Tools and services to address cyberbullying and other youth vulnerabilities in the digital environment

Campus InnoBreaks

Tools and services to address cyberbullying and other youth vulnerabilities in the digital environment

Eines i serveis per detectar el ciberassetjament

Digital Streetwork (Germany) and B-resol (Catalonia). Tuesday, April 9th, at 9 am. Registrations open.

Webinar in English and Catalan, with simultaneous translation into English

Digital environments open spaces of connection and valuable exchange opportunities, but at the same time, they harbor new forms of vulnerability, especially for young people. The most visible forms of these vulnerabilities are cyberbullying and digital violence, which according to UNESCO data, affect nearly 20% of the young population. However, other issues are gaining more prominence, such as screen addiction, digital predation, or privacy breaches. This reality not only affects the emotional and psychological well-being of young people but can also have lasting repercussions on their personal and academic development.

In this context, the need for new forms of intervention and support becomes evident. The widespread adoption of new communication technologies has profoundly altered interaction and socialization patterns, imposing the urgency to adapt professional practices to these new contexts. In this sense, social work, and more specifically virtual social work, plays a key role in creating safe spaces where young people can report aggression and undesirable situations and receive professional support to address them properly.

In this Innobreak, two initiatives will be presented that respond to vulnerabilities emerging in digital environments from two complementary perspectives, adopting in one case the role of detection service and approach to young people in need of support, and in the other defining an alert channel for teenagers:

  • Digital Streetwork (Germany) brings the street work approach with young people to the Internet. Project workers navigate social networks, participate in online communities, and actively approach young people who indicate or show support needs.
  • B-resol is a digital omnichannel alert system that educational, leisure, sports, social entities, and protection centers make available to children and adolescents to prevent and detect bullying situations and any other type of violence or discomfort.

Speakers:

  • Jonas Luz, Digital Streetwork (Germany)
  • Cihara Vílchez, B-resol (Catalonia)

Innobreaks

Eines i serveis per detectar el ciberassetjament

Tools and services to address cyberbullying and other youth vulnerabilities in the digital environment

Webinar of social innovation. Digital Streetwork (Germany) and B-resol (Catalonia). Tuesday, April 9th, at 9 am. Registrations open.
Innobreak - Digitalitzar els serveis socials

Digitalizing Social Services: Apps Supporting Users and Professionals

Reconnect (France) and Gavius (Catalonia). Held on 2/2/24.
Innobreak - Webinar d'innovació

New Models of Social Housing Against Exclusion

Mixed Living (Netherlands) and Llar Casa Bloc (Catalonia). Held on 31/10/23.
New digital tools at the service of people who care

New digital tools at the service of people who care

OKencasa (Basque Country) and myCarenet (Catalonia). Held on 11/07/2023.

Innovative proposals to combat unwanted loneliness in the elderly

Publications Articles

Innovative proposals to combat unwanted loneliness in the elderly

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En aquest article, abordem propostes innovadores per combatre la soledat no desitjada

Unwanted loneliness is a problem that has a particularly relevant impact on the elderly population. How should it be addressed? What innovative tools can be promoted from social services to reverse this feeling?

What is unwanted loneliness?

Unwanted loneliness is a subjective and complex phenomenon that occurs when people feel that their relationships are not satisfactory. There is a mismatch between real and desired relationships, either in terms of quantity or quality. Although it is a phenomenon that can occur at any age, it is more commonly present among the elderly. According to the spanish State Observatory of Unwanted Loneliness, this feeling has individual costs (mental and physical health, satisfaction of vital needs, relationship with the environment…) and social costs (impact on health systems and drug consumption).

This article discusses the emerging opportunities that arise from technology and novel approaches in addressing involuntary loneliness, providing innovative tools for professionals in social services and citizen support.

Factors influencing unwanted loneliness in older adults

According to the guide Detecting loneliness during aging, commissioned by the Loneliness Observatory of the organization Friends of the Elderly, it is necessary to pay attention to different areas to understand the risk factors:

  • Sociodemographic factors: gender, age, socioeconomic status, place of residence. Being female, having low income levels, and living in an inaccessible environment are factors that increase the risk of experiencing loneliness.
  • Health and personal autonomy: self-perceived health, mobility difficulties, deterioration of sensory capacities. Loss of autonomy and the accumulation of diseases are risk indicators.
  • Psychological and personality factors: depression, low mental health and self-esteem, unhealthy behaviors…
  • Interaction and participation: household composition, social network, quantity and quality of social relationships, level of social participation, social support…

The report Preventing and alleviating loneliness in older adults (Caritas) points out that there are situations of greater vulnerability, such as the death of a partner or other family members, retirement, and moving. On the other hand, the social conception of care for older people, which often focuses on physical needs but overlooks the importance of comprehensive care and psychological aspects, can worsen situations of unwanted loneliness.

