iSocial and Fiare Banca Etica Strengthen Their Alliance

Publications News

iSocial and Fiare Banca Etica Strengthen Their Alliance

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Notícia Fiare. Banca ética

The iSocial Foundation has joined the cooperative Fiare Banca Etica as a member, within the framework of an agreement that also includes a line of credit to finance iSocial’s projects and the sponsorship of several of our foundation’s publications.

After several years of growing collaboration with Fiare Banca Ètica, the iSocial Foundation has signed an agreement to establish a stronger alliance with this cooperative ethical finance entity, which operates in both Spain and Italy. The agreement includes, among other aspects, iSocial’s membership in the cooperative bank, the creation of a €400,000 line of credit to support iSocial’s projects, and the sponsorship of several of the foundation’s publications.

The line of credit will enable iSocial to carry out its projects while awaiting the disbursement of already-approved public grants. This measure brings stability to the Foundation’s day-to-day operations and strengthens a model of sustained growth aligned with social responsibility principles.

In parallel, Fiare Banca Etica will sponsor two Professional Guides on Innovation in Social Action this year, which will be published in the coming months. These Professional Guides are a series of publications promoted by iSocial and aimed at social services professionals, offering information and practical resources to help incorporate innovative approaches into their daily work. Fiare’s support will give a boost to the second and third guides in the series: “Opening Doors to Inclusion”, focused on social inclusion methodologies, and “Measuring Social Impact”, which will offer a practical methodology to evaluate the outcomes of social interventions.

Fiare Banca Etica is a cooperative financial institution born from the merger of Fiare (Spain, 2005) and Banca Popolare Etica (Italy, 1999), with the aim of putting finance at the service of social transformation. The bank has more than 46,000 individual and organizational members and is governed by a democratic model based on the principle of “one person, one vote.”

Its financing activities prioritize projects related to social inclusion, the social and solidarity economy, agroecology, education, and culture, among other areas. The agreement represents a step forward in building synergies between organizations working toward more just social and economic models, through initiatives that promote innovation, sustainability, and the transformation of care services.

Actualitat

Laura Roig, speech therapist at Audivers 360

Laura Roig, speech therapist at Audivers 360º: “Immersive therapy allows us to help people with deafness better understand what is happening around them.

We interview speech therapist Laura Roig about Audivers 360º, the winning project of the GrausTIC Award for Social Integration through Digitalization awarded by the iSocial Foundation in 2023
First Annual Meeting of the Rehab-Lab network in Barcelona

First Annual Meeting of the Rehab-Lab network in Barcelona

We have accredited the new manufacturing laboratories (FabLabs) of the 10 entities throughout Catalonia that have joined the Rehab-Lab network
Digital Innovation Awards of Catalonia 2025

New Edition of the Award for Social Integration through Digitalization within the Digital Innovation Awards of Catalonia 2025

Applications for this award, co-organized by iSocial and GrausTIC, can be submitted until October 17
Notícia Fiare. Banca ética

iSocial and Fiare Banca Etica Strengthen Their Alliance

The iSocial Foundation has joined the cooperative Fiare Banca Etica as a member, within the framework of an agreement that also includes a line of credit to finance iSocial’s projects and the sponsorship of several of our foundation’s publications.
Imatge de Helsinki, destinació del tercer Innotrip,. el 2025

3rd Innotrip to Finland

A delegation of 27 representatives from iSocial member organisations travelled to Helsinki for the third edition of the Innotrip, discovering innovative initiatives in areas such as social housing, child welfare, mental health, disability, digital inclusion, and homelessness.
The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

Our app Nidus and the Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran project against unwanted loneliness were two of the main features at ESSC 2025.

3rd Innotrip to Finland

Knowledge InnoTrips

3rd Innotrip to Finland

Imatge de Helsinki, destinació del tercer Innotrip,. el 2025

A delegation of 27 representatives from iSocial member organisations travelled to Helsinki for the third edition of the Innotrip, discovering innovative initiatives in areas such as social housing, child welfare, mental health, disability, digital inclusion, and homelessness.

The third edition of Innotrip, the international learning programme led by the iSocial Foundation, took place in 2025 in the city of Helsinki. It brought together 27 professionals from iSocial’s member organisations, joined by 4 members of the Foundation’s technical team. Supported by the Department for Foreign Action and the European Union of the Government of Catalonia, InnoTrip has established itself as a collective learning experience focused on discovering innovative strategies in the field of social action.

Over four intensive days of visits and meetings, the Catalan delegation had the opportunity to explore firsthand a wide range of projects and service models being implemented in Finland, promoted by both public authorities and third sector organisations. The initiatives visited cover a variety of fields including support for children and young people, prevention of institutionalisation, person-centred care, supported housing, community-based mental health, peer support, and digital inclusion for migrants.

These visits enabled participants to dive deeper into approaches that address common social challenges, and to engage in knowledge exchange with local professionals around methodologies, outcomes, and evaluation systems. Moreover, the Innotrip experience strengthened collaboration among iSocial member organisations, offering shared spaces for reflection and the identification of ideas with potential for adaptation in the Catalan context.

With this latest edition, InnoTrip continues to evolve as a key tool for identifying international best practices and inspiring new ways of working, fostering innovation and continuous improvement in the field of social services.

