User empowerment - Fundació iSocial. Innovació en l'acció social

ValuAble, tools for work inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in the hospitality sector

admin on 12 May 2019

ValuAble

ValuAble

International certification of hospitality establishments that are socially responsible in the employment of people with intellectual disabilities

ValuAble is a network of companies and European associations and foundations related to Down syndrome that provides international certification to hospitality establishments that are socially responsible in the professional inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.

Additionally, ValuAble has developed different tools to facilitate the integration of these individuals into their work environment. Firstly, the application “On my own at work,” which is individually adapted to each worker and helps them develop their job. Secondly, videos aimed at both employers and workers that show examples of how the correct relationships between people with intellectual disabilities and their coworkers should be.

Finally, a set of training tools aimed at the establishment managers to facilitate obtaining the certification.

Characteristics of innovation

Bank of innovations, Disability, Fully inclusive cities, Independent living, Innovative organization, Lab, Link with the community, User empowerment

Location

Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey

Partners / Funders

Hamburger Arbeitsassistenz (Germany), Down Alapitvany (Hungary), Associazione Italiana Persone Down ONLUS (Italy), , Associação Portuguesa de Portadores de Trissomia 21 (Portugal), Down España (Spain) , Down Sendromu Dernegi (Turkey), European Community

Genesis

The Valuable network was created within the Erasmus + On my own…at work project, financed by the European Commission. From 2014 to 2017, the network designed, developed and tested the three tools which are now offered to participant people and companies./p>

Implementation level

On May 2019, the network included 88 companies.

Further information

ValuAble

Propose your innovation

See our selection of innovations

B·MINCOME, looking for the best way out of poverty

admin on 24 April 2019

Foto: Barcelona City Council

B·MINCOME is a pilot project for the establishment of a municipal inclusion salary in the city of Barcelona, which is testing with one thousand vulnerable families in the ten most deprived Barcelona neighborhoods, the efficacy and efficiency of combining a stable financial help with active social-employment policies.

B·MINCOME is a project pilot to fight against poverty and inequality based in the development of an integral policy which combines a public passive policy (a Municipal Inclusive Support, a financial help that supplements the income of the selected people and families) with four active social-employment policies: a combined education and employment plan; actions for the encouragement of the socio-collaborative economy; grants for the rehabilitation of homes which may allow room rentals; and a program for participation in community networks.

Characteristics of innovation

Bank of innovations, Fully inclusive cities, Information and planning, Integrated care, Lab, Link with the community, New model of intervention, Pilot project, Poverty and exclusion, Prediction and prevention, Process simplification, User empowerment

Location

Barcelona

Partners / Funders

Urban Innovative Actions UE Program, The Young Foundation, UPC, IGOP/UAB, NOVAACT, Ivàlua

Genesis

B·MINCOME implementation has been possible thanks to extensive previous analysis. For the first time, an administration has obtained data from the Spanish Revenue Service at neighborhood and census section levels which have allowed to know the income of all taxpayers, not just those who fill their annual tax return. From the data, the municipality has been able to study the income and poverty levels of the city in great detail. Likewise, for the first time, a survey on the living conditions of users of social services has been taken into account which has permitted to analyze in detail the characteristics of more than 12,000 people who receive municipal attention.

Implementation level

For two years, from October 2017 to September 2019, one-thousand families have received different types of income which may have been combined with social and labor policies. Project results are evaluated during the fourth quarter of 2019.

Further information

B-Mincome

Propose your innovation

See our selection of innovations

Vincles BCN, service to strengthen social ties of the lonesome elderly

admin on 21 December 2018

Foto: Ajuntament de Barcelona

In Barcelona, more than 300.000 people aged 65 or older live alone, of which 100.000 are over 80. Vincles BCN is a social innovation project that wants to strengthen the social relationships of older people who feel lonely and improve their well-being through new technologies.

The project has the following main objectives:

Reduce the feeling of loneliness of the elderly,
Maintain and strengthen existing social relationships,
Expand the social relationships of people and create new spaces for the relationship,
Use of IT (Information Technologies) as a communication tool to relate to their environment their environment.

The service uses an app installed on a tablet as a communication tool, which will serve to put people in contact and strengthen their relationships, while creating new ones. Online communication is promoted through the app, while face-to-face meetings are organized. The app allows the user to communicate with his/her family and friends, and with the people who form app-specific user groups.