How to address situations of unwanted loneliness?

The Barcelona City Council, in the Guide for the prevention, detection, and support of elderly people in situations of loneliness, recommends several points to follow:

  • Firstly, it is important to pay attention to indirect verbalizations, as they can be a source of information about the feeling of loneliness.
  • It is also relevant to know the family or cohabitation situation and build a relational map of the person. This will allow weaving alliances to reduce this feeling.
  • Similarly, it is necessary to know what their interests and preferences are, and thus collectively seek personalized alternatives that adapt to each individual.
  • On the other hand, the report highlights the importance of promoting a vision of relationships that contributes to reducing the guilt that family members may feel in the face of loneliness. On many occasions, when the person expresses this feeling, people in their environment feel responsible. It is important to understand that someone can feel lonely even when surrounded by people, as it is a subjective feeling and families cannot always alleviate it.

The Friends of the Elderly association emphasizes that it is key not to promote self-perception of fragility, as it promotes isolation. It is also necessary to avoid using infantilizing and judgmental language. Additionally, it emphasizes the relationship between the social perception of loneliness and the personal experience of the feeling. To break negative stereotypes, it is necessary to create an empowering narrative that reverses discrimination.

The organization suggests five lines of action:

  1. Recognize: Professionals’ perspective is crucial to identify situations of loneliness.
  2. Understand: It is important to understand the phenomenon and its causes to have common starting points.
  3. Consider: The subjective nature of unwanted loneliness, the diversity in each case, and the existing stigma in our sociocultural context should be taken into account. Risk factors should also be known.
  4. Discover: Communication is a key tool to detect the feeling of loneliness. The guide proposes paying attention to silences and expression rhythms, establishing active listening, and relying on other trusted agents in the person’s environment.
  5. Act: Any solution must be centered on the individual and foster empowerment.

Innovative proposals:

  • Digital meeting spaces. Organizing collective activities and events allows building new connections with people who share common interests, which can reverse the feeling of loneliness. Through social media and the internet, individuals can access online meetings, overcoming mobility, transportation, or access issues. It is important to work to overcome the digital gap that exists in a large part of the elderly population. An example is the program Proyectando vidas, uniendo almas, aimed at older adults living in rural towns in Castilla y León. The project aims to alleviate this feeling through telecommuting group activities. Similarly, the British initiative The Silver Line offers a free telephone contact for people over 55, available 24 hours a day. The staff handling the calls provide listening, advice, and referrals to other organizations.
  • Robots and voice assistants. Technological advances of the last decade have also been introduced in social services and citizen care. Some organizations have experimented with robots and voice assistants, which complement the work of professionals. An example is the Intelligent Robotic Assistant (ARI), designed by the Saltó Group, which accompanies older adults living in Barcelona.
  • Creating support networks from new technologies. Others initiatives like Vincles (iSocial Foundation) use technological systems to collect standardized territorial information to detect loneliness situations in an updated, immediate, and truthful manner. The project is inspired by Auzosare, an innovative program that combines technology, community activation, and socio-educational intervention to prevent and improve the quality of life of people in fragile situations of loneliness.
  • Applications to generate intergenerational exchanges. One way to include older adults in the community is to involve younger generations, who can be good allies in contributing to social inclusion. In Bilbao, the association Kuvu connects people of different generations to share housing and mutual company. Another example is the Vollpension Generationencafé. This German initiative operates through cafes staffed voluntarily by retirees, who share time and conversations with the people attending the venue. Unlike traditional intergenerational volunteerism, it’s not the young who volunteer and visit the elderly, but rather the elderly who actively foster their social integration. This way, it promotes feelings of fulfillment, satisfaction, and community service.
  • Preventive emotional management tools: To prevent the feeling of loneliness, some initiatives work to offer emotional management tools, helping individuals understand their feelings and avoid potential mental health problems. The Bakardadeak Eskola (School of Solitudes) contributes to demystifying myths and fears about loneliness to change society’s perception of this phenomenon.