Programme for the visit

  • Roihuvuori Senior Centre: A public facility offering community-based activities and emotional support for older adults. Known for its innovative programmes on digital inclusion and addiction care for seniors.
  • Family Services for Young People and Mental Health: Preventive services for families and adolescents, with a focus on support for migrant youth.
  • Icehearts: A long-term (12-year) mentoring programme for children and youth at risk, based on sports and stable relationships with adult mentors.
  • City of Hèlsinki – Social Reporting i FIT (Feedback-Informed Treatment): Tools designed to actively involve service users in shaping public policies and to identify social inequalities through public services.
  • Kukunori – Plataforma Pokka: A national network of mental health organisations that developed a widely used impact assessment tool adopted by over 100 organisations.
  • Y-Säätiö: A pioneer organisation in implementing the Housing First model in Finland and in Europe for people experiencing homelessness.
  • Tukena: Focused on self-directed support for people with disabilities, with active participation from users (self-advocates).
  • Rinnekodit: Residential and rehabilitation services in a natural setting for people with profound intellectual disabilities or complex mental health needs.

Amb el suport de

Generalitat de Catalunya. Secretaria d'Acció Exterior del Govern

InnoTrips

Imatge de Helsinki, destinació del tercer Innotrip,. el 2025

3rd Innotrip to Finland

A delegation of 27 representatives from iSocial member organisations travelled to Helsinki for the third edition of the Innotrip, discovering innovative initiatives in areas such as social housing, child welfare, mental health, disability, digital inclusion, and homelessness.
2nd InnoTrip to Scotland

2nd InnoTrip to Scotland

The InnoTrip is a service aimed at the member entities of iSocial, consisting of an international study visit to promote innovation. In the 2024 edition, the InnoTrip will take place in Scotland.
1st InnoTrip to the Netherlands

1st InnoTrip to the Netherlands

From 22 to 25 May 2023, the 1st InnoTrip of the iSocial Foundation took place in the Netherlands.
Knowledge InnoTrips

3rd Innotrip to Finland

Imatge de Helsinki, destinació del tercer Innotrip,. el 2025

Del 20 al 23 de maig de 2024 va tenir lloc el 2n InnoTrip de la Fundació iSocial a Escòcia, amb el suport del Departament d’Acció Exterior i Govern Obert de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Durant tres dies una trentena de representants de les entitats membres d’iSocial van visitar 10 iniciatives escoceses innovadores en el camp de l’acció social

L’InnoTrip és un servei de la Fundació iSocial adreçat a les seves entitats membres que consisteix en realitzar una visita d’estudi internacional per tal de fomentar la innovació a través de la descoberta in situ d’experiències punteres en el camp de l’acció social. L’InnoTrip 2024 va tenir lloc entre el 20 i el 23 de maig a Escòcia.

El programa d’activitats d’aquesta edició inclogué la descoberta d’organitzacions i projectes de caràcter innovador a través de visites de diferent format a entitats no lucratives, empreses socials i organismes de l’administració pública escocesa. Entre altres beneficis, els participants van poder descobrir noves maneres de fer front a problemàtiques socials comunes, crear potencials sinergies de caràcter internacional i van poder enfortir de les relacions amb la resta d’entitats membres d’iSocial.

El sistema escocès de serveis socials i de les cures és internacionalment reconegut per promoure la implementació de diferents models i iniciatives de caràcter innovador. La integració de l’atenció sanitària i social, el model de suport auto-dirigit, la construcció comunitària o els enfocaments preventius en són alguns exemples.

A més, les organitzacions membres d’iSocial van identificar i mostrat interès en organitzacions i iniciatives concretes de l’ecosistema social escocès, amb un enfocament especial en àrees com l’habitatge social, el desenvolupament comunitari, el suport a la vida independent o la inclusió sociolaboral.

Programa de la visita

  • Quarriers: Model de suport auto-dirigit i ús d’eines digitals pel suport a la vida independent.
  • Simon Community: Access Hub (centre d’assessorament i suport multi institucional per a persones sense llar i/o en risc d’exclusió social), eines digitals i model Housing First.
  • Aberlour: Serveis integrats d’atenció sanitària i social i model de suport familiar intensiu.
  • Social Bite: Model d’empresa social i recursos de conscienciació social.
  • Kibble: Enfocament d’atenció integral (habitatge, formació i ocupació) i model d’empresa social.
  • Homes For Good: Habitatges de qualitat a través de lloguers assequibles. Adquisició d’immobles i suport als llogaters.

Amb el suport de

Generalitat de Catalunya. Secretaria d'Acció Exterior del Govern

InnoTrips

Imatge de Helsinki, destinació del tercer Innotrip,. el 2025

3rd Innotrip to Finland

A delegation of 27 representatives from iSocial member organisations travelled to Helsinki for the third edition of the Innotrip, discovering innovative initiatives in areas such as social housing, child welfare, mental health, disability, digital inclusion, and homelessness.
2nd InnoTrip to Scotland

2nd InnoTrip to Scotland

The InnoTrip is a service aimed at the member entities of iSocial, consisting of an international study visit to promote innovation. In the 2024 edition, the InnoTrip will take place in Scotland.
1st InnoTrip to the Netherlands

1st InnoTrip to the Netherlands

From 22 to 25 May 2023, the 1st InnoTrip of the iSocial Foundation took place in the Netherlands.