Characteristics of innovation

Aging, Bank of innovations, Independent living, Lab, Link with the community, New service, New technological tool, Personalization of the service, Prediction and prevention, Right of choice of the user, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Location

Barcelona

Partners / Funders

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Genesis

The project participated in the Mayors Challenge 2014 (the challenge of the mayors) of Bloomberg Philanthropies, along with 155 more cities, of which 16 were finalists and 5 won. This Barcelona project received the first prize, worth 5 million euros. After a first pilot phase, the project has spread throughout the city as a new service of the Area of Social Rights of the City Council of Barcelona.

Implementation level

The project began in January 2017 in five districts of Barcelona. Since March 2018 the service has been deployed throughout the city of Barcelona and any citizen can already request the service. In May 2018 the service had 600 users active and wanted to reach 1000 users by the end of the same year.

Further information

Vincles BCN

Propose your innovation

See our selection of innovations

La Casa de Carlota, a design studio that promotes diversity and inclusion

admin on 19 July 2018

La Casa de Carlota

La Casa de Carlota

Design studio that promotes the employment inclusion of people with Down syndrome and autism, and young people

Unlike other initiatives, La Casa de Carlota it is not an occupational center or an aid service, but an art company that seeks to incorporate diverse profiles in order to explore creativity without limitations. In the different projects, professional designers, students from design schools, illustrators, and creatives participate, as well as people with diverse abilities. The members define themselves as “creative activists”.

Characteristics of innovation

Bank of innovations, Disability, Fully inclusive cities, Innovative organization, Lab, Link with the community, New model of intervention, Personalization of the service, User empowerment

Location

Barcelona, Medellín, Sevilla and Lima

Partners / Funders

—

Genesis

The studio was founded in 2013 in Barcelona by José María Batalla, along with other partners from the advertising and social sectors. The name originates from the daughter of one of the founders, who has Down syndrome.

Implementation level

La Casa de Carlota is the first Spanish company to obtain the B Corp certification, which accredits that an entity complies with high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Additionally, the project has received numerous recognitions for its innovative character such as the LAUS Gold Award, the European Design Award, and the City of Barcelona Award. Moreover, in 2018 they were invited to explain their business model at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Further information

Propose your innovation

See our selection of innovations

App&Town Compagnon, people with disability can travel independently on public transport

admin on 19 July 2018

Foto: Unsplash

The technological company Mass Factory in collaboration with the Foundation AMPANS and the Foundation Saint Pere Claver has developed App&Town Compagnon, a transport-assisted system for people with intellectual disability, mental illness, or memory dysfunctions, that allows them to safely use public transportation, with precise guidance provided by a mobile app, and continuous monitoring by means of a Web App in the cloud. App&Town Compagnon conforms to the Smart City Concept, improvement citizens’ quality of life through use of technology.

App&Town Compagnon is a customized transport assisted system which is adaptable to the abilities of each user. The system includes: route-planning, guidance, and remote monitoring. App&Town Compagnon is a tool that improves social inclusion, mobility, and self-esteem of its users.

In 2018 Apps&Town Compagnon won the Technology Innovation Red Cross Humanitarian Award.

Characteristics of innovation

Bank of innovations, Disability, Fully inclusive cities, Independent living, Lab, Link with the community, New service, New technological tool, Personalization of the service, User empowerment

Location

Bages Region, Barcelona, Madrid (Spain); Laval and Longueuil (Canada)

Partners / Funders

Fundació Sant Pere Claver, Fundació ONCE, STL, Smart Columbus

Genesis

Mass Factory, a spin-off of “Universitat autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)”, was founded in 2012 as a result of project developed by eight Computer Engineering students under the direction of Prof. Jordi Roig. The mobile app which was developed “OnTheBus”, now called “App&Town Going with you”, is the first commercial product of the company.

The original “OnTheBus”, is a free app for Android that allows planning urban routes, either by walking or by bus and has two distinctive characteristics:

Universal Design that facilitates its use by most of the people
An extremely precise navigational algorithm which may be used by persons with visual disability

Implementation level

In Bages Region (Spain) there are 17 intellectually impaired users
In Barcelona there are more than 50 users that include, intellectually or visually impaired people, people with mental disorders as well as senior citizens with memory deficiencies
In Madrid there are 10 users with Down syndrome
In Laval and Longueil, Canada, there are 70 users with intellectual impairment and developmental disorders

Further information

App&Town

Propose your innovation

See our selection of innovations

Street Soccer Barcelona, a socio-sports project for homeless people

admin on 17 July 2018

Street Soccer BCN

Street Soccer BCN

A socio-sports project aimed at homeless people and those in social exclusion

The Street Soccer Barcelona program offers football training, a small meal before or after training sessions, and a hygiene and shower space. Morning training sessions are adapted and non-competitive, integrating sports and a space of trust through speaking and listening, where attendees can safely share the difficulties they face daily.

