Camas changed my life

Camas gave me a direction in life that was absent for me.

The young 20 old lad that was me jumped off the bus at the track end on a dreich March day in 1986 with a kit bag and a sense of trepidation. I was met by Sheila Russell, the Camas Coordinator. Little did I know that Camas would change my life and give me an anchor point .

School had been awful teachers and peers bullied me relentlessly and I was put in the remedial stream which made me a sitting target for bullies. I had undiagnosed hidden differences

Dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalcula, dyspraxia, which were not assessed until I was 15 but school then did not recognise or support pupils with hidden differences. I had a mental breakdown in 1982. And after hospitalisation I left school at 16 with one O grade in history and a shattered self esteem.

I bounced from job creation schemes to unemployment. My poor parents who had taught me to read were very worried about me. The late reverend James Maitland had sent me to Iona for a rest week when I was 17, It left a mark on me. I returned in 1986 to Camas to volunteer. To get away from it all but found myself. Camas changed my life as I chopped wood or dug ditches or lazy beds in the garden. At Camas I was moved by the struggles of those who came to Camas to canoe, camp, hill-walk, and experience this amazing peace and beauty of Camas. I was running away but Camas wrapped its arms around me. Sheila, John, Alex, Fiona, Mirna, Lee, were the Camas team. They were my Camas family, I owe them so much for supporting me that summer.

When I came back home in 1986 the struggle of those who came to Camas had touched something in me. I saw a bit of me in them. I then resolved to see if I could become a carer after a year in a community house on job creation, I was invited to West Lothian college to study for an SVQ in social care. I achieved for first time in my life, they supported me with my learning differences.

It took me ten years to get into university and after an amazing year at Newbattle Abbey College I entered Edinburgh university in 2001 and in 2005 I gained an MA in Scottish ethnology and a Postgrad in Community Education followed.

I am now a community and disability rights activist. I have worked as a tour guide, social carer, youth worker, classroom assistant, I was diagnosed at 47 with autism which explained so much for me about my struggle to fit in i am now a freelance accredited storyteller, motivational speaker, and handfasting celebrant. Community activism is my vocation, my voice is my strength. I want to use it to increase awareness of autism /hidden differences.

Without Camas and the love of the team in 1986 I would not have found direction. I am writing this to thank the Iona Community for giving a mixed up young lad a chance to live and work at Camas.

Colin Williamson: community activist, storyteller, speaker, racounteur.

What you’ll receive as a Camas Companion

🔔 An invitation to an online Camas Companions ceilidh, coming soon from the Chapel of the Nets at Camas.

🔔 Regular Camas Companions updates from Down the Track – beginning with progress on both fundraising and maintenance!

🔔 An invitation to the Camas reopening – you can come and hit the Camas bell for yourself!

🔔 And by becoming a Camas Companion you’ll find out the story behind the Camas Bell. (Shhhhh those who know, we want folk to join…)

🔔 And more…this will be the community we all make it, so bring your best ideas and contributions to the Camas comeback! Send your suggestions here: [email protected]

How to become a Camas Companion

We’d love to have your support with a pledge for up to five years.

There are a range of ways to donate and support Camas:

• Make a direct one-time payment by credit or debit card
• Set up a Standing Order – you’ll need to contact your bank directly to do that and please let us know your plans so we can make sure your donation is correctly assigned
• Make a bank transfer which can also work for international donations

The Camas Companions bank account is with Virgin Money:
Account Name: Iona Community
Sort Code: 82 20 00
Account Number: 901 712 21
IBAN – GB68CLYD82200090171221

Please use as a reference last name, first initial or name  / Camas

If you’re in the USA, please send a check payable to:
Iona Community New World Foundation to:
MTG Accounting
c/o Maria Guevara – Iona Community New World Foundation
3119 Route 611
Bartonsville, PA 18321

Please make your donation or set up your pledge by clicking the button below:

Please contact us if you have any questions or need any support with your donation [email protected]

One more thing

If you know someone who loves Camas, or who would love it if they only knew it existed, please tell them about Camas Companions. Forward this e-mail to them. And share your own story of what Camas means to you.

We need to reach our target of £125,000 in regular giving by 31 July 2026. Every Camas Companion brings us closer. Every conversation you have could bring in the next one.

Let’s do all we can to keep the Camas bell ringing for years to come. Thank you,

p.s. We do have a plan B to keep youth at the Heart of the work of the Iona Community, if we don’t manage to hit the target for Camas. But let’s give plan A our best shot.

We are committed to raising funds in an open and honest way as per the law by following the Fundraising Code of Practice. We are additionally members of Scottish Fundraising to demonstrate our dedication to practicing ethical fundraising.