Tomorrow, Thursday 26 September, the Vila Nova de Famalicão municipal executive will discuss a proposal for support, totalling 415,000 euros, to be awarded to a group of Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS) in the municipality, to modernise their network of facilities and consequently increase their social response in the areas of children, the elderly and the disabled. 

‘The social responses that these IPSS have on the ground are fundamental to improving the support network for Famalicense families and these investments are very important for modernising their infrastructures and increasing the number of places in nurseries, support for the elderly and citizens in need of special care,’ says the mayor, Mário Passos. 

After approving a first tranche of support in the order of 280,000 euros in May, the municipal executive is now analysing the allocation of a further 415,000 euros for the same purpose.

This means new support for the Joane Parish Social Centre (50,000 euros), ACIP - Ave Cooperativa de Intervenção Psico-Social (30,000 euros), the Calendário Social Centre (25,000 euros), SOCIALELOOS - Associação Social de Fradelos (50,000 euros), Recreio do João (50,000 euros) and Engenho - Associação de Desenvolvimento Local do Vale do Este (45,000 euros) for projects to build, extend or upgrade their social services. 

The municipality will also give support to the S. José Institute (50,000 euros) for a project at the Community Support Centre to expand its responses in the senior area. The Bairro Social Centre will receive support of 50,000 euros for work to extend the Centre for Activities and Training for Inclusion, with capacity for 60 young people and adults with disabilities, as part of an application submitted to the PRR. The Calendário Social Centre is expanding its crèche and will receive support of 25,000 euros. The Riba de Ave Social and Cultural Centre has been allocated 35,000 euros to convert two ATL rooms into crèches. Finally, the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Vila Nova de Famalicão will receive support totalling 30,000 euros for work to increase the capacity of its crèche (19 new places).

‘This is a significant increase in the number of places available, especially in nursery schools, an area in which we have seen major shortages,’ said Mário Passos. 

In total, these ongoing investments represent around 600 new places: 194 in nurseries/day care centres; 97 in Residential Structures for the Elderly; 144 in Home Support Services; 96 in Day Care Centres and 60 in Activity and Training Centres for inclusion.