The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

Publications News

The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

,
L'equip d'iSocial al l'European Social Services Conference ESSC 2025, davant l'estand de Nidus

Our app Nidus and the Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran project against unwanted loneliness were two of the main features at ESSC 2025.

From June 22 to 25, the iSocial Foundation took part in the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025), the leading European forum dedicated to welfare policies and social services, held this year in Aarhus, Denmark.

Under the theme “Where Care meets Tech”, this year’s edition focused on the role of technology in the transformation of social services—an area in which iSocial contributed its experience through two of its own initiatives.

Nidus, featured in the Innovation Zone

On one hand, we presented Nidus, our digital support app for people in vulnerable situations, which was one of the main features in the conference’s “Innovation Zone”. We also had a dedicated stand to demonstrate how the app works to attendees.

Nidus is a tool designed to facilitate communication and support between social services users and their professional contacts. Among other features, it offers a secure digital vault for storing personal documents easily and safely, a direct chat between the user and their professional support team, an AI-powered personal assistant, a shared calendar, customizable questionnaires, and other tools aimed at empowering the user and improving service efficiency.

Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran: detection and community

As part of the ESSC, we also presented the Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran project—an initiative aimed at detecting and preventing situations of unwanted loneliness through big data technology and community activation in the region. This project was presented alongside the Auzosare program from the Basque Country, led by Agintzari, a member organization of the iSocial Foundation. Both initiatives share the goal of creating community networks that prevent and address social isolation in rural and sparsely populated areas.

A reference space for social innovation

Participating in ESSC 2025 was a great opportunity to exchange knowledge, discover inspiring initiatives from across Europe, and build new partnerships with organizations working to rethink social services through a lens that blends technology with essential human values such as inclusion and dignity.

The iSocial Foundation thanks the European Social Network for organizing this event and for the invitation to take part. We return from Aarhus with fresh ideas and the satisfaction of having shared our work in a leading international forum.

Actualitat

Laura Roig, speech therapist at Audivers 360

Laura Roig, speech therapist at Audivers 360º: “Immersive therapy allows us to help people with deafness better understand what is happening around them.

We interview speech therapist Laura Roig about Audivers 360º, the winning project of the GrausTIC Award for Social Integration through Digitalization awarded by the iSocial Foundation in 2023
First Annual Meeting of the Rehab-Lab network in Barcelona

First Annual Meeting of the Rehab-Lab network in Barcelona

We have accredited the new manufacturing laboratories (FabLabs) of the 10 entities throughout Catalonia that have joined the Rehab-Lab network
Digital Innovation Awards of Catalonia 2025

New Edition of the Award for Social Integration through Digitalization within the Digital Innovation Awards of Catalonia 2025

Applications for this award, co-organized by iSocial and GrausTIC, can be submitted until October 17
Notícia Fiare. Banca ética

iSocial and Fiare Banca Etica Strengthen Their Alliance

The iSocial Foundation has joined the cooperative Fiare Banca Etica as a member, within the framework of an agreement that also includes a line of credit to finance iSocial’s projects and the sponsorship of several of our foundation’s publications.
Imatge de Helsinki, destinació del tercer Innotrip,. el 2025

3rd Innotrip to Finland

A delegation of 27 representatives from iSocial member organisations travelled to Helsinki for the third edition of the Innotrip, discovering innovative initiatives in areas such as social housing, child welfare, mental health, disability, digital inclusion, and homelessness.
The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

Our app Nidus and the Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran project against unwanted loneliness were two of the main features at ESSC 2025.

The iSocial Foundation and its member organisations travel to Finland for the 3rd Innotrip

Publications News

The iSocial Foundation and its member organisations travel to Finland for the 3rd Innotrip

,
Professionals de les entitats membres d'iSocial participen al 3r Innotrip a Finlàndia

The visits to organisations and facilities in Helsinki and Espoo allowed us to gain closer insight into some pioneering initiatives in one of the countries with the most advanced social infrastructure.

From June 2nd to 6th, the iSocial Foundation organised a new edition of Innotrip, the annual learning journey it promotes with its member organisations to explore international best practices in the social sector. This year’s destination was Helsinki, with the aim of discovering innovative experiences currently being developed in Finland — a leading country in the implementation of the welfare state.

The trip offered a valuable opportunity to observe and reflect on advanced care models through visits to municipal services, social organisations and community initiatives that tackle key challenges such as poverty, disability, homelessness, mental health, and digital inclusion.

A focus on integrated, person-centred care

he first day of visits took us to resources such as the Roihuvuori Senior Centre and Kallio Perhekeskus, which focus on supporting older adults and families through an integrated and preventative approach. We also explored municipal services aimed at mental health and youth at risk, as well as initiatives for caregiver training and peer support.

One of the key takeaways from this first encounter with the Finnish social model was becoming familiar with its strong commitment to collaboration among stakeholders and to the active involvement of citizens in community-based care.

Mentorship, participation, and social impact evaluation

LOn the second day, we discovered projects like Icehearts, which offers long-term mentoring through sports and education, and Vamos! by the Diaconia Foundation, which supports vulnerable youth. During this visit, we also learned about the use of social impact bonds — a tool to activate social projects more efficiently and quickly, involving private companies in the promotion of social wellbeing.

