for many years. Andrew’s family joined us for the celebration, including his brother Nick and his sister-in-law, Claire, who kindly told us many stories and photos from his early years. Our Registered...
We have an exciting and rare opportunity to join our care management team at Camphill MK. We are looking for a person-centred, organised Senior Support Worker (Team Leader) with excellent people management skills and strong values that match our own to come and join our community. You’ll be an experienced senior support worker or support...
What a wonderful day 8th April was! For the past month, we have raised autism awareness through various activities in our community and beyond, including our Autism Awareness Logo Redesign Competition and Autism Tree design activities. On Monday, we also participated in a very special Autism Acceptance Bake Off, revealed our Autism Trees, announced the logo competition winner, made special...
We came together to raise awareness for Autism during Autism Acceptance Week. We invited all creative minds to participate in our Autism Acceptance Week Logo Redesign Competition, where they had the chance to reimagine our logo to symbolise the spirit of Autism Awareness. We had so many amazing entries! Which we shared far and wide...
We are thrilled to announce that we received £8,000 in donations after an afternoon tea at our Chrysalis Theatre, supported by the 2023-24 High Sheriff Dame Ann Limb. We have been sharing our ambitions to raise £15m to build new accessible homes, a vision that High Sheriff Dame Ann Limb was inspired by. She led her shrieval...
It’s Autism Acceptance Week, and our residents have been creating their very own Autism Trees! The project involves each of our houses working as a team. Each received cardboard and puzzles to create their own unique tree. Our residents could use any technique to create/paint/collage the Autism Tree artworks. Everyone had ideas on what to use for their trees,...
On 8th April 2024, we’re hosting a Spectrum Soiree Silent Disco and announcing the winner of our Autism Awareness logo redesign competition. And you’re all invited! Let’s come together to make a difference and celebrate diversity and raise awareness for Autism through a sensory-friendly atmosphere. When: Monday 8th April. Dress code: Fancy dress encouraged but...
Our huge polytunnel project is now complete! Our garden team has worked very hard for the past six months to complete it. In our new paddock, we had to level the ground, dig the holes, and fit all the loops and metal structure, which had many more bits than we had initially thought! We then...
Stephen has achieved one of his Fish Wishes at the Milton Keynes Museum. Stephen’s late father, Mr. Stanley ‘Stan’ Butler, was the Royal Train Foreman, later retitled as the ‘Royal Train Superintendent’. He had a proud 39 year history working with the Royal Family and was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal for his services to...
BBC 3 Counties Radio visited Camphill to record Andy Collins Breakfast Show featuring our residents and staff for a 4-hour programme. They spoke to our community about our life and work. We shared our stories, and our CEO, Tim Davies, was in the studio with Andy and his team. The BBC 3 Counties Radio team...
On Saturday 24 February 2024, 19 swimmers headed to Wolverton Pool for the MK Rotary Swimathon. Our swimmers completed an incredible 312 lengths and so far have raised £1621.20 with more money still coming in! We will find out the full amount raised in a few months when the MK Rotary hold their presentation evening....
Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards is Back for 2024! Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards is back with another £1million charity give-away. Now in its sixth year, the awards are giving charities across the UK and Ireland the opportunity to receive £1,000. The Movement for Good Awards will once again see more than £1million...
During Real Bread Week, we celebrate the fantastic achievements of our artisan Bakery workshop that bakes bread daily for our houses, the wider community, and our vegetarian Cafe. Our residents bake fantastic sourdough bread and sweet treats supported by master bakers. The workshop offers our residents with various abilities to work independently, and we aim...
Our brilliant community braved the elements on Pancake Day to run the para pancake race alongside the corporate races on 13th February at Campbell Park. Congratulations to everyone who participated despite the not-so-nice weather. We also has a stand selling special hot and delicious pancakes to chilly racers. Thank you to everyone who supported the...
Congratulations to our bakers! Our houses got baking with aplomb for our second Camphill Bake-Off inspired by Valentine’s Day. Each house made its unique sweet treats, and our four-member committee had quite a difficult task judging all the cakes for appearance and taste. They awarded points to each, and in the end, it turned out...
