It was structured into welfare and health programmes, education and research, culture and heritage, job creation and local development, sport, leisure and the environment.
CECA's member entities allocated €800.16 million for Obra Social in 2022, an increase of 2.8% compared to the previous year. Thanks to this endowment, more than 72,000 activities have been conducted, reaching more than 32 million people, especially the most vulnerable groups.
Following the approval of Law 26/2013 on Savings Banks and Banking Foundations, the Obra Social of their entities has invested close to €7,000 million and conducted more than 849,000 activities, representing an increase of 12.71% since 2014. Obra Social operates in a number of areas, which seek to cover all segments of the population, with a special focus on vulnerable groups.
As in previous years, the field of Social Action received the greatest investment, €313 million (39% of the total), which was allocated to more than 20,500 activities involving assistance, health and welfare, inclusion, social kitchens and volunteering programmes. Activities targeting vulnerable groups and improving people's integration into society were also undertaken.
Education and Research, with an investment of €219 million (27% of the total) and 12.4 million beneficiaries, ranked second. Within this area, the entities intend to promote progress and innovation with training, education, research and scientific dissemination and R&D programmes. In addition, its focus is on financial inclusion and access to financial services for all groups, especially the most disadvantaged.
Furthermore, the areas of Culture and Heritage were allocated €153 million in 2022 (19% of the total) and Local Development and Job Creation accounted for almost €81 million (10% of the total). The latter is earmarked for local development programmes, support for the business fabric, promotion of employment and entrepreneurship, among others.
Finally, more than €34 million (4% of the total) was allocated to Sport, Leisure and the Environment. "Sport is full of examples of dedication, effort and perseverance, values that Obra Social shares and which it has been applying to its projects for over 300 years", assured the association. In addition, "the CECA sector has a strong commitment to sustainable development by collaborating with different organisations, encouraging the use of sustainable products and services, and undertaking activities for the protection of natural environments".
Obra Social places the 2030 Agenda at the forefront of its activities, supporting its progress and implementation and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, in 2022, the investment continued to focus on the 17 SDGs and helped reinforce those areas requiring greater attention from Spain, such as poverty, health and welfare, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduction of inequality and zero hunger, among others.