The project also offers the possibility to play in the Consell Escolar League (CEEB), a mixed team of volunteers that competes with other local groups. Additionally, annual immersive stays are organized in groups of 2 to 30 people over four days, aiming to establish deeper bonds and promote integration.

Characteristics of innovation

Bank of innovations, Fully inclusive cities, Group intervention, Homelessness and the right to housing, Lab, Link with the community, New model of intervention, Poverty and exclusion, Prediction and prevention, User empowerment

Localization

Barcelona, Catalonia

Partners / Funders

Barcelona City Council, Accem, Progress, Caspar Foundation, Barcelona Provincial Council, La Caixa Foundation’s Social Work, CEEB, Catalan Football Foundation, INEFC, CeleBreak, TNDM, Ergasia, Ametller Origen, Consum, Turris.

Genesis

Street Soccer Barcelona was created in 2018 and is inspired by the Belgian model.

Level of implementation

According to 2022 data, the organization records 2,658 attendances, with 174 athletes participating in the project, coming from 39 different nationalities. Additionally, through charity tournaments, the organization has raised over 23,000 euros.

More information

Street Soccer Barcelona

Propose your innovation

See our selection of innovations

Bitàcola, mental health prevention service in work environments

admin on 17 July 2018

Bitàcola

Bitàcola

Coaching service for individuals experiencing psychological distress that adversely affects their personal and professional lives

Bitàcola is a program aimed at safeguarding emotional health and well-being through the prevention and detection of psychological distress caused by work-related or personal stressors. In this regard, the goal is to promote an optimal mental state that enables users to enhance their capabilities across all aspects of life.

Various tools are employed during consultations, including Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), mindfulness, and mindfulness-based techniques. Each session lasts for 45 minutes. The professional team comprises experienced coaches and accredited psychologists with multidisciplinary backgrounds in clinical psychology, pedagogy, and coaching methods.

The service equips individuals with tools to achieve their career and personal goals in a short period. It also serves as a preventive measure against job loss due to psychological distress, catering to both employed individuals and those on leave due to mental health issues.

Characteristics of innovation

Bank of innovations, Integrated care, Lab, Mental health, New service, Prediction and prevention, User empowerment

Location

Catalonia, Spain

Partners / Funders

—

Genesis

The Joia Foundation established the Bitàcola service in 2012. The team consists of professionals trained at the Hospital de Sant Pau in Barcelona.

Implementation level

Following the inception of Bitàcola, in 2015, the Joia Foundation introduced Bitàcola Youth, complementing psychological services with employment insertion methodologies. This initiative provides comprehensive and innovative support to youth facing mental health challenges.

Further information

Propose your innovation

See our selection of innovations

Idecide, decision-making support tools for people with psychosocial difficulties

admin on 17 July 2018

Project to enhance the autonomy of people with disabilities when making decisions

Despite the existence of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which promotes autonomy and equality of rights, guardianship procedures still prevail in the judicial sphere.

IDecide is an initiative aimed at empowering people with intellectual disabilities in making daily decisions. For example, in areas such as finances, consumption, or health.

On the other hand, the project aims to provide tools to overcome the legal and social barriers that limit the autonomy of these individuals. It also aims to become a reference space for international best practices in this field, with the creation of guides and materials for professionals.

Characteristics of innovation

Bank of innovations, Disability, Independent living, Lab, Mental health, New model of intervention, Personalization of the service, Pilot project, Poverty and exclusion, Proximity care, Right of choice of the user, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Location

Catalonia

Partners / Funders

European Funds, EASPD, KVPS, Social Care Training, Margarita Foundation, and Arnau Campus Foundation.

Genesis

IDecide was created in 2017 and was deployed in three annual phases.

The Tutelar Foundation of the Girona Districts, initiated in 2013, is the organization of this type with the most cases in Catalonia, specifically 834 active cases.

Implementation level

Of the group of people supported by the Foundation, 49% have a mental illness, 26% have an intellectual disability, 20% suffer from cognitive impairment, and 4% have a behavioral disorder.