We were thrilled to travel to London to see My Neighbour Totoro at the Barbican Theatre. The show was produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and included puppets made by the Jim Henson workshop. We were lucky to have the opportunity to do a touch tour before watching the show. On the touch tour, we got to go...
Camphill MK will host their Valentine’s Disco on Monday 12th February. Fancy dress encouraged & good times guaranteed with guest DJs: Willerton & Bridsy! Address: Chrysalis Theatre, Japonica Ln, Milton Keynes, MK15 9JY Time: 6:30pm-9:00 pm ENTRY: £3
We are thrilled to announce that we have been rated as ‘Excellent’ for the second year by Milton Keynes City Council. Every year, facilities looking after vulnerable people undergo a thorough inspection by their local authority, taking a detailed look at care plans, staff training, organisational administration, safeguarding and the quality of life for the residents....
Our CEO, Tim Davies, talks to Michael live to MKFM on Tuesday 23rd January. He discusses our community for adults with learning disabilities and our latest news, including our upcoming entry into the RotaryMK Swimathon on the 24th of February and our Capital Plan to raise funds for more housing. You can listen to the...
We are thrilled to have been chosen to benefit from the Co-Op Community Fund. The scheme runs from now until October 2024. How it Works Every time Co-op members buy selected Co-op branded products and services, 2p for every pound spent goes to us! Our home store is in Neath Hill, but members from anywhere in...
Since July, our resident Tamsin has been busy making baby bags to donate to the Baby Basics MK charity. The non-profit supports families living in Milton Keynes and the immediate surrounding area who are in financial hardship. Tamsin’s beautiful hand-made bags will be filled with helpful gift packages to help families. We had a visit from Carol...
Our Art & Craft Workshop superstars have been mighty busy creating fantastic needlework and textiles. Anna has been working really hard to make a rainbow teddy in the Weavery. Becky is very proud of her Rosie and Jim-themed pillowcase, which she designed and stitched herself. Since October, Tamsin has worked very hard to complete her...
On the 13th of December, our community came together for Christmas carols, mince pies and a visit from Father and Mrs Christmas. We want to say a HUGE thank you to Blum and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services UK Limited for spreading big festive cheer in our community. Local manufacturer of systems for furniture, Blum delivered goodie bags of...
What a great way to kick off the festivities than a festive jaunt! Well done to everyone – our residents, support workers, staff, their families, and everyone who came along to do the 1 mile and 5km ‘jaunt’ and raise funds for our community. It was an incredibly fun (& chilly) morning, but everyone had...
Midsummer Place is again running its Christmas Tree Festival community initiative that gives local organisations a unique chance to sponsor their own Christmas tree on the mall to support charities. Shakespeare Martineau, one of our corporate partners, has sponsored one of the 20 available trees and asked our residents to make the decorations. Our clever and...
As huge fans of the BBC’s The Great British Bake Off and cake, we decided to host our very own version. With a little friendly competition between the houses, our residents got to showcase their baking talents. The bake-off promises to bring joy, creativity, and delicious treats to our community and a wonderful opportunity for us to...
Nominate Us! The Benefact Group are giving away £120,000 in December! The final phase of Movement for Good 2023, their 12 Days of Giving, runs in December, and they will be giving 120 charities £1,000 each over 12 days. The first draw takes place on December 1st and the last on December 18th, with ten...
We’re recruiting a part-time Recruitment Administrator to provide comprehensive recruitment administrative support to our Recruitment and HR department and general support to the Office Team. The opportunity offers a 6-month fixed term contract, 25 hours per week. Minimum of one year experience in recruitment administrative role is required and the role offers £12 per hour....
Our well established and locally respected vegetarian Café is seeking individuals to provide support to our Café workshop activities for adults with learning disabilities and autism, with a focus on kitchen, cooking, and lunch service. The role involves supporting and working alongside adults with a range of abilities, to provide a first class customer service,...
Join us for our Christmas Disco on Friday 15th December at the Chrysalis Theatre MK. Festive fancy dress encouraged & festive times guaranteed! Including Guest DJs. Address: Chrysalis Theatre, Japonica Ln, Milton Keynes, MK15 9JY Time: 6.30 – 9.30 pm ENTRY: £3
Join us for our Christmas Jumper Jaunt on Saturday, 2nd December 2023 to raise funds for Camphill MK. You can run, shuffle or walk and have fun while you do so! So why not dig out your finest Christmas jumper and sign up for the fun, family-friendly 1-mile or slightly longer 5K route? Both routes...