References

[1] Detecting loneliness during aging, Observatorio de la Soledad. Available at: https://amigosdelosmayores.org/es/detectar-la-soledad-durante-envejecimiento-una-guia [29/01/24]

[2] Preventing and alleviating loneliness in older people, Cáritas. Available at: https://www.caritas.es/main-files/uploads/2021/02/DOC-TRAB-9-INTERIOR_3.pdf [29/01/24]

[3] Guide for the prevention, detection, and support of older adults in situations of loneliness, Barcelona City Council. Available at: https://bcnroc.ajuntament.barcelona.cat/jspui/bitstream/11703/130451/1/Soledad_GuiaPersonasMayores_ES.pdf [29/01/24]

[4] Unwanted loneliness, Observatorio Estatal de la Soledad No Deseada (SoledadES). Available at: https://www.soledades.es/la-soledad-no-deseada [29/01/24]

[5] Inspiration, Observatorio Estatal de la Soledad No Deseada (SoledadES). Available at: https://www.soledades.es/inspiracion [29/01/24]

[6] Resources, Observatorio Estatal de la Soledad No Deseada (SoledadES). Available at: https://www.soledades.es/recursos [29/01/24]

Articles

En aquest article, abordem propostes innovadores per combatre la soledat no desitjada

Innovative proposals to combat unwanted loneliness in the elderly

Unwanted loneliness is a problem that has a particularly relevant impact on the elderly population. How should it be addressed? What innovative tools can be promoted from social services to reverse this feeling?
Desinstitucionalización y vida en comunidad de las personas con discapacidad

Desinstitucionalización y vida en comunidad de las personas con discapacidad

Una nueva guía de las Naciones Unidas indica directrices precisas para la desinstitucionalización de las personas con discapacidad.
MetroSolutions

The challenge of the digital transformation of social services for inclusive and equitable metropolises

Digitization opens up new opportunities for people’s well-being, while at the same time generating new risks of inequality. (Toni Codina, International Congress of Metropolitan Solutions, September 2022)
Recursos innovadors per a persones refugiades i immigrades

Recursos innovadores para personas refugiadas e inmigradas

En Europa, a raíz de la crisis ucraniana se han puesto en marcha cambios rápidos en las políticas de acogida, así como nuevas iniciativas para ofrecer apoyo a los recién llegados.

Guide to Digital Transformation: A Vision from the Children’s Social Sector

Knowledge Research projects

Guide to Digital Transformation: A Vision from the Children’s Social Sector

Preparation of a report for FICE Spain on the state of digital innovation in the field of social intervention and a compilation of best practices (2023)

(2023)

The digital revolution has brought about a process of change that has had – and is having – a significant impact on our society. Historically, technical advances have always led to new ways of thinking, working, and relating to the world and others. However, the acceleration in technological transformation experienced in the 21st century has made it evident the need to adapt quickly and constantly to these new ways of doing things. In this sense, we are facing a paradigm shift that permeates all aspects of our lives, from interpersonal relationships to consumption patterns, and from leisure activities to the way we work.

This transformation we are experiencing highlights the obsolescence of some procedures that we still use but are highly inefficient, and it sparks debates about the enormous possibilities of technology, its proper implementation in our daily lives, and its ethical limits. On the other hand, it reminds us that technology is not always necessarily synonymous with innovation, although, when used correctly, it is an invaluable tool for generating knowledge and optimizing processes.

What is clear, in any case, is that the digital transformation of organizations will be a key factor for their development in the coming years. And this is also true in the field of the third sector and social intervention, where technology can ensure better care, monitoring, management, and communication with the people served.

In this context, FICE Spain, a network of social organizations working to guarantee the rights of children and for the care of at-risk children, has commissioned the iSocial Foundation to develop a guide on technological innovation in the field of social intervention. The resulting document, which focuses especially (though not exclusively) on social organizations dedicated to children and adolescents, is titled “Guide to Digital Transformation: A Vision from the Children’s Social Sector” and aims to offer useful tools and clear guidelines to promote innovation in the third sector. This guide is part of the TIC Impulsa 3 proposal, a digital transformation project in the social field promoted by FICE Spain and financed by the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030 and the European Union through Next Generation funds.

Promotes

logo fice spain

Projectes de recerca

Guide to Digital Transformation: A Vision from the Children’s Social Sector

Guide to Digital Transformation: A Vision from the Children’s Social Sector

La Fundació iSocial ha elaborat per a FICE Spain un informe sobre l’estat de la innovació en l’àmbit de la intervenció social i un recull de bones pràctiques per a la transformació digital
Prevention of children institutionalization

Prevention of children institutionalization

Design for UNICEF-Spain of a public system of community detection and early intervention in children at risk
Digital transformation of Basic Social Services

Digital transformation of Basic Social Services

Doctoral thesis on the challenge of the digital transformation of the Basic Areas of Social Services of Catalonia.
ResiCOVID-19

ResiCOVID-19

Evaluation of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the residential sector of Catalonia and proposals to improve the healthcare model.

