The Lantern Administration

The Lantern Community Admissions Policy

The most important criteria for those who live in The Lantern Community include:

• That the person wishes to be part of a mutually supportive Lifesharing community.
• That their wish is shared by other members of the Community.
• That the particular needs of the person can be met within the context of the Community and its available human and physical resources.

Within this general outline there are more specific guidelines for eligibility:

• The Community is unable to admit a person under the age of 19, and it is unlikely a person would join over the age of 50, particularly so if they are joining Camphill for the first time.
• Applicants will have a learning disability or other special needs which fall within that broad category, e.g. autistic spectrum disorders, perinatal brain damage, slow learning, poor memory, language disorders, Downs syndrome, or one of many other specific, related syndromes. Some people may have some degree of physical or sensory disability, i.e. sight or hearing impairment, dyspraxia, or cerebral palsy.
• Some people may have an associated medical condition e.g. epilepsy
• The Community cannot accept people who require awake night time care/supervision, or who need physical or nursing care greater than that which can be offered by the District Nurse Team.
• The Community is not able to include people with acute mental illness, with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, or those who are violent towards other people or destructive of property.
• Everyone is expected to participate in an individual programme of meaningful day activities which would include work in houses, craft and service workshops and land work. It follows therefore that anyone joining the Community will have the willingness to contribute to such activities.
• All those who live in a house in a Community setting shares responsibility for the domestic needs of the house community. Again it follows that people will have the willingness to share necessary tasks.
• As a Lifesharing Community each will contribute to the practical, social and cultural life of the Community and will participate in a variety of ways in decision making, taking responsibility for the consequences of those decisions.
• Many people will need support to enable them to engage in some or all of the above activities. The working together to achieve the aims of the Community and to assist in the personal development of each individual is an important aspect of our lives in which each person is asked to share to the best of their ability.
• The Community does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of colour, gender, race, age, religion or sexual orientation. Likewise, we expect every member to hold the above values, particularly in consideration of the fact that we are a Christian based Community.

Should there be a decision following an Admission Interview, or the experience of a Working Visit, that a placement cannot be offered, the reasons for this decision will be communicated to the applicant and recorded in their application file.

March 2004