Camphill School Aberdeen has launched its highly anticipated sustainable social enterprise, Murtle Market, which aims to provide meaningful work experience to young people with learning disabilities and complex additional support needs.
The store, which was officially opened last Friday by Scotland’s Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Gillian Martin MSP, features a takeaway café, refillery, and organic shop. It is Camphill School Aberdeen’s first public-facing venture.
Murtle Market will provide training, work opportunities, and skills development for the young people, while also showcasing the charity’s heritage, vocational workshops, and sustainability. Many of these young people may not otherwise have access to work opportunities.
The café will sell a custom blend of coffee and the shop will stock organic produce from the charity’s own gardens, along with dry and fresh ingredients from local suppliers. Crafts made by the young people, including prints, scrunchies, and greeting cards, will be available for sale.
Jamie Bultitude one of the young people who will benefit from Murtle Market's meaningful skills development.
Alex Busch, Executive Director at Camphill School Aberdeen, said: “Our purpose is to help every young person who walks through our doors reach their full potential. Murtle Market is an important part of that offering – expanding the opportunities for young people to develop critical skills and build their confidence which positively impacts every aspect of their lives.
“We’re excited to be opening our doors to the public which will help us further strengthen links with the local community and improve understanding of what Camphill School Aberdeen is all about. We couldn’t have got here without the generous support of local residents, businesses, and the trusts and foundations who donated to our capital appeal campaign.”
The young people will have the opportunity to contribute to Murtle Market in a variety of ways from making coffee cup holders in their art workshop and making mugs and bowls in the pottery workshop to attending the gardens where the local produce is grown and stock-checking at the store. The charity hopes to launch online next year and will offer deliveries to those living locally.
Murtle Market was redeveloped from a former bookshop at the entrance to Camphill School Aberdeen’s Murtle Estate on North Deeside Road. An extension to the former store has been built to adhere to sustainable building standards. The Scottish Government’s then Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Màiri McAllan visited the site when ground was first broken in September 2023.
Wiepke Dunnewold, Gillian Martin, and Alex Busch (L-R) at the opening of the sustainable social enterprise.
Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Gillian Martin said: “I am delighted to mark the completion of Camphill School’s sustainable project, Murtle Market.
“The project, which has been supported through the Scottish Government’s Just Transition Fund alongside investment from Social Investment Scotland, is an exciting example of how a community can come together and build a positive future for its young people, in a way that also benefits the local area and helps people take climate action.”
A key part of the charity’s approach to care is its vocational workshops, of which Murtle Market is one. The workshops, which are either craft, land or social enterprise-based, are designed to provide our young people with meaningful work experience and skills development, whilst also providing therapeutic benefits.
Julie and Bruce Bultitude, whose son Jamie will be one of the young people benefitting from the launch of Murtle Market, said: “Jamie has loved working at FRUVER, Camphill’s internal food distribution hub, and he can’t wait to see the doors open at Murtle Market and be part of this exciting next step.
“We’ve seen his confidence go from strength to strength during his time at Camphill and particularly since working at FRUVER. Murtle Market will be a great way to give even more young people these types of opportunities.”
Murtle Market is part of phase one of the charity’s wider Building Futures, Transforming Lives capital appeal. Launched in response to the growing crisis in care and increased demand for its services, Camphill School Aberdeen aims to raise £10 million over 10 years to increase its capacity.
Murtle Market will be open Tuesday through Saturday and is located on North Deeside Road at the entrance of the charity’s Murtle Estate. While the store is easily accessible by foot including for those walking from the Deeside Way, it also offers a limited number of parking spaces and ample bike storage.