Camphill Social Fund Limited(CSF) is a charitable company limited by guarantee, governed by its Articles of Association (rewritten 2024). It was set up in 1978 by Camphill School Aberdeen (CSA), as a contingency fund initially largely to meet exceptional medical needs of its then non-salaried volunteer co-workers. However, it was clear that there were also two other distinct needs: support for non-salaried co-workers of retirement age and assistance for long standing co-workers who were leaving and needed support in transitioning.

 

As other Camphill communities became established around Aberdeen, namely Beannachar, Simeon Care and Tigh a’ Chomainn, they joined the Fund.

 

CSF's Articles have been fully updated recently (2024), but remain true to the purposes of the original 1985 articles. CSF's Articles are our governing document, with the principal objects stated as being:

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The Charity’s objects are the prevention or relief of poverty, the advancement of health, the relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage, and the advancement of citizenship and community development. The Charity will achieve its objects through a contemporary application of the Camphill Movement’s founding principles and values, promoting and advancing its charitable objects by making provision for the support of persons who have been members of, or substantially associated with the Camphill Movement or other charities and organisations with similar aims and objects. The Charity will also further its charitable objects through support of, and collaboration with, other such charities and organisations. In particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, in furtherance of these objects the Charity will, at the Trustees discretion: 

 

2.1 support and care for individuals who have been co-workers engaged in any of the communities who have contributed to the Charity (“the contributing communities”); and make provision for the next of kin of any such persons;

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2.2 make provision for the immediate needs of individuals who have been co-workers who leave, or are required to leave, any of the contributing communities or have come into hardship; and 

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2.3 support, and collaborate with, organisations associated with the Camphill Movement or other charities and organisations with similar aims and objectives. 

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These were fully updated on legal advice to ensure that the objects gave CSF greater flexibility to address current and future requests and to increase clarity through use of more modern language.

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Funding

CSF's work had been largely funded by annual contributions from 4 Camphill communities local to Aberdeen, Beannachar, Camphill Schools, Simeon Care and Tigh a' Chomainn. However, in recent years there was a significant reduction in contributions from the communities, because of the gradual move away from the traditional long term co-worker volunteer model, with company pension plans being put in place and the move to employment in most companies. Contributions from communities have now ceased. CSFs income now comes mainly from investments and occasional donations.

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The Future

To ensure the effective use of funds in delivering our objectives, the Council of Management regularly monitors and reviews investments and our systems of financial strategy and control. Our primary responsibility remains to the individuals who work, or once worked as long term voluntary co-workers, in one or more of the contributing communities. However, the move to an employed workforce and changes in the functioning and development of the communities has given rise to new types of requests which also comply with our objects, and which are appropriate to be considered.

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Until recently, CSF had not considered owning or renting property but is now engaged in the build of nine flats above the substantial extension being undertaken by Simeon Care Home. Completion is expected by late summer 2027. These flats will enable CFS to provide secure, affordable, good quality accommodation primarily for retired, long term Camphill co-workers, at reasonable rent and local to existing Camphill Communities. The nine flats will be accessed by a lift, via a separate entrance.

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Further Information

Please click on the links below for further information on Camphill Social Fund:

 2025 Annual Report for Camphill Social Fund 

Articles of Association - Camphill Social Fund

These links take you to information on Camphill Social Fund held on our page on Companies House website.