Building Communities |
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with People who have Learning Disabilities |
L'Arche was started in 1964 in France by a Canadian called Jean Vanier. |
L'Arche Edinburgh consists of three homes; the Skein on Leith Links, Creelha just off Easter Road and a supported living flat in Cables Wynd, Leith. We also provide visiting support to someone in her own flat. We have set up day services for several of our members, with one-to-one support.
L'Arche Edinburgh also comprises a wide and growing network of people who live in their own homes and belong as long-term members to L'Arche. These members maintain a connection with the community, rather in the style of extended family.
Our households are not just collections of individuals. We want each house to be a group of people who benefit from and enjoy living together. Everyone is involved in helping to create the atmosphere of the house. We try to have quite a strong rhythm and order in our daily life, with regular mealtimes and the routine of housework. These are important expressions of our shared life. There is also plenty of flexibility, however, to allow us to be ourselves and to have our own habits and tastes.
Each household has someone responsible for the house, but they are not "staff" in the conventional sense. The house is home for all who live there. Some people will need help with personal care or to go shopping and some may need emotional support in order to cope with daily life. We hope this help can be given and received in ways which respect the individual and encourage mutual care and friendship. Each person will develop a network of relationships which, in their variety, helps them to feel both secure and stimulated. Through the year, everybody will be able to go away on holiday and to visit family and friends.
In our daily life, a strong Christian inspiration can be felt in our attempt to treat each other as equals and to devote our life together to a spiritual purpose. It is not our aim to promote or impose Christianity, but rather to bring a spiritual dimension into daily life in ways which most people are able to appreciate even if they have no interest in religion.
Membership of L'Arche is open to people of all faiths or none.
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Copyright © 2011 L'Arche Edinburgh
L'Arche is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, No. 1055041.
L'Arche is registered as a charity in England and Wales, No. 264166, and in Scotland, No. SC038493.
Registered Office: 10 Briggate, Silsden, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD20 9JT