On the other hand, the City of Helsinki presented the Feedback-Informed Treatment (FIT) system to us, which integrates service users’ feedback to improve care quality. We also got to know Pokka, a platform developed by the organisation Kukunori, which is used by over 100 entities to evaluate the impact of social projects.

Housing, self-determination, and child protection

On the third day, we visited organisations such as Y-Säätiö, a key promoter of the Housing First model in Finland, and Tukena, which advocates for self-directed support for people with disabilities. We also explored Rinnekodit, a residential facility located in a natural setting for individuals with high support needs, and the Barnahus model for integrated child protection services — currently being rolled out in Catalonia — giving us a valuable international reference for this system.

These experiences provided tools to rethink how we can ensure dignity and autonomy for people in vulnerable situations, while promoting community-based approaches and respect for individual rights.

Deinstitutionalisation and digital inclusion

The final day introduced us to two initiatives addressing access to community life and basic rights from different angles. On one hand, Kehitysvammaliitto (the Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) presented its work in the deinstitutionalisation process and the implementation of peer support networks. Through Peer Support Groups, people with disabilities share knowledge and experiences, strengthening both their autonomy and collective advocacy capacity.

On the other hand, the DigiUp programme, — led by the Moniheli network — works to reduce the digital divide among migrant populations. It trains digital facilitators — both volunteers and professionals — who offer guidance in basic digital skills, such as safe device usage and access to digital services. Both initiatives contribute to enabling more inclusive and equitable participation in social life.

A shared experience with collective impact

This journey was a unique opportunity to discover inspiring initiatives, identify shared challenges, and explore alternative approaches that can help strengthen social services in our own context. The time spent together over these five days of Innotrip and the chance to learn from some of Finland’s most innovative social projects also fostered meaningful dialogue and collective learning among participating organisations — exchanges that will continue well beyond the trip.

We at the iSocial Foundation would like to thank all the participating organisations for their active engagement and interest: ABD, AMPANS, Fundació Família i Benestar Social, Fundació Joia, Fundació Catalana Síndrome de Down, Fundació Resilis, Pere Claver Grup, Fundació Idea, Fundació El Maresme, FAFAC, Agintzari, REIR, Som Alba, Intress, Fundació Hàbitat3, Grup ATRA, Grupo SSI, Som Fundació, Fundació Aspace Catalunya, Grup MIFAS.
We are also deeply grateful to all the Finnish organisations that welcomed us and generously shared their knowledge and experience.

Actualitat

Laura Roig, speech therapist at Audivers 360

Laura Roig, speech therapist at Audivers 360º: “Immersive therapy allows us to help people with deafness better understand what is happening around them.

We interview speech therapist Laura Roig about Audivers 360º, the winning project of the GrausTIC Award for Social Integration through Digitalization awarded by the iSocial Foundation in 2023
First Annual Meeting of the Rehab-Lab network in Barcelona

First Annual Meeting of the Rehab-Lab network in Barcelona

We have accredited the new manufacturing laboratories (FabLabs) of the 10 entities throughout Catalonia that have joined the Rehab-Lab network
Digital Innovation Awards of Catalonia 2025

New Edition of the Award for Social Integration through Digitalization within the Digital Innovation Awards of Catalonia 2025

Applications for this award, co-organized by iSocial and GrausTIC, can be submitted until October 17
Notícia Fiare. Banca ética

iSocial and Fiare Banca Etica Strengthen Their Alliance

The iSocial Foundation has joined the cooperative Fiare Banca Etica as a member, within the framework of an agreement that also includes a line of credit to finance iSocial’s projects and the sponsorship of several of our foundation’s publications.
Imatge de Helsinki, destinació del tercer Innotrip,. el 2025

3rd Innotrip to Finland

A delegation of 27 representatives from iSocial member organisations travelled to Helsinki for the third edition of the Innotrip, discovering innovative initiatives in areas such as social housing, child welfare, mental health, disability, digital inclusion, and homelessness.
The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

Our app Nidus and the Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran project against unwanted loneliness were two of the main features at ESSC 2025.

Preventing Institutionalisation in Childhood and Adolescence: Rights, Families and Community

Campus InnoBreaks

Preventing Institutionalisation in Childhood and Adolescence: Rights, Families and Community

Glasgow Intensive Family (Scotland) and Casa d’Infants (Catalonia). 27 May 2025. Open for registration.

Webinar in English and Catalan, with simultaneous translation into Catalan and Spanish

The institutionalisation of children and adolescents remains a reality in many countries, despite clear evidence of its negative emotional, social, and cognitive effects. In this context, there is growing social consensus on the urgent need to transform the protection system towards a model focused on prevention, community, and children’s rights.

This paradigm shift, known as deinstitutionalisation, represents a profound transformation in the way we understand care and support for vulnerable children. The approach aims to ensure that all children can grow up in stable, loving family environments that are rooted in the community. It replaces the institutional care model with a system of personalised community-based support that prioritises freedom of choice, participation, and the autonomy of children and their families.

This transition is also being promoted through public policies. In 2024, the Ministry of Social Rights launched the National Deinstitutionalisation Strategy, while in Catalonia, the Department of Social Rights and Inclusion presented a specific plan to increase the number of foster families and ensure that no child under the age of six enters an institution.