Further information

Propose your innovation

See our selection of innovations

RefAid, an app for refugees arriving in Europe

admin on 17 July 2018

RefAid

RefAid

Application aimed at migrants and refugees arriving in Europe every day so they can identify the services they can access

RefAid is a mobile application that shows migrants, refugees, and accompanying social workers which nearby services they can access, on a map with a simple interface.

The platform ensures that the information and location of the users is completely confidential, it is not stored, and it is not shared with any authority or police force.

The organizations that appear on the map are trustworthy and verified. The search includes filters for themes such as food, shelter, bathrooms, and information.

Characteristics of innovation

Bank of innovations, Fully inclusive cities, Immigration, Lab, Link with the community, New service, New technological tool, Process simplification, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Location

United States

Partners / Funders:

—

Genesis

RefAid was created in September 2015 by entrepreneur Shelley Taylor, after seeing the shocking image of the body of a three-year-old Syrian child drowned on the coast of Ali Hoca Buruna (Turkey). In this context, Taylor developed the application in just one weekend.

Implementation level

RefAid is being used in 50 countries by 8,000 non-profit organizations, aid organizations, and governmental entities. A large number of leading organizations in the care of migrants and refugees use the application. For example, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, Caritas, and the Red Cross.

Further information

Propose your innovation

See our selection of innovations

Noves Oportunitats, educational center for training and job placement for youth

admin on 17 July 2018

Model of accompaniment and guidance that combines quality and qualified training and work to combat educational dropout

The Educational Center Noves Oportunitats advocates for extended, comprehensive, and personalized training pathways. Thus, it guides and accompanies young people towards adulthood by promoting their return to the educational system and access to professional qualification. The program offers tailored itineraries for each individual. Youth can choose from various training offerings, ranging from a flexible adapted ESO (Obligatory Secondary Education) to a certified Level 2 Vocational Training.

The program consists of three phases. The first corresponds to Initial Qualified and Specialized Vocational Training (Levels 1 and 2). Secondly, young people have access to training grants for internships in different workplaces. Finally, the Noves Oportunitats Educational Center offers the Youth Services area. This last phase is designed to extend professional training while guaranteeing real work experience through companies with social economy models.

Beyond promoting education and work experience, the center guides and accompanies young people through personal meeting spaces where, jointly, their professional future is constructed. Students acquire transversal competencies such as learning ability, teamwork, and responsibility.

Characteristics of innovation

Adolescence and youth, Bank of innovations, Group intervention, Innovative organization, Integrated care, Lab, Link with the community, Proximity care, User empowerment

Location

Counties of Baix Llobregat and Barcelonès, Catalonia

Partners / Funders

The Government of Catalonia, the City Councils of Cornellà del Llobregat and L’Hospitalet, the Barcelona Provincial Council, the Employment Service of Catalonia (SOC), and the European Union (UE).

Genesis

The organization El Llindar was established in December 2004 with the Aula Taller project, an alternative space to accommodate and educate adolescents and young people excluded from the formal education system. Later, in line with this initiative, it also created the Noves Oportunitats Educational Center.

Implementation level

Since 2004, it has supported more than 4,800 adolescents and young people from Baix Llobregat and Barcelonès Sud. In parallel, El Llindar contributes to fostering a continuous dialogue between public and private entities.

Further information

Propose your innovation

See our selection of innovations

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.

Necessary

Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.

Cookie	Duration	Description
_GRECAPTCHA	5 months 27 days	This cookie is set by the Google recaptcha service to identify bots to protect the website against malicious spam attacks.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement	1 year	Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category .
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	1 year	Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Analytics" category .
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	1 year	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	1 year	Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Necessary" category .
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	1 year	Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to store the user consent for cookies in the category "Others".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	1 year	Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to store the user consent for cookies in the category "Performance".
CookieLawInfoConsent	1 year	Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie.

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

Cookie	Duration	Description
wp-wpml_current_language	session	WordPress multilingual plugin sets this cookie to store the current language/language settings.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

Cookie	Duration	Description
_ga	1 year 1 month 4 days	The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookie stores information anonymously and assigns a randomly generated number to recognize unique visitors.
_ga_*	1 year 1 month 4 days	Google Analytics sets this cookie to store and count page views.
_gat_gtag_UA_*	1 minute	Google Analytics sets this cookie to store a unique user ID.
_gid	1 day	Installed by Google Analytics, _gid cookie stores information on how visitors use a website, while also creating an analytics report of the website's performance. Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously.

Others