Digitalizing Social Services: Apps Supporting Users and Professionals

Campus InnoBreaks

Digitalizing Social Services: Apps Supporting Users and Professionals

Innobreak - Digitalitzar els serveis socials

Reconnect (France) and Gàvius (Catalonia). Held on Tuesday, 6th. February 2024.

Digitization has transformed the world and relationships between people, affecting all aspects of our lives. The numerous tools offered by new technologies have become instruments that significantly facilitate our tasks and have become almost indispensable in daily life.

Gradually, this transformative trend is also reaching social services. In this field, where efficiency and speed in communications between professionals and the people supported are a key factor, digital media provide users with very useful resources and offer very effective monitoring tools for social services.

In this Innobreak, we will explore two initiatives and applications that put technology at the service of professionals and beneficiaries of social services:

  • Reconnect (France), through its Solution Pro tool, allows social services professionals to centrally monitor the social integration processes of the people supported, consulting their history, recording meeting reports, scheduling reminders, etc.
  • Gavius (Catalonia), a project promoted by the Catalan municipalities of Gavà and Mataró, together with other partners. Gavius consists in the implementation of an intelligent virtual assistant that helps citizens with assistance procedures. It recognizes users based on biometric factors and automates processes and aid collection.

Speakers:

  • Valentine de Dreuille, Reconnect (France)
  • Mònica Sagredo, Gàvius (Catalonia)

Innobreaks

Eines i serveis per detectar el ciberassetjament

Tools and services to address cyberbullying and other youth vulnerabilities in the digital environment

Webinar of social innovation. Digital Streetwork (Germany) and B-resol (Catalonia). Tuesday, April 9th, at 9 am. Registrations open.
Innobreak - Digitalitzar els serveis socials

Digitalizing Social Services: Apps Supporting Users and Professionals

Reconnect (France) and Gavius (Catalonia). Held on 2/2/24.
Innobreak - Webinar d'innovació

New Models of Social Housing Against Exclusion

Mixed Living (Netherlands) and Llar Casa Bloc (Catalonia). Held on 31/10/23.
New digital tools at the service of people who care

New digital tools at the service of people who care

OKencasa (Basque Country) and myCarenet (Catalonia). Held on 11/07/2023.

The iSocial Foundation presents its Guide for Digital Transformation in Entities at the SocialDigital Conference of FICE.

Publications News

The iSocial Foundation presents its Guide for Digital Transformation in Entities at the SocialDigital Conference of FICE.

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FICE, a network of social organizations that focuses on advocating for children’s rights, commissioned iSocial to create a guide to promote technological innovation in the third social sector

On November 24th, the SocialDigital conference – Transforming Lives took place at the Cibernàrium auditorium, bringing together experts and entities from the third sector to reflect on how new technologies can contribute to the development of the social sector.

The event was organized by FICE Spain, a network of social organizations specializing in the defense of children’s rights, with the participation of two iSocial member entities: the private foundation Resilis and the Basque cooperative Agintzari.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the “Guide for Digital Transformation. A Vision from the Social Sector of Childhood,” commissioned by FICE to the iSocial Foundation as part of the TIC Impulsa 3 digital transformation project, a state initiative coordinated by FICE Spain and funded by the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030 through NextGeneration funds.

Among other content, the guide analyzes what digital transformation is and its implications for the third social sector. It reflects on the specificity of digital transformation in the field of childhood, discusses some challenges and opportunities, and proposes 20 examples of best practices that can help define paths to follow. The guide also includes a questionnaire that allows organizations to self-assess their level of digital transformation, providing recommendations based on the results obtained.

For those interested in the guide, it can be consulted in the research section of our website.

During the FICE-driven event, several inspiring practices of digital transformation with a social perspective were also presented. In this context, there was a presentation of Flapp!, our digital tool for accompanying adolescents and young people with emancipation needs, co-designed participatively with more than 120 young people. Flapp! is the result of a project led by iSocial and funded by the Government of Catalonia and the La Caixa Foundation, with the participation of the Idea Foundation, Pere Claver Group, Resilis, the University of Barcelona and Punt de Referència as partners, and Alba Jussà and the Open University of Catalonia as collaborators.