All of this involves a deep review of social services and professional roles, in order to build a system capable of preventing, protecting, and providing support. Or, as a report by the Ombudsman of Catalonia (Síndic de Greuges) puts it: we must move from “separating to protect” to “preventing to protect” and “protecting for return,” working with at-risk families before separation becomes inevitable, and ensuring that any protection measure is oriented towards the well-being and future autonomy of the child.

In this Innobreak, we will explore two innovative initiatives that are leading the way in preventing the institutionalisation of children and adolescents:

  • Glasgow Intensive Family (Glasgow, Scotland) is an initiative developed by the Social Care Partnership in collaboration with three other third-sector organisations. The service aims to support families with children aged 12 or over who are at risk of entering the child protection system. It employs a strengths-based approach that prioritises active listening, emotional validation, and supportive accompaniment..
  • Cases d’Infants (Barcelona, Catalonia) is a temporary residential resource for children and adolescents who need a short-term separation from their families. The goal is to help families overcome the difficulties that led to the separation, enabling a safe return home or, if necessary, supporting the young person in their path toward emancipation. The intervention takes place in an everyday setting, identifying family dynamics and working closely with families to foster positive and sustainable change.

SPEAKERS:

Maxine Hawthorn, Glasgow Intensive Family Service Support – Aberlour (Scotland)

Mònica Garcia, Cases d’Infants – FASI (Catalonia)

Innobreaks

Preventing Institutionalisation in Childhood and Adolescence: Rights, Families and Community

Preventing Institutionalisation in Childhood and Adolescence: Rights, Families and Community

Glasgow Intensive Family (Scotland) and Casa d’Infants (Catalonia). 27 May 2025. Open for registration.
Innobreak 09.04.25 Inclusió digital - Imatge de persones grans utilitzant ordinadors. Les persones grans són un dels col·lectius susceptibles de patir a causa de la bretxa digital

Pioneering Initiatives for the Digital Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups

DigiUP (Finland) and the Digital Inclusion Center of Bordeaux Métropole (France). Held on 09/04/2025.
Innobreak: Noves mirades en la prevenció i intervenció de la Violència sexual infantil

New Perspectives on the Prevention and Intervention of Child Sexual Violence

PrevenSI (Intress) and Barnahus (Save the Children). Held on 11/2/25.
Innobeak - Serveis innovadors en drogodependencia

Innovative Services in Drug Addiction: Family Support and Risk Prevention

BRUS (Denmark) and Energy Control (Catalonia). Held on 02/07/24.

TalX, messaging app for people with motor disabilities

Publications Bank of innovations

TalX, messaging app for people with motor disabilities

3Dthinks

Messaging app that facilitates communication between people with motor disabilities and the professionals who care for them

Imatge que mostra una dona portant el menjar a una senyora en cadira de rodes, fruit d'una demanda feta a través d'una aplicació de missatgeria insluiva.

TalX is a highly intuitive messaging app designed to facilitate communication between people with motor disabilities and the professionals responsible for their care.

It operates through pictograms that allow users to express their physical and emotional states and request the services they need remotely. This visual language replaces conventional written text, enabling people with limited mobility or speech to communicate clearly and effectively.

TalX is available in nine languages and incorporates generative artificial intelligence models that not only interpret user requests but also suggest possible responses to questions asked by caregivers. Additionally, it can automatically generate pictograms based on context and the user’s typical needs, helping to better specify what is being requested.

Once selected, pictograms are automatically converted into text messages, which can be played using text-to-speech synthesis. The simultaneous translation of visual input into spoken and written language enables direct communication between users and caregivers. The caregiver receives the message directly on their mobile phone and can respond immediately through the app, indicating when and how they will address the request.

TalX aims to reduce the digital divide affecting people with disabilities by enabling accessible communication with their surroundings and speeding up access to the services they need.

Banc d’innovacions

Laura Roig, speech therapist at Audivers 360

Laura Roig, speech therapist at Audivers 360º: “Immersive therapy allows us to help people with deafness better understand what is happening around them.

We interview speech therapist Laura Roig about Audivers 360º, the winning project of the GrausTIC Award for Social Integration through Digitalization awarded by the iSocial Foundation in 2023
First Annual Meeting of the Rehab-Lab network in Barcelona

First Annual Meeting of the Rehab-Lab network in Barcelona

We have accredited the new manufacturing laboratories (FabLabs) of the 10 entities throughout Catalonia that have joined the Rehab-Lab network
Digital Innovation Awards of Catalonia 2025

New Edition of the Award for Social Integration through Digitalization within the Digital Innovation Awards of Catalonia 2025

Applications for this award, co-organized by iSocial and GrausTIC, can be submitted until October 17
Notícia Fiare. Banca ética

iSocial and Fiare Banca Etica Strengthen Their Alliance

The iSocial Foundation has joined the cooperative Fiare Banca Etica as a member, within the framework of an agreement that also includes a line of credit to finance iSocial’s projects and the sponsorship of several of our foundation’s publications.
Imatge de Helsinki, destinació del tercer Innotrip,. el 2025

3rd Innotrip to Finland

A delegation of 27 representatives from iSocial member organisations travelled to Helsinki for the third edition of the Innotrip, discovering innovative initiatives in areas such as social housing, child welfare, mental health, disability, digital inclusion, and homelessness.
The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

Our app Nidus and the Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran project against unwanted loneliness were two of the main features at ESSC 2025.

