Young people with learning disabilities turn Aberdeen charity’s newest residential house into a home

Just two months since Camphill School Aberdeen opened the doors to its brand-new state-of-the-art residential home, the house is already becoming a ‘home-from-home’ for the young people who live there.

Linden House, the 11-bedroom sustainable residence located on the charity’s Murtle Estate, near Bieldside, welcomed its first residents in April when six young people with learning disabilities and complex additional support needs moved in. They are being supported by 15 care staff, four of whom also live in the house.

The house, which took around two years to build, features 11 private en-suite bedrooms, an open plan kitchen and dining area, an independent living wing to support, and an outdoor courtyard area.

Before they moved to Linden House, the young people were encouraged to play their part in making the house a home, which saw them hitting the shops to choose furniture and furnishings for their rooms and the communal spaces so that it became as homely and familiar as possible.

Ben Abel, House Coordinator at Linden House, said: “To make the transition into the new house easier, we had flashcards and social stories made for non-verbal young people to help them understand what was happening, and the more physically able residents helped decorate and move furniture into their rooms.

“Most of the young people came from the same house on the estate, so we brought across some of the same furniture from the social areas, as well as their bedrooms, to create a sense of familiarity.”

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Involving the young people in the moving process is an important part of the charity’s person-centred care. Transitions can be unsettling, but involvement can create a sense of autonomy and control. The young people were also involved right at the very beginning of the development process. Collective Architecture, the award-winning architects behind Linden House, worked with students to make sure the new house was as tailored to their needs and wants as possible.  

David, one of the students who recently moved into LindenHouse and was part of the opening event, said: “I have settled into LindenHouse more now. My favourite things about our new house are the big sitting room and dining room. I like the kitchen too."

The communal areas are the beating heart of the new house. Camphill School Aberdeen and the wider Camphill movement were founded withcommunity at their core. Staff, young people, and volunteers live, work, and learn together in mutual respect and shared purpose.

Ben continued: “The social areas were very important when we looked at the design of the house in the early stages of development. Sincemoving into Linden House, we’ve already enjoyed a BBQ in the courtyard, celebrated a couple of birthdays, and hosted evening activities such as craftsessions and sing-alongs.”

Creating a sense of community is a big part of Camphill School Aberdeen’s holistic approach to education and care. Many staff andvolunteers live on-site, enhancing the strength of relationships and the quality of care the charity provides. Linden House has capacity for four members of staff or gap year volunteers to reside in the home alongside seven young people with additional support needs.

At Camphill School Aberdeen, community members live, work, and grow together. A founding principle of the charity is mutual respect foreach other and the environment, which is evident at Linden House and across the charity’s three estates. In the charity’s residential houses, everyone, to thebest of their abilities, contributes to cooking, cleaning, and other tasks, as there is a shared responsibility for the running of the house, creating a sense of purpose and belonging.

“Everyone here is treated equally. It’s not about what‘labels’ people have. That’s why Linden House is important. It provides a safeplace for young people who may have struggled in mainstream settings to thrive,” says Ben.

The construction of Linden House is part of the Camphill School Aberdeen’s wider Building Futures, Transforming Lives £10 million capital appeal. Launched in 2022 in response to the crisis in care, the appeal aims to increase the charity’s day and residential services capacity by 60% by 2032 and modernise and expand existing facilities.

Ben added: “Linden House is an amazing facility and is already improving the lives of the young people living here. The new house is alot brighter than where some of the young people lived previously, the hallways are wider, making the building more accessible, and every bedroom has an en-suite, so that the young people each get their own bathroom.  

“Upgrades like this really make a difference to the lives of the young people living here. Although this is my workplace, Linden House is theirhome, so it's important that the space is as comfortable and homely as possible.”

Phase one, which is fully funded, has also included the development and opening of social enterprise, Murtle Market, a sustainable shop, refillery, and takeaway café, which provides meaningful work opportunities to Camphill School Aberdeen students, and Aberdeen’s first freely publicly accessible, inclusive, outdoor sensory playground, which is due to open on Camphill Estate near Milltimber next month.