Actualitat

The iSocial Foundation presents its Guide for Digital Transformation in Entities at the SocialDigital Conference of FICE.

The iSocial Foundation presents its Guide for Digital Transformation in Entities at the SocialDigital Conference of FICE.

FICE, a network of social organizations that focuses on advocating for children’s rights, commissioned iSocial to create a guide to promote technological innovation in the third social sector.
The iSocial Foundation awards the GrausTIC Prize for Social Integration through Digitalization to the Audivers 360º project, promoted by the ACAPPS association

The iSocial Foundation awards the GrausTIC Prize for Social Integration through Digitalization to the Audivers 360º project, promoted by the ACAPPS association

The iSocial Foundation participates as a sponsor in the GrausTIC Awards 2023, in the category of the GrausTIC Award for Social Integration through Digitalization.
Imatge de les Jornades de formació d'activadores comunitàries per al projecte de Detecció i Intervenció de Situacions de Soledat no desitjada a l'Alt Pirineu-Aran

Training for Community Activators in the DISS Alt Pirineu-Aran Project

The DISS project aims to combat unwanted loneliness in the six regions of Alt Pirineu-Aran. The Community Activators play a crucial role in coordinating the efforts for detection and intervention and in raising community awareness.
iSocial Foundation travels to Austria to coordinate a StepForME program meeting

iSocial Foundation travels to Austria to coordinate a StepForME program meeting

La Fundació iSocial lidera el projecte europeu StepForME dins del marc d’un programa Erasmus+ d’intercanvi de bones pràctiques en relació amb la salut mental en joves.

Training for Community Activators in the DISS Alt Pirineu-Aran Project

Publications News

Training for Community Activators in the DISS Alt Pirineu-Aran Project

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Imatge de les Jornades de formació d'activadores comunitàries per al projecte de Detecció i Intervenció de Situacions de Soledat no desitjada a l'Alt Pirineu-Aran

The DISS project aims to combat unwanted loneliness in the six regions of Alt Pirineu-Aran. The training took place between October 2 and 5 in Sort

The pilot project for the Detection and Social Intervention of Unwanted Loneliness (DISS) in the elderly population of Alt Pirineu and Vall d’Aran takes its first steps with training sessions for community activators, held between October 2 and 5 in Sort.

The region of Alt Pirineu-Aran is home to some of the most aging areas in Catalonia: Alt Urgell, Cerdanya, Vall d’Aran, Pallars Sobirà, Pallars Jussà, and Alta Ribagorça. In this context, the issue of unwanted loneliness in the elderly is a prevalent concern for the social services in the region. However, addressing this problem is not easy, as social services professionals often find themselves lacking the appropriate resources and methodology to tackle the situation.

The training that took place from October 2 to 5 aims to address this problem by introducing Auzosare (formerly known as Tecnoadineko), an intelligent technology-based tool that enables the detection, community activation, and intervention in cases of unwanted loneliness. The system was developed by the Basque social cooperative Agintzari, a member of iSocial, and the technology company Gislan, with the support of BBK and the European Union. It has been successfully applied for eight years in various municipalities in the Basque Country. Now, the iSocial Foundation is coordinating its implementation in Catalonia with this pilot project in Alt Pirineu-Aran.

The training was conducted by Olaiz Gorrino, from the Basque social cooperative Agintzari. Three community activators hired for the project through three local entities, namely the Integra Pirineus Foundation, the Welfare and Development Association (ABD), and the Alba Jussà Cooperative, participated in the sessions. Some of the sessions also had the involvement of the coordinators of the social services of the regions involved and their technical teams.

The sessions were held at the facilities of the Pallars Sobirà County Council, providing the framework for the project just before the commencement of the first phase of the pilot, which will be rolled out in one municipality in each of the six regions in the coming weeks.

Actualitat

The iSocial Foundation presents its Guide for Digital Transformation in Entities at the SocialDigital Conference of FICE.

The iSocial Foundation presents its Guide for Digital Transformation in Entities at the SocialDigital Conference of FICE.

