Investment in Social Work by CECA Sector Entities Reached 717 Million Euros in 2015
The Social Work financed 91,927 activities and reached more than 30 million beneficiaries.
The Social Work continues to stand out for its contribution to improving the welfare of society, once again placing the entities associated with CECA at the forefront of private social investment in Spain. According to Isidro Fainé, President of the association, “economic development, social progress, and inclusion continue to be a priority objective for CECA entities.”
In 2015, investment in Social Work amounted to 717.38 million euros, an increase of 1 percent compared to 2014. This increase, the first since 2008, confirms the trend reversal that began to stabilize in 2012. These figures demonstrate the significant effort that has been made in recent years to maintain social activity.
Social Action, the Main Investment Area
The Social Action category remains the main area of investment, accounting for 45 percent of the total. Highlights include assistance programs for those at risk of social exclusion; projects aimed at health, volunteering, international cooperation, and improving the integration of people into society, among others.
The second area was Culture and Heritage, with 17 percent of the investment. The area that experienced the largest increase compared to the previous year was Local Development and Job Creation, which rose from 7.46 percent to over 12 percent. This redistribution of investment highlights the adaptability of Social Work to the needs presented by society at any moment. Eleven percent of the allocations have been dedicated to Education and Research, followed by the areas of Environment and Sports and Leisure, which accounted for 8 and 4 percent respectively.
This investment has financed more than 90,000 activities benefiting over 30 million people. A priority group for Social Work is individuals at risk of social exclusion, in which over 100 million euros have been invested, benefiting more than 2.5 million people. Additionally, 5 million elderly individuals have participated in various programs that received more than 70 million euros. Children and youth, people with special needs, and entrepreneurs are also included in Social Work, which has allocated over 270 million euros overall.
Commitment to Sustainability
It is noteworthy that the gradual diversification of income sources for Social Work is taking place. More than 36 percent of the funds generated in 2015 came from own activity, marking a significant advancement in recent years. These figures reflect a major reorientation of the management model of Social Works, which aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of this important work by seeking alternative income streams beyond traditional ones.
The entities associated with CECA are characterized by the so-called 3Rs with which all members of the WSBIESBG (World Savings and Retail Banks Institute European Savings and Retail Banks Group) are identified: Retail, Responsible, and Rooted. This is, focused on financing families and businesses; linked to the territory; and with a responsible banking model. Social Work is one of the largest exponents of this model.
The following data highlights the most significant information. For more information, the complete Social Work report 2015 is recently published on the CECA website, as well as in the sectoral video created that, for the first time, collects the main data of Social Work activities.
