A NEW community for people with learning disabilities has launched in North Yorkshire.

The new Esk Valley Camphill Community (EVCC) is based around 15 houses across three villages; Danby, Castleton and Botton and is made up of residents or former residents of Botton Village Camphill Community.

The EVCC already rents 19 properties at Botton and the nearby villages of Ainthorpe and Castleton in the North York Moors and it is currently recruiting short-stay volunteers who are interested in the Camphill ethos to spend time in the 80-strong community.

The scheme has opened in partnership with support service provider, The Avalon Group.

Avalon provides a ‘Shared Lives’ programme whereby adults who need support and accommodation live in family households with approved Shared Lives carers.

Larry Hollando, Avalon’s CEO, said: “Avalon is delighted to add to their support services in North Yorkshire with the inclusion of a number of Shared Lives households at Botton and neighbouring villages.

“To our knowledge this is the first initiative that brings Shared Lives into a Camphill Community and we look forward to working in close partnership with EVCC and Camphill Village Trust to ensure this approach is successful.”

The new partnership of EVCC and Avalon emerged, following a period of transition, from the Camphill Village Trust (CVT) charity.

Most of EVCC’s households are within Botton Village where CVT continues to provide support and accommodation to people with learning disabilities.

Whilst many EVCC members work in CVT’s workshops, the new community also plans to create further employment opportunities by acquiring land and developing its own workshops.

EVCC worker, Jonathan Reid, said: “Camphill communities have always striven to establish a way of life in which the members, whether learning disabled or not, relate to each other primarily as fellow human beings - whether this is in the workplace, the home, at cultural events or in Christian celebration.”