Cor, what a fantastic day we had on Saturday at our Handmade Craft & Food Fair! We raised a whopping £5024.76 for our charity, which is £1400 more than last year. We had 38 stalls plus food vans outside and 800 people through our doors. Our Café was open for refreshments, and they served over 300 hot drinks, that’s 50...
Check out our polytunnel project work-in-progress time-lapse video capturing the progress of the structure over the past weeks. The polytunnel is still under construction, and we’re months off completion, but we want to show you the progress so far! The ground preparation was the hardest bit by far, with the garden team de-turfing the paddock...
On 16th October 2023, along with many Milton Keynes businesses and organisations, we helped the MK Food Bank to smash the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest line made up from donated canned food. Milton Keynes came together on World Food Day (16th October) for the world record attempt. Collectively, we lined up 10km of food cans – which wound...
Join us at Camphill MK (Willen Park) for our family-friendly Halloween Howl! We will host a fun-filled ghoulish afternoon of spooky activities. When: 31st October 20233.30pm – 6.30pm Tickets: FREE – no ticket required. Activities: Pumpkin carving, lantern making, treasure hunt and much more! There is a small charge for the activities and we advise on...
Our resident Tamsin is a huge fan of Roald Dahl‘s stories, so much so that she has been creating needlework artworks in the Weavery and Art & Craft workshops inspired by Matilda and Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. Tamsin created her designs in stitches and embroidered them in her chosen colours. Support Worker Jessica from...
Our residents attended a fascinating workshop called 1001 Inventions – Journey from Alchemy to Chemistry held at Milton Keynes Central Library. The workshop is part of celebrating the International Year of the Periodic Table of Chemical Elements by acknowledging the contributions and achievements of people from all cultures. An important figure from the Islamic world...
On 16th October 2023, we will be helping MK Food Bank to smash the Guinness World Record of the world’s longest line made up from donated canned food. Milton Keynes is coming together in the world record attempt by lining up 10km of food cans. That would be enough to feed the hungry families in Milton Keynes for six...
Back in March, students from Shenley Brook End School popped in to participate in a very creative workshop. Our residents and the pupils designed a guitar in collaboration with our Tools for Self-Reliance workshop. Many wonderful ideas were conceived, and the chosen design was voted for. Roll on six months, and we now have a beautiful handmade guitar! Huge...
The Parks Trust invited our Newsletter Group to a photo shoot at the Floodplain Forest Nature Reserve located between Old Wolverton and Cosgrove. Ellie, who gave us several guided accessibility walks, invited Colin to provide us with a guided walk. Colin has worked for The Parks Trust for over 30 years and knows the parks...
We have an exciting new vacancy for a talented individual to provide support with creative activities within day opportunities workshops for adults with learning disabilities and autism. You will work alongside the team to perform duties with other staff members and volunteers to support our arts, crafts, textiles and pottery workshops. Find out more here...
We’re hosting our annual Halloween Disco on Monday 30th October at the Chrysalis Theatre MK. Spooky fancy dress encouraged & ghoulishly good times guaranteed! Guest DJs. Address: Chrysalis Theatre, Japonica Ln, Milton Keynes, MK15 9JY Time: 6:60-9:30 pm ENTRY: £3
Channel 4 News investigates – “How can we meet changing care needs of people with learning disabilities?” Thanks to improvements in health care and health equality, people with learning disabilities are living longer. And that’s raising new questions about how to provide the care they need as they age. In the third of the Channel 4 News series...
As most of you will know, for over 40 years, our charity has grown its own fruit and vegetables to feed our 70 residents. Our residents who live across sites at Willen Park and Pennyland select from various daily workshops and activities, offering them meaning and purpose in their daily lives. Many residents participate in...
After successfully collaborating with the performing arts group Act Out & Act Up last year, they returned to the Chrysalis MK theatre for another action-packed and drama-filled play-in-a-week project with our Centre Stage performing arts group. Hear Our Call was a play created in just one week, with participants completing a plot, characters, devised script, and props...