FICE, a network of social organizations that focuses on advocating for children’s rights, commissioned iSocial to create a guide to promote technological innovation in the third social sector.
The iSocial Foundation awards the GrausTIC Prize for Social Integration through Digitalization to the Audivers 360º project, promoted by the ACAPPS association

The iSocial Foundation awards the GrausTIC Prize for Social Integration through Digitalization to the Audivers 360º project, promoted by the ACAPPS association

The iSocial Foundation participates as a sponsor in the GrausTIC Awards 2023, in the category of the GrausTIC Award for Social Integration through Digitalization.
Imatge de les Jornades de formació d'activadores comunitàries per al projecte de Detecció i Intervenció de Situacions de Soledat no desitjada a l'Alt Pirineu-Aran

Training for Community Activators in the DISS Alt Pirineu-Aran Project

The DISS project aims to combat unwanted loneliness in the six regions of Alt Pirineu-Aran. The Community Activators play a crucial role in coordinating the efforts for detection and intervention and in raising community awareness.
iSocial Foundation travels to Austria to coordinate a StepForME program meeting

iSocial Foundation travels to Austria to coordinate a StepForME program meeting

La Fundació iSocial lidera el projecte europeu StepForME dins del marc d’un programa Erasmus+ d’intercanvi de bones pràctiques en relació amb la salut mental en joves.

iSocial Foundation travels to Austria to coordinate a StepForME program meeting

Publications News

iSocial Foundation travels to Austria to coordinate a StepForME program meeting

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The StepForME project, led by iSocial, is part of the Erasmus+ program and involves the participation of 10 organizations from different countries.

During the week of October 2 to 6, the iSocial Foundation traveled to Austria to coordinate a meeting with ten European entities participating in the StepForME project. This project, within the framework of the Erasmus+ program, is an international exchange of best practices in the field of youth mental health. It was initiated in 2021 and is led by iSocial. The project also includes Chance B (Austria), Aunua Global (Ireland), Tenenet (Slovakia), and the Center for Studies and Research for an Inclusive Society (CERSIN) from the Autonomous University of Barcelona as partners, along with Catalan entities Support Girona, Ampans, Atra Group, El Maresme Foundation, Joia Foundation, and Resilis Foundation as collaborating entities in the local area.

After the first meeting in Dublin last year, the participating entities in the project met again this year in Graz and Gleisdorf, Austria, hosted by the local organization Chance B. The meeting aimed to define the final steps of StepForME and its conclusion, as well as to refine the resulting documents, which will constitute a useful open-access resource for anyone working in the field of youth mental health or those interested in it.

During the various meetings held these days, topics such as the appropriate use of new technologies in the treatment of youth mental health issues, the employment inclusion of this group, and a community-based approach to this reality were discussed. The responsible entities for developing each of the planned training modules presented them to the other participants, and the contents were jointly discussed for refinement.

We also had the opportunity to visit the facilities of Chance B and their Organic Bio-Social Farm, an inclusive project where people with disabilities and mental health issues work, and which serves as an example of best practices.

In the meeting we also settled the final text for the StepForME Handbook of Technology-based Practices for the Intervention with young people with emotional well-being issues, which is already available on the project’s website. The training modules will be available in the website as well shortly.

Actualitat

The iSocial Foundation presents its Guide for Digital Transformation in Entities at the SocialDigital Conference of FICE.

The iSocial Foundation presents its Guide for Digital Transformation in Entities at the SocialDigital Conference of FICE.

FICE, a network of social organizations that focuses on advocating for children’s rights, commissioned iSocial to create a guide to promote technological innovation in the third social sector.
The iSocial Foundation awards the GrausTIC Prize for Social Integration through Digitalization to the Audivers 360º project, promoted by the ACAPPS association

The iSocial Foundation awards the GrausTIC Prize for Social Integration through Digitalization to the Audivers 360º project, promoted by the ACAPPS association

The iSocial Foundation participates as a sponsor in the GrausTIC Awards 2023, in the category of the GrausTIC Award for Social Integration through Digitalization.
Imatge de les Jornades de formació d'activadores comunitàries per al projecte de Detecció i Intervenció de Situacions de Soledat no desitjada a l'Alt Pirineu-Aran

Training for Community Activators in the DISS Alt Pirineu-Aran Project

The DISS project aims to combat unwanted loneliness in the six regions of Alt Pirineu-Aran. The Community Activators play a crucial role in coordinating the efforts for detection and intervention and in raising community awareness.
iSocial Foundation travels to Austria to coordinate a StepForME program meeting

iSocial Foundation travels to Austria to coordinate a StepForME program meeting

La Fundació iSocial lidera el projecte europeu StepForME dins del marc d’un programa Erasmus+ d’intercanvi de bones pràctiques en relació amb la salut mental en joves.

New Models of Social Housing Against Exclusion

Campus InnoBreaks

New Models of Social Housing Against Exclusion

Innobreak - Webinar d'innovació

Mixed Living (Netherlands) and Llar Casa Bloc (Catalonia). Held on Tuesday, 31st. October 2023.

