CECA increases its investment in Social Work: closed 2022 with 800.16 million euros

It was structured into assistance and health programs, education and research, culture and heritage, job creation and local development, sports, leisure, or the environment.

The entities associated with CECA allocated 800.16 million euros to Social Work during 2022, reflecting an increase of 2.8% compared to the previous year. Thanks to this funding, more than 72,000 activities have been carried out, benefiting over 32 million people, particularly targeting the most vulnerable groups.

Since the approval of Law 26/2013 on Savings Banks and Banking Foundations, the Social Work of its entities has invested nearly 7 billion euros and conducted more than 849,000 activities, representing an increase of 12.71% since 2014. The Social Work targets various areas to cover all segments of the population, with a special focus on vulnerable groups.

As in previous years, the area of Social Action received the highest investment, amounting to 313 million euros (39% of the total), allocated to over 20,500 activities related to assistance programs, health and well-being, inclusion, social canteens, and volunteering. Activities aimed at vulnerable groups and improving integration into society were also carried out.

The area of Education and Research, with an investment of 219 million euros (27% of the total) and benefiting 12.4 million people, ranked second. Through this area, the entities aim to promote progress and innovation with training, education, research, and scientific dissemination programs, as well as R&D initiatives. Additionally, it focuses on financial inclusion and access to financial services for all groups, especially the most disadvantaged.

Furthermore, the area of Culture and Heritage received 153 million euros (19% of the total) in 2022, while Local Development and Job Creation reached nearly 81 million euros (10% of the total). The latter is intended for local development programs, business support, job creation, and entrepreneurship, among others.

Finally, more than 34 million euros (4% of the total) were allocated to Sports, Leisure, and the Environment. “Sports are full of examples of commitment, effort, and overcoming challenges, values that Social Work shares and has been applying to its projects for more than 300 years,” the entity reports. Additionally, “the CECA sector has a strong commitment to sustainable development, collaborating with different organizations, encouraging the use of sustainable products and services, and conducting activities for the conservation of natural environments.”

Social Work places the 2030 Agenda at the center of its activities, supporting its progress and implementation, and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, in 2022, the investment continued to address all 17 SDGs and helped reinforce those issues requiring more attention from Spain, such as poverty, health and well-being, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduction of inequality, and zero hunger, among others.