Pioneering Initiatives for the Digital Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups

Campus InnoBreaks

Pioneering Initiatives for the Digital Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups

Innobreak 09.04.25 Inclusió digital - Imatge de persones grans utilitzant ordinadors. Les persones grans són un dels col·lectius susceptibles de patir a causa de la bretxa digital

DigiUP (Finland) and the Digital Inclusion Center of Bordeaux Métropole (France).
Held on 09/04/2025.

We live in an increasingly digital society where technology is essential for accessing basic services, information, and social connections. However, a significant part of the population remains excluded from this digital environment, either due to a lack of access to technology or the necessary skills to use it independently and safely. The digital divide not only limits opportunities for these individuals but also exacerbates social and economic vulnerability. According to a 2022 study by the Catalan government, among vulnerable groups, half of the people do not have a computer at home, 3 out of 10 lack mobile data access, and 38% do not know how to carry out online procedures.

Digital inclusion aims to turn technology into an empowering tool for people’s lives, with public and private social service organizations playing a crucial role in this process. Simple and personalized actions—such as helping individuals become familiar with basic tasks (sending a message, downloading an app, using a search engine) or providing support in device configuration (adjusting language settings, font size, linking email accounts)—can make a huge difference in their digital autonomy.

At the same time, making cities more inclusive requires improving infrastructure (secure and accessible Wi-Fi connectivity, device lending programs, digital learning spaces) and training social professionals in digital skills.

In this Innobreak, we will explore two pioneering European initiatives that promote socio-digital inclusion for the most vulnerable groups in society:

  • DigiUp (Helsinki, Finland) is a service designed to enhance the digital skills of migrants, fostering their inclusion and active participation in the community. To achieve this, DigiUp provides training and capacity-building for social service professionals, enabling them to offer digital support tailored to the cultural diversity and specific needs of newly arrived individuals.
  • The Digital Inclusion Center (Bordeaux Métropole, France) operates in two key areas: a public digital space offering direct digital support to the population and a specialized training program for social action professionals. The Bordeaux Métropole also provides direct training for vulnerable individuals and coordinates the “France Service Digital Advisors,” professionals who assist and educate citizens on the responsible use of digital tools.

SPEAKERS:

Yuri Kitaba, DigiUp, Helsinki (Finland).

Anna Lebey, Digital Inclusion Center, Bordeaux Métropole (France).

Innobreaks

Preventing Institutionalisation in Childhood and Adolescence: Rights, Families and Community

Preventing Institutionalisation in Childhood and Adolescence: Rights, Families and Community

Glasgow Intensive Family (Scotland) and Casa d’Infants (Catalonia). 27 May 2025. Open for registration.
Innobreak 09.04.25 Inclusió digital - Imatge de persones grans utilitzant ordinadors. Les persones grans són un dels col·lectius susceptibles de patir a causa de la bretxa digital

Pioneering Initiatives for the Digital Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups

DigiUP (Finland) and the Digital Inclusion Center of Bordeaux Métropole (France). Held on 09/04/2025.
Innobreak: Noves mirades en la prevenció i intervenció de la Violència sexual infantil

New Perspectives on the Prevention and Intervention of Child Sexual Violence

PrevenSI (Intress) and Barnahus (Save the Children). Held on 11/2/25.
Innobeak - Serveis innovadors en drogodependencia

Innovative Services in Drug Addiction: Family Support and Risk Prevention

BRUS (Denmark) and Energy Control (Catalonia). Held on 02/07/24.

The Catalan Minister of Social Rights visits the Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran project in Sort

Publications News

The Catalan Minister of Social Rights visits the Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran project in Sort

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La Consellera de Drets Socials parla amb dues persones beneficiàries del projecte Vincles a Sort

The Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran Project is now active in over twenty municipalities and has 171 community agents

The Minister of Social Rights, Mònica Martínez Bravo, visited the “Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran” project in Sort—an initiative aimed at tackling unwanted loneliness in the Alt Pirineu and Val d’Aran through community intervention, technology, and citizen involvement. The visit was also attended by the President of the Pallars Sobirà County Council, Carlos L. Isus Castellarnau; the Mayor of Sort, Baldo Farré; the Public Health Deputy of the Lleida Provincial Council, Òscar Martínez; the County Director of Social Services, Adriana Vidal; and the Director of the iSocial Foundation, Toni Codina.

During her visit, the Minister learned firsthand about the program’s operations. Since 2023, Vincles has been established in over twenty municipalities across the Catalan Pyrenees. The project introduces a more proactive approach to addressing unwanted loneliness, leveraging Big Data technology for early detection of social isolation in people over 55 and activating local networks and citizen participation to intervene and provide support in identified cases.

Following the project presentation, Vincles representatives and the Minister visited a local business involved in the program, where they spoke with the project’s community activator in Pallars Sobirà, social worker Elena Santos, as well as two community agents (local business professionals who voluntarily participate in the project to identify potential cases of unwanted loneliness) and two elderly beneficiaries. This exchange provided valuable insight into the work of Vincles and the positive impact it is having in the region.

