The following is extracted from a news item on the website of the Camphill Research Network (The Camphill Research Network was launched in August 2014, and is a not-for-profit initiative).
A series of presentations took place at Westminster on 15th September 2015 on the benefits and methods of Shared Living and Intentional Community for the support of learning disabled adults.
Shared living and intentional community are demonstrably components of the most successful models of support for learning disabled adults, and deliver tremendous value. Many of these models are under threat unnecessarily to the detriment of both the learning disabled and the wider community.
The models employed by organisations such as Shared Lives Plus, L ’Arche and Camphill all successfully deliver these components of community and shared living through a variety of different routes and methodologies.
The presentations highlighted different aspects of intentional community and shared living including benefits (for instance, physical, emotional and psychological well being, cost efficiency) and an explanation of the different approaches used by different organisations. The session also included a literature round-up, medical overview and personal accounts and perspectives from learning disabled adults and their families. Speakers and personnel from a wide range of organisations were on hand to answer questions.
Links to YouTube videos, and transcripts, of the presentations are embedded in the Camphill Research Network report.
You should note that amongst the speakers (listed below) was the Chair of Rescare, Anita Bennett. For convenience, here is a direct link to Anita’s presentation on YouTube.
Speakers:
- Chair: Dr Simon Duffy (Director of the Centre for Welfare Reform)
- Steve Briault (Chair of the Alliance for Camphill, Trustee of Emerson College and The Mount)
- Dr Marcus Van Dam (GP for Botton Village Community, The Danby Surgery)
- Dr Stuart Cumella (Honorary Senior Lecturer, School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham)
- Sally Murray-Jones (Parent of learning disabled adult)
- James Skinner, Lucy Riis-Johannessen, Frank Walters (Botton Village learning disabled community members)
- Anthony Kramers (Regional Leader, L’Arche Scotland)
- Richard Keagan-Bull (Chair of L’Arche National Speaking Group)
- Richard Davis (Vanguard)
- Anita Bennett (Chair of Rescare)