Eric Liddell Centre celebrates four decades of service
One of Edinburgh’s best known and loved care charities and community hubs - The Eric Liddell Centre (ELC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary on 26 November.
The occasion will be marked by an online event highlighting the life of Eric Liddell, the renowned Chariots of Fire Olympic runner, together with the centre’s ever-expanding role in providing services for the people of Edinburgh.
Viewing via Zoom, the event will feature music, poetry and discussion from Alexander McCall Smith, Sir James MacMillan,
Sally Magnusson, David Puttnam (producer of the world-famous film Chariots of Fire) and Eric Liddell’s daughter Patricia, who will join as a guest panellist from her home in Canada.
The history of the ELC goes back to 31 October 1978 when four local churches, Christ Church Morningside, Morningside United Church, North Morningside Parish Church and Morningside Baptist Church, agreed to come together to set up a centre in order to bring people from the local community together.
It was agreed that the purpose of the centre would be "to further provision of community services to all members of the community of whatever age and whatever circumstances, irrespective of their denominational life".
As plans got underway to refurbish the former church building, the then minister of Morningside United Church, Rev J. Stewart Miller, suggested linking the Holy Corner Church Centre name to honour the memory of the "Flying Scotsman" and British Olympic hero and missionary, Eric Liddell, who, as a young man, had lived and taught at Morningside United Church.
Over the last 40 years the ELC has gone from strength to strength, focussing on its vision to "Bring Edinburgh’s Communities Together", and to respond to isolation, loneliness, and in particular services for those living with dementia and their carers.
The ELC works incredibly hard to change perceptions of people living with dementia, disabilities, and mental health issues, and aims to show that living a full life can be achieved with the correct support. Over the years they have established many valuable services across the city, including a specialist Dementia Day Care Service, Carers Programme, Befriending Service and Caring Soles (foot care) Service.
There is no doubt that the recent Covid-19 pandemic has affected every sector of society, but the hardest hit have been the elderly, many of whom the ELC supports. However, despite these uncertain times, the dedicated Staff Team at the ELC continue to work for vulnerable people in their community and have responded with an alternative method of support, including the delivery of 5,458 lunches between April and July.
The Eric Liddell Centre Team would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone in their community who has supported the care charity over the last 40 years. They remain positive for their future and look forward to welcoming the local community back to the ELC when safety guidelines permit, and it is safe for them to do so.
Tickets for the 40th Anniversary Celebration can be purchased on Eventbrite.