Access to housing is a fundamental right as stated in Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but unfortunately, it remains far from effective for everyone. It is estimated that in Catalonia alone, 25,000 people are homeless, not counting those who can access housing only at great personal sacrifice and in extremely fragile situations.

In recent years, numerous initiatives have emerged to facilitate access to decent housing for the most vulnerable people, offering new alternatives to traditional social housing schemes. Some of these initiatives have been driven by the Third Sector, yielding remarkable results. In this InnoBreak, we present two initiatives moving in this direction, originating from the Netherlands and Catalonia:

  • Mixed Living: A project initiated by Tussenvorziening, managing mixed social housing apartments where homeless individuals and economically vulnerable people coexist. The project’s key idea is to expedite housing access for low-income individuals while simultaneously promoting destigmatization of homelessness and breaking the cycle of social isolation they often experience. To this end, the housing units managed by Mixed Living feature common areas for residents to encourage positive cohabitation and integration of both groups.
  • Llar Casa Bloc: Led by the Hàbitat3 Foundation, this network project involves government bodies and Third Sector entities. It focuses on the rehabilitation of the iconic social housing complex, Casa Bloc, built in Barcelona during the 1930s, during the Second Republic, to make them habitable. Currently, nearly forty individuals at risk of social exclusion, including those with mental health issues, addictions, homelessness, or those facing eviction, reside there. The residents receive support from social organizations and the Barcelona City Council, and the building is equipped with measures to address digital divide and energy poverty.

Speakers:

  • David de Goede, Mixed Living (Netherlands)
  • Lourdes Borrell, Llar Casa Bloc (Catalonia)

With the support of:

Generalitat de Catalunya Departament de Drets Socials

Innobreaks

Eines i serveis per detectar el ciberassetjament

Tools and services to address cyberbullying and other youth vulnerabilities in the digital environment

Webinar of social innovation. Digital Streetwork (Germany) and B-resol (Catalonia). Tuesday, April 9th, at 9 am. Registrations open.
Innobreak - Digitalitzar els serveis socials

Digitalizing Social Services: Apps Supporting Users and Professionals

Reconnect (France) and Gavius (Catalonia). Held on 2/2/24.
Innobreak - Webinar d'innovació

New Models of Social Housing Against Exclusion

Mixed Living (Netherlands) and Llar Casa Bloc (Catalonia). Held on 31/10/23.
New digital tools at the service of people who care

New digital tools at the service of people who care

OKencasa (Basque Country) and myCarenet (Catalonia). Held on 11/07/2023.

GrandUP! International Project Visits iSocial for a Case Study

Publications News

GrandUP! International Project Visits iSocial for a Case Study

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Delegació italiana visita iSocial - Imatge de la sessió que Toni Codina, director d'iSocial, va tenir amb els representats d'entitats socials de la regió

A delegation of 15 individuals connected to social organizations in Cuneo, Italy, visited the iSocial Foundation to learn more about its commitment to social innovation

On October 4th, iSocial hosted a delegation of 15 representatives from social organizations and companies in the province of Cuneo, Italy. This visit was part of the GrandUP! International Project, a field study trip initiated by the Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo Foundation (CRC) in collaboration with SocialFare, Italy’s first center for social innovation.

The GrandUP! International Project aims to enhance knowledge exchange and skills development and create a professional network by visiting various places across Europe to explore different realities and initiatives in the field of social innovation. This year, Barcelona was chosen as the destination, and the trip took place from October 2nd to 6th.

In this context, the GrandUP! International Project selected the iSocial Foundation as a case study, highlighting its work in promoting innovation in the social services sector in Catalonia. In addition to iSocial, the delegation also visited other organizations and companies involved in action or business models with significant social and environmental impact, with a special focus on areas such as inclusion, care and well-being, the environment and territory, and youth promotion.

During the visit, the iSocial Foundation took the opportunity to discuss the numerous opportunities presented by the integration of new technologies in the field of social services. In this regard, we cited our applications Nidus and Flapp! as examples, which offer various utilities and a direct line of contact with the accompanying social services to individuals experiencing homelessness and supervised youth, as well as tracking tools for professionals.

This visit, just a few days after the visit of another delegation of social organizations from the Netherlands, further solidifies iSocial’s presence as a relevant and recognized agent of change on the international stage.

Actualitat

The iSocial Foundation presents its Guide for Digital Transformation in Entities at the SocialDigital Conference of FICE.

The iSocial Foundation presents its Guide for Digital Transformation in Entities at the SocialDigital Conference of FICE.