Positive Impact of the Project

Since its launch, Vincles has achieved significant results: it currently has 54 social and healthcare professionals working across the six Pyrenean counties, along with 171 trained community agents who help identify and address cases of unwanted loneliness in towns and villages. Additionally, 47 social awareness training sessions have been conducted to improve detection, and 209 community activities have been organized for beneficiaries, including workshops, participatory processes, and talks.

The project, led by the iSocial Foundation and funded through Next Generation funds from the Department of Social Rights of the Government of Catalonia, has become an innovative solution and a benchmark in Catalonia and Europe in this field.

Actualitat

First Annual Meeting of the Rehab-Lab network in Barcelona

First Annual Meeting of the Rehab-Lab network in Barcelona

We have accredited the new manufacturing laboratories (FabLabs) of the 10 entities throughout Catalonia that have joined the Rehab-Lab network
Digital Innovation Awards of Catalonia 2025

New Edition of the Award for Social Integration through Digitalization within the Digital Innovation Awards of Catalonia 2025

Applications for this award, co-organized by iSocial and GrausTIC, can be submitted until October 17
Notícia Fiare. Banca ética

iSocial and Fiare Banca Etica Strengthen Their Alliance

The iSocial Foundation has joined the cooperative Fiare Banca Etica as a member, within the framework of an agreement that also includes a line of credit to finance iSocial’s projects and the sponsorship of several of our foundation’s publications.
The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

Our app Nidus and the Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran project against unwanted loneliness were two of the main features at ESSC 2025.
Professionals de les entitats membres d'iSocial participen al 3r Innotrip a Finlàndia

The iSocial Foundation and its member organisations travel to Finland for the 3rd Innotrip

The visits to organisations and facilities in Helsinki and Espoo allowed us to gain closer insight into some pioneering initiatives in one of the countries with the most advanced social infrastructure.
The Social Innovation Chair of the UdL evaluates the Vincles project in Eril de Vall

The Social Innovation Chair of the UdL evaluates the Vincles project in Erill la Vall

The Social Innovation Chair of the UdL evaluates the Vincles project in Eril de Vall

International Meeting in Toulouse to Prepare the Launch of Soliguia

Publications News

International Meeting in Toulouse to Prepare the Launch of Soliguia

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Membres de les set entitats sòcies del projecte Solidigital es troben a Tolosa per preparar el llançament de la Soliguia. Fotografia de grup durant les jornades.

The meeting provided an opportunity to share the work done so far and to coordinate the promotion and management of Soliguia, an online social services search engine.

On March 18 and 19, the iSocial team attended an international meeting of the Solidigital project in Toulouse, where the seven partner organizations of the project came together. The goal of the meeting was to finalize the details for the launch of Soliguia, an open-access online search engine for social services that will soon be available in Catalonia and Andorra.

During the meeting, we validated the joint dissemination strategy for the project and discussed technological aspects related to integrating Soliguia with our Nidus app and the French app Coffre-Fort Numérique by Reconnect.

Solidigital is a European project co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg POCTEFA program. Its objective is to create a comprehensive database of social services and facilities across Catalonia and Andorra, ensuring that the data is verified and up-to-date, and making this information accessible to both the general public and professionals. Soliguia will provide access to this information through an online search engine, where resources will be listed based on proximity and will include key practical details such as operating hours, risk of saturation, and the target audience for each service.

Soliguia is based on the model of its French counterpart, Soliguide, a tool that already facilitates nearly 3.5 million searches per year. As part of the project, Soliguide will also be expanded to the French departments of Occitanie.

We at iSocial would like to thank Solinum and Reconnect, the French partners of the project, for their warm welcome in Toulouse, as well as our Catalan and Andorran partners—Associació Alba, Fundació Resilis, Grup Pere Claver, and Fundació Andorra Recerca i Innovació—for their contributions and all their hard work. Their efforts will help make Soliguia an efficient and accessible tool, fully integrated into the social services ecosystem.

Actualitat

First Annual Meeting of the Rehab-Lab network in Barcelona

First Annual Meeting of the Rehab-Lab network in Barcelona

We have accredited the new manufacturing laboratories (FabLabs) of the 10 entities throughout Catalonia that have joined the Rehab-Lab network
Digital Innovation Awards of Catalonia 2025

New Edition of the Award for Social Integration through Digitalization within the Digital Innovation Awards of Catalonia 2025

Applications for this award, co-organized by iSocial and GrausTIC, can be submitted until October 17
Notícia Fiare. Banca ética

iSocial and Fiare Banca Etica Strengthen Their Alliance

The iSocial Foundation has joined the cooperative Fiare Banca Etica as a member, within the framework of an agreement that also includes a line of credit to finance iSocial’s projects and the sponsorship of several of our foundation’s publications.
The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

The iSocial Foundation attends the European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2025) with two initiatives that highlight social innovation

Our app Nidus and the Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran project against unwanted loneliness were two of the main features at ESSC 2025.
Professionals de les entitats membres d'iSocial participen al 3r Innotrip a Finlàndia

The iSocial Foundation and its member organisations travel to Finland for the 3rd Innotrip

The visits to organisations and facilities in Helsinki and Espoo allowed us to gain closer insight into some pioneering initiatives in one of the countries with the most advanced social infrastructure.
The Social Innovation Chair of the UdL evaluates the Vincles project in Eril de Vall

The Social Innovation Chair of the UdL evaluates the Vincles project in Erill la Vall

The Social Innovation Chair of the UdL evaluates the Vincles project in Eril de Vall

RAPNIC Project: Automatic Recognition of Unintelligible Speech in Catalan

Lab Innovation projects

RAPNIC Project: Automatic Recognition of Unintelligible Speech in Catalan

Noi amb paràlisi cerebral, potencial beneficiari del Projecte RAPNIC Reconeixement Automatic de la Parla No Intelligible en catala

RAPNIC is a project focused on developing and training an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model capable of recognizing unintelligible speech in Catalan.

