We realise that despite being part of Eastington since the `70s we are very little know by the local residents. We wish to redress this, so let me introduce who and what we are.
William Morris House College is a residential and day provision Specialist College for young people with special educational needs, catering for young people from Gloucestershire as well as students from other cities and counties across the UK. We are a part of the International Camphill Movement, which was founded in 1941 in Scotland. We value an education which uses meaningful work especially in hand crafts such as weaving, felting, wood work, and candle making, as well as working to care for the land and grow our own flowers and produce. We then use this in our food processing to make jams, preserves and juices. Through rhythmic work in the houses, preparing food, cleaning and doing the laundry, students also learn valuable independence and self-help skills. The mornings are taken up with
William Morris House College is a residential and day provision Specialist College for young people with special educational needs, catering for young people from Gloucestershire as well as students from other cities and counties across the UK. We are a part of the International Camphill Movement, which was founded in 1941 in Scotland. We value an education which uses meaningful work especially in hand crafts such as weaving, felting, wood work, and candle making, as well as working to care for the land and grow our own flowers and produce. We then use this in our food processing to make jams, preserves and juices. Through rhythmic work in the houses, preparing food, cleaning and doing the laundry, students also learn valuable independence and self-help skills. The mornings are taken up with
more formal class based study and activity and two mornings are devoted to movement and drama. Many go out on work experience and to leisure activities in the local community. We promote students preparation for life in the modern world, but value the use of awareness, of the course, and of the year and the seasons, through the celebration of festivals, some of which are being lost in the modern materialistic society.
We employ more than 60 people, and also have volunteer workers staying with us to help, usually for one year, who come from many parts of Europe and the World.
Realising we have a very low local profile, we made a start to change this some two or so years back by helping the local apple growers (Community Orchards) to make juice using our Food Processing Workshop Facilities. This has been very successful and helps to keep a contact with the people of Eastington. We have also always been good customers of local shops and especially the butcher.
We employ more than 60 people, and also have volunteer workers staying with us to help, usually for one year, who come from many parts of Europe and the World.
Realising we have a very low local profile, we made a start to change this some two or so years back by helping the local apple growers (Community Orchards) to make juice using our Food Processing Workshop Facilities. This has been very successful and helps to keep a contact with the people of Eastington. We have also always been good customers of local shops and especially the butcher.
One very new and important development is the construction, now very far advanced, of a new workshop complex on land we acquired 4 years ago, situated behind our existing site. This will give us not only state of the art facilities for 3 workshops but also a café and kitchen/food processing facility. We hope to use the facility, which will be set in landscaped grounds, will not only be for college use, but in a flexible and open way will attract all walks of life to learn craft skills, develop vocational skills and enjoy café facilities close to attractive canal walks. We hope to keep our local community informed through regular contributions to the Eastington Community News.
Adrian Standring
Adrian Standring
