Duncan Cameron
Duncan Cameron started the Cameron Trust in 2009. The story of the Cameron Trust began with Duncan's father getting dementia in his 50s and Duncan's mother becoming his father's carer, with his sister and him becoming their main supporters.
At the beginning Duncan began just sitting with his father to give his mum a break but as he deteriorated he ended up having to give him more and more time and becoming more and more of a team with his family. Duncan approached social services and found the help just was not there for signposting or support for understanding what they needed for his Dad, he felt very alone. He was fortunate enough not to have to rely on the state for financial help, but this did not make things any easier.
Developing a staff team without really knowing what was needed, and knowing that you just wanted your Dad to remain happy, healthy and safe was a difficult task. After a period of years the inexperienced ‘family’ team turned into an experienced one knowing exactly what they really wanted. They discovered they had the answers all along.
At this time Duncan met the founders of New Key who worked with people with learning disabilities, they discovered they had common beliefs about not wanting residential care and wanting people to remain in their communities. Good housing and good support were essential and thus a partnership was created. Sharing beliefs and vision.
The Cameron Trust believe in providing quality low cost housing and strive to lead the way to helping people on the first steps to their own home. People will be able to stay where they are or get a start in life, buy their home or move on in a planned way rather than in a crisis.
The Cameron Trust is a charity and Duncan is also interested in redefining or restating what ‘charity’ is all about. He feels it has lost some of its true meaning and will be working with a group of mentors including Simon Duffy to challenge perceptions and grow the Cameron Trust into a ‘small but beautiful’ leading housing charity.