FICE, a network of social organizations that focuses on advocating for children’s rights, commissioned iSocial to create a guide to promote technological innovation in the third social sector.
The iSocial Foundation awards the GrausTIC Prize for Social Integration through Digitalization to the Audivers 360º project, promoted by the ACAPPS association

The iSocial Foundation awards the GrausTIC Prize for Social Integration through Digitalization to the Audivers 360º project, promoted by the ACAPPS association

The iSocial Foundation participates as a sponsor in the GrausTIC Awards 2023, in the category of the GrausTIC Award for Social Integration through Digitalization.
Imatge de les Jornades de formació d'activadores comunitàries per al projecte de Detecció i Intervenció de Situacions de Soledat no desitjada a l'Alt Pirineu-Aran

Training for Community Activators in the DISS Alt Pirineu-Aran Project

The DISS project aims to combat unwanted loneliness in the six regions of Alt Pirineu-Aran. The Community Activators play a crucial role in coordinating the efforts for detection and intervention and in raising community awareness.
iSocial Foundation travels to Austria to coordinate a StepForME program meeting

iSocial Foundation travels to Austria to coordinate a StepForME program meeting

La Fundació iSocial lidera el projecte europeu StepForME dins del marc d’un programa Erasmus+ d’intercanvi de bones pràctiques en relació amb la salut mental en joves.

iSocial hosts a delegation of social organizations from the Netherlands

Publications News

iSocial hosts a delegation of social organizations from the Netherlands

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A group of delegates from Dutch social organizations has visited the iSocial Foundation and its member organizations: Pere Claver Grup, Intress, FIBS, ABD, and Hàbitat3. This year marks the third consecutive year that a delegation from this country has visited us. Last May, a delegation consisting of iSocial member organizations also traveled to the Netherlands to learn about local social innovation initiatives.

On Friday, September 29th, iSocial received a delegation of representatives from social entities and businesses from the Netherlands. It was part of an exchange trip driven by the organization Coincide BV, which promotes innovation in the public sector and the Third Sector from the Netherlands.

During this trip, the 40 representatives from Dutch entities and companies visited iSocial and its member organizations: Pere Claver Grup, Intress, FIBS, ABD, and Hàbitat3, to get firsthand insights into social initiatives based in Barcelona and the surrounding areas. In the case of iSocial, we explained our work and took the opportunity to present the Nidus project, a digital toolkit designed to improve the living conditions and proper integration of homeless individuals while facilitating smoother communication with Social Services professionals. The presentation took place at the facilities of the municipal residence Cal Muns, managed by Pere Claver Grup, specializing in medium and long-term accommodation for homeless individuals.

This is the third Dutch delegation of this kind to visit Barcelona from the Netherlands in the last three years, as part of a program aimed at sharing international experiences and promoting synergy among similar organizations in the two countries. In the same vein, the first InnoTrip journey took place in May, promoted by the iSocial Foundation, and we plan to repeat it in other countries in the coming years.

Actualitat

The iSocial Foundation presents its Guide for Digital Transformation in Entities at the SocialDigital Conference of FICE.

The iSocial Foundation presents its Guide for Digital Transformation in Entities at the SocialDigital Conference of FICE.

FICE, a network of social organizations that focuses on advocating for children’s rights, commissioned iSocial to create a guide to promote technological innovation in the third social sector.
The iSocial Foundation awards the GrausTIC Prize for Social Integration through Digitalization to the Audivers 360º project, promoted by the ACAPPS association

The iSocial Foundation awards the GrausTIC Prize for Social Integration through Digitalization to the Audivers 360º project, promoted by the ACAPPS association

The iSocial Foundation participates as a sponsor in the GrausTIC Awards 2023, in the category of the GrausTIC Award for Social Integration through Digitalization.
Imatge de les Jornades de formació d'activadores comunitàries per al projecte de Detecció i Intervenció de Situacions de Soledat no desitjada a l'Alt Pirineu-Aran

Training for Community Activators in the DISS Alt Pirineu-Aran Project

The DISS project aims to combat unwanted loneliness in the six regions of Alt Pirineu-Aran. The Community Activators play a crucial role in coordinating the efforts for detection and intervention and in raising community awareness.
iSocial Foundation travels to Austria to coordinate a StepForME program meeting

iSocial Foundation travels to Austria to coordinate a StepForME program meeting

La Fundació iSocial lidera el projecte europeu StepForME dins del marc d’un programa Erasmus+ d’intercanvi de bones pràctiques en relació amb la salut mental en joves.