There are many stories that make Camphill Blair Drummond a special community
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Creating Opportunities for Young People to Thrive
Hi, I am Mairead and as Employment Support Coordinator, each day is different: The main part of my role is to engage with young people in the Stirling area who are either currently in school or have left school already, andsupport them to start considering positive destination in employment or further training. I attend a referral meeting every 2 weeks where other partners come together, manage referrals, and allocate them to the right service.
This partnership working and getting to know other agencies in the area has been something I have enjoyed since coming into the role in November last year and establishing relationships across the partnership has been my focus in the first few months.
Since starting in post, I have spent the time getting to know the young people and I am currently redeveloping the Employability Programme at Camphill Blair Drummond by creating a 6-week programme; this programme will look at giving them taster experiences in different areas of our community, as well as building their confidence, social skills and supporting them to look at their future options which may be employment, training or further education.
As we all know, Blair Drummond is an incredible place and somewhere that can transform lives, I’m excited to be able to share our community with other young people and support them on their journey to success.
Taylor
From day one, it was clear that Taylor was ready to throw herself into life at Camphill – quite literally. On her very first day, there was a visit from a fire engine and a first aid demonstration. Taylor wasted no time getting involved. She grabbed the fire hose and gave everyone a very enthusiastic soaking, much to their surprise and laughter. Moments later, she was equally engaged in the CPR demonstration. That first day said a lot about Taylor - confident, curious, and completely unafraid to take part.
As the day went on, Taylor joined an arts and crafts session, helping to paint a door alongside everyone else. Meeting new people and being part of the group clearly mattered to her; her face lit up as she connected with others and settled into the space. From the very beginning, she was included, encouraged, and supported to join in in her own way.
Since then, Taylor has explored a wide range of workshops and activities across Camphill. Some days she is hands‑on and fully engaged; other days she takes a step back - and that flexibility has been important. What has remained constant is the opportunity to be part of the community. Through these experiences, Taylor has built friendships, developed new skills, and grown in confidence, even when participation looks different from one day to the next.
The social side of Camphill has made a real difference for Taylor. Being around familiar people, feeling included, and having a place where she belongs is just as important as the activities themselves. Those shared moments - big and small - have shaped her experience here.
Alongside her time at Camphill, Taylor also attends The Peak on Tuesdays, where she takes part in inclusive sports such as swimming, ice skating, and cycling. These experiences complement her time at Camphill well, particularly in areas like life skills and creative media, where capturing and sharing experiences helps tell each student’s story.
As Taylor’s 1:1 support worker, what stands out most to me is the care shown by the wider Camphill community. When Taylor has been unwell, there has always been genuine kindness and understanding from both students and employees. People notice when she’s not herself. They check in, they ask after her, and they care - and that means more than words can say.
For Taylor, Camphill isn’t just somewhere she attends during the week. It’s a community where she is known, welcomed, and valued. Watching her grow in confidence, build relationships, and find her place has been a real privilege.