Congratulations to Anke for finishing her Cycle Challenge – completing 2680 miles for our charity! Our Care & Support/Workshops team member Anke embarked on an epic cycle challenge to cycle 2680 miles in aid of Camphill MK. Inspired by the Eurovelo6 Cycle Route from the Atlantic Coast to the Black Sea, Anke has been spotted...
Camphill MK was honoured to have been invited to cater a three-course meal, with produce from our gardens where possible, to celebrate John & Muriel’s Golden Wedding Anniversary. The Café team created a smoked salmon and crab starter and chicken breast main course with family-style platters of roasted potatoes, coleslaw, and salad. The dessert was...
Join us on the 8th & 9th of September 2023 for the MK Job Show at Middleton Hall, centre:MK! Alongside many local employers, the job show will showcase thousands of employment and training opportunities – from senior positions to mid-level to entry-level, graduate schemes, traineeships, and apprenticeships. If you already work in the support sector or...
We are thrilled to have launched an Open Mic Night for our community to showcase our residents & staff’s incredible talents. Resident Lucie and the team have been planning this event for many months, and our first showcase happened this week. Our community could choose to take part or simply enjoy the show! The Open...
Join us at Camphill MK as part of Heritage Open Days on September 14th 2023. Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore. Find out more on...
Our Craft Workshop team attended an Art Riot Collective training day in Coventry. Arts Riot Collective’s mission is to develop a community of Disabled and Neurodivergent Artists and supporters, providing access to high-quality creative practice, connections and cultural spaces. After a recent workshop/exhibition at the MK Gallery this year, they invited us to visit them. We were...
The garden team completed a new rock garden in the paddock! The project was built from scratch from a flat weedy ground, collecting stones from our Willen site and a lucky donation found on Freecycle. We used our own rubble first to make the base of the rockery and carefully placed the rocks effectively and...
Our annual Sports Day went off with a fun-filled bang! Our entire community came together for a day of sporty fun. We started the event with a special warm-up, followed by various activities throughout the morning. Residents were split into groups and led through different stations with fun & active activities. From hoop throwing to...
This month, Camphill MK Explorers discovered The Depot in Weedon with Norman and Guimin. A lady at the visitor centre explained the history of this place. The old depot is a vast compound built in the early 19th century as a military facility to prepare for an anticipated invasion by Napoleon. A canal branch runs...
A pupil from Milton Keynes, infant school Glastonbury Thorn, has taken it upon herself to raise funds for our charity! Glastonbury Thorn School encourage their pupils to contribute to the community around them through many challenges, one of which is to create their own fundraiser. Saoirse chose to support charity Camphill MK to support adults with...
Our Craft Workshop took part in The Place Between exhibition as part of the Milton Keynes International Festival. Artist Rebecca Louise Law created a large installation with people in Milton Keynes using dried flowers at the Middleton Hall centre:MK. The Place Between project team ran flower garland workshops for local communities/organisations making dried flower garlands...
Our Wednesday Arts & Crafts Group visited Emmaus Village in Carlton to present them with an upcycled blanket we had made for them. The Wednesday Arts and Crafts Group spent twelve weeks upcycling some of our old hand-woven curtain materials (which can no longer be used as such due to fire regulations) into a patchwork...
Congratulations to Tom & Cheryl! Tom won Manager of the Year, and Cheryl won Support Worker of the Year at this year’s National Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards 2023! Tom has been recognised for moving us from a paper-based to a digital system onsite (Nourish), creating teams and staff progression routes, and creating a solid future...
Jaki helped Feddie to achieve one of his goals on his Wish Fish list. Freddie loves to watch all things transport-related and engineering, and last year, when he was watching steam engines on YouTube, she told him that she’d take him one day. He liked the sound of that! The gang visited Whitwell Steam and...
Our community has been working with Parks Trust Milton Keynesto assess how accessible their parks are to people with various abilities. We’ve been invited on three guided accessibility walks so far – Stanton Low Park, Great Linford Manor Park and Furzton Lake. Ellie and Katie, who oversee the accessibility and community engagement on behalf of...
