Brexit worries at unveiling
John Swinney MSP with Corbenic staff, residents and volunteers International volunteers helping out at a Perthshire special needs community may be harder to recruit in future due to Brexit.
Perthshire North MSP John Swinney was at Corbenic Camphill Community to meet with staff, volunteers and residents of the community.
He visited to unveil a new bench at the Corbenic Poetry Path, a walk through the Dunkeld woodland with over 30 poems installed at strategic points along the route.
The bench was made in a collaborative project between Corbenic’s estate and craft workshop teams.
Corbenic Camphill Community, which was set up near Dunkeld 40 years ago, is comprised of approximately 100 people, 38 of whom are adults with special needs.
Residents live and work side by side with voluntary co-workers and employed staff.
Mr Swinney heard about concerns for the recruitment of international volunteers because of increased visa refusals.
Unveiling the bench, Mr Swinney said: “Corbenic Camphill Community is a Perthshire institution, which has enriched the lives of countless individuals.
“I was also deeply concerned to hear of the challenges that Corbenic face, both from Brexit and from the increased level of refusals in tier five charity visa applications.
“The contribution of foreign volunteers to Corbenic is profound, and it is disappointing to hear that UK Government policy is now threatening Corbenic’s capacity to deliver care and support services.”