Across our history, Camphill Village Trust has seen many changes and evolutions. One thing that has always remained constant is the dedication of the people who help enable a life of opportunity for the people we support – whether serving our communities on the ground, or supporting the work of frontline staff from behind the scenes.
Working in the charity sector, and adult social care in particular, isn’t always easy. It asks a lot of those who show up every day to support others. Yet it also offers amazing rewards, and that shines through in the number of colleagues who stay with us year after year.
The shared spirit of teamwork, compassion and purpose is what unifies us and carries us forward.
This year, we’re proud to celebrate several milestone anniversaries, including a remarkable 30-year anniversary, a 20-year milestone, and four impressive 10-year celebrations. You’ll find some of the stories behind those milestones below.
A decade of dedication
Two of our team leaders, Lauren and Leanna, are celebrating 10 years at the Trust.
They joined Stourbridge as support workers just one month apart and have grown into inspiring leaders who make a real difference every day. To mark the occasion, the team surprised them with flowers, balloons and a homemade cake created by Olivia, one of the wonderful people we support.
Lauren said: “I’m proud to have worked at Camphill Village Trust for 10 years. It feels like a real achievement, and I hope to continue progressing here.”
Leanna added: “I see myself working here for the next 10 years! I’m proud to have grown from a Support Worker to a member of the management team.”
Their manager, Hollie, couldn’t be prouder. She said: “Both Lauren and Leanna have flourished into outstanding team leaders. Their qualities and outgoing personalities make them stand out.
“I can’t thank them enough for their hard work and dedication. As their manager, I couldn’t be prouder of how far they’ve come. I hope to be working alongside them for the next 10 years!”
A passion for payroll
Also celebrating 10 years is Caulette. When she started with us back in 2015, her first task was to centralise the payroll function.
Caulette remembers: “It was a great opportunity to get an initial understanding of the challenges each community faces, the wonderful locations of them all, and to see exactly what the trust does for the people we support in each location.”
When she joined, there were 250 employees. Today, we have around 760 – and Caulette has been at the heart of supporting that growth.
Caulette’s favourite thing about her job is being able to do something she’s passionate about, for a company that is dedicated to helping those we support lead fulfilling and happy lives within our communities.
She said: “Some people might think I’m a bit odd being passionate about payroll, but I see it as more of a duty. Payrollers are a very special breed of people – we won’t log off until that final authorisation has been sent, no matter what time.”
A creative journey
John Muir also marks his 10-year milestone this year. He began as a Press Assistant in Botton’s print workshop, supporting digital printing and graphic design, while also working alongside the people we support on print-finishing projects such as bookbinding and card-making.
In 2020, he became Workshop Lead and helped guide the team through the challenges of the pandemic, later helping to establish the Botton Creative Studio. As graphic design needs grew, John took on even more design work with the Trust’s marketing and fundraising teams.
John said: “One of my favourite things is helping visualise the Trust’s message. I love sharing the positive impact of our work with the wider public.”
He also takes great pride in transforming artwork created by the people we support into beautifully printed products. “It’s amazing to see their joy when they see their art displayed in our shops,” he said.
John’s line manager, Kelly, said: “John is an integral part of our Botton Community and communications team. He’s a fantastic ambassador for the Trust and passionate about ensuring our materials tell our story in the best way possible.”
Thank you from the Trust
To everyone celebrating milestones this year – thank you. Your dedication and hard work are what make Camphill Village Trust the special place it is.
Here’s to many more years of working together, supporting one another, and helping the people in our communities to live a Life of Opportunity.
This is the first year we’ve shared a post like this. That means there are many incredible team members who have been with us for over a decade but aren’t marking a ‘milestone year’ this year (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years). Their dedication is a vital part of the work we do, and the support we give to community members. If there is a team member who you’d like to feature in a special blog marking our other long-serving colleagues, please email comms.marketing@cvt.org.uk. Please note: Some team members celebrating milestones this year preferred not to be featured.