We’ve launched Tile Me a Story. A community-wide art project to create a new large-scale artwork for Camphill MK, made up of 100’s of tiles made or inspired by you! Tile Me a Story involves the whole community – our residents, our on-site craft workshops, and you to create a permanent artwork for the community. ...
Our residents, Hector and Anna, took part in one of the flower garland-making workshops at Middleton Hall last week! As part of the Milton Keynes International Festival 2023 (IF) in collaboration with centre:mk, a special commission of Rebecca Louise Law’s The Place Between art installation, locals can join the free flower garland-making workshops and participate in the art show. We...
As part of our Wish Fish campaign, we always strive to make our residents’ wishes come true. Our resident Alex is a tech whizz. He’s part of our Newsletter and Tech Group and wished to visit The Centre for Computing History in Cambridge. It’s much more than a museum. It hosts hands-on exhibitions, educational workshops and a wide range...
As our community keeps growing and thriving, our top priority remains delivering exceptional care and improving the lives of our residents. That is where Csilla’s role as a Positive Behaviour Support Coordinator comes in. She works alongside the Care Management Team and specialises in managing the Sakura Walk service. To stay connected with the community,...
Socius, the mixed-use development company behind MK Gateway, has supported our charity with a new horticultural project! As part of the groundworks, and in recognition of the iconic site’s legacy in Milton Keynes, along with investment partner Patron Capital, they have been working with Milton Keynes City Council and the local community to rehome the hundreds of plants which...
We are thrilled to announce that our charity and individual team members have been selected as finalists in the National Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards 2023! We are so pleased to hear that Cheryl and Tom are finalists. Tom as a finalist in the ‘Manager of the Year’ Award and Cheryl for ‘Support Worker of...
Over the last few months, our resident Stuart has been creating some fantastic embroideries inspired by the pop sensation Sir Cliff Richard! Our Day Services Support Worker, Jessica & team sent some photos of the work to Sir Cliff’s official fan club and received some lovely feedback. We heard back from Tania, Sir Cliff’s PA,...
We’re thrilled to announce that our new, inclusive building project officially began on 1st June. In attendance were The Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Countess Howe, Dame Ann Limb, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Major and Mayoress Mick and Mandy Legg, marking the start of our Capital Plan expansion programme at Camphill MK. Over...
We recently launched the Wish Fish campaign for our residents to make their wishes come true. Our resident Jane’s Fish Wish was to see Westlife and Brian. Our staff made it come true when she and Tracey saw their favourite band members, Brian and Keith, at a Boyzlife concert! Like many older individuals living with...
On the last day of May, we finally came together to celebrate with the Maypole dance. The whole community met on the green at Willen to drum, call, dance, laugh, and find and crown our May King and Queen. Big thanks to Terrie, Paul, Mitchell and the centre-stage team for leading the Maypole dancing! And...
We’re thrilled to be featured on BBC 3 Counties Radio Andy Collins’ show this morning! Reporter Amy Holmes caught up with our Camphill MK Running Group and spoke to the gang about their latest running escapades and recent achievements at the MK Marathon Weekend. And BIG thanks to Cheryl for inspiring and organising us to...
As we prepare our Pennyland and Willen Park sites for the new houses we are building, the Garden Workshop team have been busy creating a new horticultural space in our paddock at Willen Park, gifted to us in the 80s by Milton Keynes Development Corporation. Growing produce is important to us at Camphill MK. The...
Our new extended car park is ready! We’re pleased to offer our visitors more parking & accessibility. Big thanks to WJ Group! As part of their corporate social responsibility, they added new markings, including new blue badge holder spaces and mother and toddler bays.
Our Wednesday Music and Storytelling Workshop has been hard at work creating a new folk song! We asked the group what was most important to them about Camphill, and the ideas came thick and fast. So not only did we manage to write the song in a day, but we also managed to record a...
Last year the team at Morrisons Foundation selected Camphill MK to receive a significant grant to support our charity. The Foundation Team granted £21,730 so we could replace our broken stage lift in the Chrysalis Theatre Milton Keynes. The theatre is a valued asset in enabling community gatherings (assemblies, community-wide lunches, sports days etc.), performances,...
