The Marbella City Council and the Marbella Voluntaria Association have signed the renewal of the annual agreement, endowed with 41,316 euros, to support their programmes for vulnerable individuals. The mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, endorsed the agreement alongside the president of the association, María del Carmen Bertomeu.
The Marbella City Council has renewed its collaboration with the Marbella Voluntaria Association by signing the annual agreement, which has a budget of 41,316 euros. The agreement supports the programmes that the entity develops in the municipality to assist, accompany, and support people in vulnerable situations.
The mayor, Ángeles Muñoz, signed the agreement alongside the president of the association, María del Carmen Bertomeu, and the councillor for Social Rights, Isabel Cintado. Muñoz highlighted during the signing the work of the association and noted that municipal cooperation allows for the maintenance of training initiatives, awareness, functional diversity, and social accompaniment, as well as intergenerational programmes that connect older people and youth.
“The important step that it represents to continue advancing in the commitment and support for an entity like this, which carries out commendable work”
Cintado has praised the intergenerational workshops developed this year and emphasised the involvement of educational centres and the contribution of older individuals. Nearly 900 students from various educational centres in the municipality have participated in these workshops.
“The affection and involvement of the educational centres and the contribution of older individuals, who have been a well of wisdom, generosity, and affection, transmitting to our children values that are also very important”
One of the central programmes of the entity is the Project Faro, which expands attention, protection, and accompaniment for older people living alone and without a close family network. Currently, it serves around 240 individuals. The councillor explained that this project is coordinated with municipal Social Services, which refer cases that require more continuous voluntary accompaniment.
“We try to be with them every day, ensuring they lack nothing, but above all, that they find that hand of affection and have the peace of mind of knowing that we will accompany them to the doctor, that we are attentive to them and that they are not alone”
This network is complemented by collaboration with local commercial establishments, which helps detect possible situations of isolation or vulnerability. The councillor detailed that there is a contact phone number through which a shopkeeper can alert when they notice that an older person who usually visits their establishment stops doing so for several days.
“This quick communication with Marbella Voluntaria and with the delegation allows us to activate the resources that the person may need”
The president of the entity expressed gratitude for the municipal support and explained that volunteering is not limited to occasional accompaniment, but also includes transportation to the doctor, hospital, or tests, home visits, walks, and telephone follow-ups.
“A volunteer not only provides occasional accompaniment but also takes individuals to the doctor, hospital, or tests, conducts home visits, takes a walk with the person, or maintains a telephone follow-up”
Bertomeu specified that the association develops social skills workshops aimed at minors temporarily expelled from schools, as well as awareness activities in educational centres to bring young people closer to the reality of older individuals and promote the values of volunteering. For older individuals, the entity offers weekly workshops led by a volunteer psychologist and a leisure programme that includes outings to museums, theatre, and walks to promote social relationships and combat loneliness.
The association also maintains an active presence in the Active Participation Centres of the municipality, which this year already total ten facilities, where it organises talks and activities to raise awareness of available resources and encourage participation. Daily primary care includes support and guidance regarding social and economic needs, such as managing aid and discounts related to basic supplies, and referrals to other entities or municipal resources when specific needs are detected.
You may also like
