More money for welfare groups

MARBELLA Council has increased the subsidies granted to social welfare organisations.

The subsidies granted to social welfare organisations by Marbella Council have increased by 17 per cent so far this year, compared to 2013.

Furthermore, the number of social welfare projects benefiting from these grants has grown from 26 to 31.

Social Welfare Councillor Manuel Cardeña said at a press conference that the subsidies have been slowly increasing, from €40,000 in 2007 to €80,000, then to €94,000 and finally to €110,000 in 2014.

In order to qualify for financial aid, the beneficiaries must first fulfil a number of requirements.

For instance, they must be included in the Marbella Municipal Organisations Registry and their head office must be in Marbella, said Cardeña.

The help provided by Marbella Council to social welfare organisations does not end there, though, since it also negotiates annual co-operation agreements with them, added Cardeña. Some of the organisations that have negotiated co-operation agreements with the council include Banco de Alimentos, Ser Humano, Asociacion Crece and Asociacion de Familiares de Enfermos de Alzheimer.

The importance of the subsidies granted to social welfare organisations cannot be stressed enough, especially given the cuts in financial aid to social programmes, commented Cardeña.

“If it were not for the council’s help, for instance, the Asociacion de Personas Sordas de Marbella-San Pedro (Association of Deaf People of Marbella-San Pedro) would not have an interpreter,” he remarked.