Our history
Beginnings
ELCAP was established in 1989. We became a company limited by guarantee in March 1989 and a charity in January 1991.
The 1989 government White Paper, Caring for People, provided the framework for social care in the 1990s and beyond. The key components of community care were:
- Services that respond flexibly and sensitively to the needs of individuals and their carers
- Services that allow a range of options
- Services that intervene no more than necessary to foster independence
- Services that concentrate on those with greatest needs
Our first Director was Linda Headland, who served ELCAP with distinction for 24 years.
Our initial purpose was to support individuals with learning disabilities to move from institutions – for example, hospitals and hostels – to our community.
The individuals we supported lived at:
- Hopetoun, a 72 bed NHS hospital unit in Haddington
- Prestonkirk, a 24 bed hostel in East Linton
- Wedderburn, a 16 bed hostel in Musselburgh
We supported these individuals to move into small, registered group homes, accommodating two to four people. Over time, we enabled them to move into their own homes.
Responding to need, we extended our services to allow us to work with individuals with a wider range of support needs. In 1996, following local government re-organisation, we entered a long and successful partnership with East Lothian Council. In the same year, we became an Investor in People.
