- Creation of new or expansion of existing social care structures
- Meeting the needs of children and adults with long-term care needs
- Funding of €18 million. through the Recovery and Resilience Plan "Cyprus_Tomorrow"
- Grants to Non-Governmental Organisations and Local Authorities
The Social Welfare Services of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare announced today the announcement of the State Grants Scheme of the Social Welfare Services for the creation of new or the expansion of existing social care structures. The Plan, which was approved by the Council of Ministers, is implemented through the Recovery and Resilience Plan "Cyprus_Tomorrow" 2021-2026 and the total amount allocated for its implementation is €18 million.
The Plan aims to increase the availability of places to meet the needs of care and education of children from an early age and care of adults with disabilities or with long-term care needs.
Specifically, the Plan provides for grants to Non-Governmental Organisations and Local Authorities for the creation or upgrading/expansion of existing ones:
- Multipurpose Children's Centres (crèches and Child Protection and Employment Centres for children aged 0-4 years and 6-13 years), as well as Child Care Centres (crèches for children aged 0-4 years), and
- 24-hour Care Centres for adults with long-term care needs (small structures integrated in the community to accommodate up to 10 persons).
In the first phase, with an interim target date of the end of 2024, funding will be provided to establish or expand at least 11 facilities for children and two facilities for adults with long-term care needs. The final time target is June 2026, by which time a total of 30 entities (11+19) will have been granted sponsorship to develop or upgrade structures for children and a total of six entities (2+4) to establish structures providing care services to adults. In order to target the allocation of resources, a mapping of existing structures has been carried out by an external expert and the areas where there are gaps in service provision have been identified, based on actual needs.
The Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Ms Anastasia Anthousi, welcomes the launch of a very important policy aimed at strengthening the welfare state and citizens' access to quality, inclusive care services, protecting them from the risk of poverty. "Through strengthening the availability of care and social development infrastructure for our vulnerable citizens, the objective of integrating children into education and care structures from an early age, the social inclusion of people with disabilities, and the active participation of older people in all aspects of life, thus promoting active ageing," Ms Anthoussi said.
More information about the Project, as well as the application form, is available on the Social Welfare Services website at the link: https:/bit.ly/3XUHCtj. The deadline for submission of applications by interested parties is Friday, 28 April 2023, at 2 pm
(MKυ)
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