Due to a recent retirement, we are recruiting for a Finance Manager. The fantastic opportunity will see the successful candidate working closely with the Chief Executive, Management Team and Trustees. The role will be to support all strategic finance, regulatory and taxation matters, hands-on management of a small accounts team, and production of timely, accurate...
To celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, we’ve been celebrating with a whole host of creative activities. From paper, ceramic & crochet crowns to celebration cakes and Coronation flowers, we know how to celebratre! We hope you all have a wonderful Coronation Weekend!
We are bursting with pride for our MK Marathon Weekend racers! Our Camphill Community Runners participated in various runs this Bank Holiday weekend. We had a team of staff taking part in the MK Marathon Relay, four runners (+2 support) in the Rocket 5k and four runners (+2 support) in the Superhero Run. Travis completed the Rocket 5K in 27.56 minutes. The...
Anke, one of our Care & Support/Workshops team members, has re-embarked on an epic cycle challenge. Back in 2020, Anke and her husband decided to take a year off on a long cycle tour around Europe. But, of course, we all know that this was the year the pandemic started, and due to Covid restrictions,...
As you know, our residents are so proud of the community they live in. So we thought it would be good to have T-shirts designed for people to wear when they are out and about and for staff and volunteers to wear at fundraising events. The T-shirts were created by a local illustrator Katie Allen...
We are excited to announce that we’ve been nominated as a finalist in the 2023 MK Inspiration Awards! Our nomination is in the Most Inspiring Group within Disability. The winner of that category is the one with the most public votes. Please vote for us! Here’s how: Follow this link – https://mkinspirationawards.co.uk/mk-equality/ Scroll down to Camphill MK...
Camphill MK has launched Friends of Camphill MK as a a thank you to those who continue to support our charity with our big fundraising challenge. As recent winners of the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards for Arts & Culture, our residents are creating handmade ceramic pin badges in the creative workshops to gift them as a...
Camphill Community Runners will put their best feet forward in the various MK Marathon runs this coming May Bank Holiday weekend. With huge thanks to Cheryl and the team, our amazing Camphill Community Runners have been training hard in all weather. We have a team of staff taking part in the MK Marathon Relay on...
It’s time to nominate Camphill MK! Thanks to Movement for Good, an initiative of the Benefact Trust, you can now nominate Camphill MK to be awarded a grant. All you need to do is: 1. Follow this link – https://movementforgood.com/#nominateACharity 2. In the search bar, copy & Paste – 283556 – CAMPHILL MILTON KEYNES COMMUNITIES LIMITED 3. Select ‘charity...
We’re thrilled to participate in the ‘A is for Artist’ exhibition at MK Gallery. In celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, throughout April, the MK Gallery’s Project Space hosts work from five local MK organisations who work with, support and advocate for adults with learning disabilities, autism and neurodiversity. The exhibition showcases diverse talents from across the...
Some of our residents have recently participated in a felting project in the Art and Craft workshop. The project was inspired by the work of artist Angie Lewin, a printmaker who creates colourful and intricately patterned designs of natural forms. We shared our creations with Angie, who kindly wrote: ‘Thank you so much for sending...
Camphill MK’s magnificent Wish Fish was created by our wonderful Arts and Crafts team, and the project is designed to provide our residents with the opportunity to make a wish which our dedicated care and support team will staff will support them to achieve. The wish is written onto the back of one of the...
We are proud to have won the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards for Arts & Culture. It was a rather glamorous evening at the MK Don’s Stadium. A few Camphill staff and Trustees attended, and we are all proud to represent Camphill at the event. This year’s theme for the event was ‘Celebrating Diversity’, announced earlier this...
Everyone had a fantastic time at the Blum in Milton Keynes. The international company produces hinges for lift and runner systems and the appropriate assembly tools for the cabinet-making and furniture industry. Our residents & support staff got to do many activities, such as building a clock out of hinges, rearranging our kitchen, and even...
Our garden workshop team have built x14 extra beds – a huge project and achievement; it has taken us over a month to do from scratch. The raised beds have been placed in the paddock. They will be used to grow vegetables for the café and the community and provide horticultural activities for everyone involved...