(2025-2026)

Despite technological advancements, voice recognition systems still face significant challenges in identifying and interpreting speech patterns that deviate from standard norms, particularly in the case of so-called “unintelligible speech.” As a result, people with speech disorders, such as dysarthria, often struggle to be understood and are unable to access technological tools that could facilitate their communication and autonomy. Furthermore, the few existing solutions are primarily available in English, creating an additional barrier for speakers of other languages, including Catalan.

The RAPNIC project (Automatic Recognition of Unintelligible Speech in Catalan) aims to address this need by developing an AI-powered solution capable of recognizing and interpreting unintelligible speech in Catalan. This technology will allow individuals with speech disorders to interact effectively with voice assistants, speech-to-text transcription systems, and other digital tools, thereby improving their autonomy and quality of life.

What is RAPNIC?

RAPNIC is a pioneering initiative by the iSocial Foundation that seeks to eliminate a major technological barrier for people with speech disorders. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI), RAPNIC aims to develop a system capable of recognizing and understanding unintelligible speech, which current voice recognition systems fail to comprehend.

To achieve this, the project plans to create a database of unintelligible Catalan speech, built from voice recordings of individuals with speech disorders, with a particular focus on dysarthria— a motor impairment affecting facial muscles and making the pronunciation of certain phonemes difficult. This database will train AI algorithms using deep learning technology to recognize the sound patterns of these speech variations.

Infographic RAPNIC Project

In the project’s initial phase, work will be carried out on a corpus of recordings from individuals with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, as their speech patterns generally present fewer alterations than other forms of dysarthria, making AI training more manageable. The database will contain at least 100 hours of recorded speech and involve the participation of 120 volunteer speakers with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy, along with social professionals, speech therapists, deep learning specialists, and computational linguists.

The ultimate goal of RAPNIC is to extend this system, first to the 22,000 people with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy within the Catalan linguistic community and, in a later phase, to the entire population of 49,000 individuals with speech disorders in the Catalan-speaking region, including those with more severe conditions. RAPNIC will enable affected individuals to communicate more effectively with those around them, give voice commands to digital assistants, transcribe their speech into text, and interact with other digital services more independently.

CSC Impulsa 2024 Award

The RAPNIC Project has been recognized as the winner of the CSC Impulsa 2024 Awards in the category of “Innovative AI Projects in the Social Sector.”

This recognition, granted by the Catalan Health and Social Consortium (CSC), includes financial support of €20,000 and technical guidance from the consortium, which will be crucial in transforming this initiative into a tangible reality.

Premi CSC Impulsa a RAPNIC web

Leads:

Fundació iSocial. Innovació en l'acció social

Partners:

logo Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
Logo collectivat
FCSD Fundació Catalana Síndrome de Down
Logo ASPACE Catalunya
Ampans
Logo Alba. Persones amb empenta
Fundació El Maresme Discapacitats
logo astres

With the support of:

Logo CSC Consorci Salut SocialCatalunya

Projectes d’innovació

Noi amb paràlisi cerebral, potencial beneficiari del Projecte RAPNIC Reconeixement Automatic de la Parla No Intelligible en catala

RAPNIC Project: Automatic Recognition of Unintelligible Speech in Catalan

RAPNIC is a project focused on developing and training an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model capable of recognizing unintelligible speech in Catalan.
NIDUS Mental Health

NIDUS Mental Health

NIDUS Mental Health is a pilot project aimed at adapting the Nidus app as a digital support tool for individuals with mental health disorders undergoing the process of deinstitutionalization.
Imatge d'una mà sostenint un mòbil on s'hi veu la Soliguia, una de les eines tecnològiques involucrades en el projecte Solidigital

Solidigital

Solidigital is a cross-border collaboration project centered around three technological tools to support people in vulnerable situations: Soliguia, Nidus, and Reconnect.
DigitaliSSB (Promotion of the Digitalization of the Basic Social Services of Catalonia)

DigitaliSSB (Promotion of the Digitalization of the Basic Social Services of Catalonia)

DigitaliSSB is a project based on the developement of digital tools for the improvement of management and social intervention of the Basic Social Services of the local institutions in Catalonia
Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran

Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran

Vincles Alt Pirineu-Aran is a project for early detection and social intervention in situations of loneliness of the elderly in the Alt Pirineu-Aran region.
Rehab-Lab

Rehab-Lab

Rehab-Lab.Cat is a project for the creation of a FabLabs network for the design and manufacture of functional adaptations for activities of daily living through 3D printing.