Join BetterPoints and get rewarded for making more sustainable journeys (walking, cycling, car sharing) in Milton Keynes!Earn points to treat yourself or you can donate them to your favourite charity (Camphill MK of course!) Join BetterPoints and get rewarded for making more sustainable journeys (walking, cycling, car sharing) in Milton Keynes! Earn points to treat yourself, or...
We are thrilled to announce that BBC Broadcaster and journalist, Martha Kearney, is joining our community as a Patron to support our fundraising campaign. As we launch our campaign to build new accessible accommodation for our community, we had been looking for a patron to work with us through this significant and transformational period. We...
On Friday evening attended the Mayor of Milton Keynes Awards at Stadium MK. Norman was a finalist for Volunteer of the Year – selected from 100’s submissions, with him and just two others invited as finalists. The presenters (Ros & Wes from MKFM) shared with the 500 guests how Norman had supported Camphill MK for eight years,...
It’s not just the architects, engineers and contractors who are currently bustling around Camphill MK. Our community showcases many talents, from baking to weaving, gardening and performance art, but we also have an engineer among us. Here’s Nicky with some of his breathtaking creations using cardboard, paper, hours of patience and buckets of talent! Nicky...
We apologise that our visitor car park has been closed. It is now open again! But, works continue to be in progress. On arrival, there will be an A-board instructing visitors if it is closed, and if so, they will need to seek alternative parking. We are preparing for the expansion of our Camphill MK...
Congratulations to our swim team who raised money for us at the Rotary MK, UK Swimathon. The team completed more than 300 lengths and have worked so hard to raise thousands of pounds for our community. Thank you to Deloitte for entering a team and for our friends, supporters, and staff members who swam and...
On Thursday, 16th February, King Charles visited Milton Keynes to celebrate the city’s status. For the Royal visit, the city’s residents and well-wishers were able to gather and welcome King Charles III. Camphill MK residents and staff were among the charities chosen to meet His Majesty. On arrival at the City Church, King Charles was...
Did you come along to watch our production of 12th Nite at the Chrysalis MK? If not, you missed out on a great show! And if you did, thank you, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! For both nights, the seat were full and we even got a standing ovation! We...
We are excited to share with you that our volunteer Norman has been shortlisted by the Mayor of Milton Keynes for a Mayors Award in the Volunteer of the Year award. Norman has been invited to the ceremony on Friday 24th February where we will find out who the winners are. Did you know...
Milton Keynes Council has dubbed Camphill MK ‘excellent’, recognising the highest level of care. Every year, facilities looking after vulnerable people undergo a thorough inspection by their local authority, taking a detailed look at care plans, staff training, organisational administration, safeguarding and the quality of life for the residents. We’re home to 70 adults witWe’re...
We’ve started a running group! And thanks to the support from MK Community Foundation, we have been granted £952 towards safety equipment (hi-viz, head torches), equipment (cones etc.), t-shirts, and entry into the MK Marathon Rocket 5k for 5 of the team. The running group will be run by Cheryl, a support worker who recently...
We’re thrilled to have received press coverage on the BBC! On 25th January we received great coverage on the BBC on our mission to raise £15million to build new facilities and accessible housing for adults with learning disabilities. Big thanks to Kate Bradbrook for reporting on BBC Look East on our mission to build new...
We are thrilled to announce three major grants from national donors! The Wolfson Foundation, Garfield Weston and The Anson Charitable Trust have all pledged their support for our ambitious plans to create more housing for adults with disabilities. The grants have been awarded to us to support the first phase of our programme to build...
We’re hosting our Valentine’s Disco on Monday 20th March at the Chrysalis Theatre MK. Fancy dress encouraged & good times guaranteed with guest DJs! Address: Chrysalis Theatre, Japonica Ln, Milton Keynes, MK15 9JY Time: 7-9:30 pm ENTRY: £3
The Chrysalis Theatre, part of the Camphill Milton Keynes Communities, is expanding its hire of the various room and renting them out to external users.We’re recruiting for a Bank Theatre Duty Coordinator who will be responsible for the building, supporting the team and ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for our artists, customers, students, and...
We are very proud to have been nominated, and shortlisted for Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards for MK Charity of the Year and in the Arts & Culture category. The Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards will return on 23rd March 2023 and organisers, Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership, have announced that the theme for next...