The Mijas Town Hall has set up a social working group bringing together all the associations and organisations in this sector to address common issues, encourage collaboration between them, and improve communication channels with the institution. The aim of this initiative is to work more efficiently for the benefit of the most vulnerable people who need it most, and ultimately, to join forces and enhance the services that both the Town Hall and the associations offer to those at greatest risk of social exclusion. On Thursday 29th, the first meeting of this working group took place, which was set up with a view to the future and with the intention of holding regular meetings. 

“The aim is clear,” said the mayoress of Mijas, Ana Mata (PP): “To create a social working group where all the associations providing assistance to the most vulnerable people and the Town Hall can work together”. The mayoress explained that there are people who, instead of going to the municipal Social Inclusion offices, approach other social organisations for help. She considered it the Town Hall’s responsibility “to be aware that these people exist”. But not only that, the local authority and the associations in this sector, Mata said, “must work together to address the various needs faced by families and individuals in our municipality". 

A broad range of people needing help was discussed. “From day one, this government team has been working on a regulatory plan for grants so that they are directed to entities that provide specific support through different necessary programmes, because we also have to acknowledge that the public administration cannot reach every corner”, added the mayoress. She explained that social needs can vary widely, from those required by people with disabilities or problems of addiction or mental health, to others with cognitive impairments. The aim is to understand the focus of each association so that, together, they can help those in need and “have a rapid response mechanism from the Town Hall”, Mata concluded.

 

New meeting after the summer

In addition to the Town Hall, the social groups Adimi, Autismo Mijas-Fuengirola, AFA Mijas, AFA Fuengirola-Mijas Costa, Avatés, Afesol, Málaga Acoge and Cruz Roja were present at the meeting, and Adintre and Soroptimist were also invited. The idea is that the working group will meet again after the summer, in September, to continue sharing projects, identifying specific needs, and joining forces.

The participating groups agreed on the positive nature of this initiative and attended this first meeting with many requests and needs but also with great enthusiasm to work together and support one another. “I am very satisfied, and we will continue in this group, with more meetings to come very soon”, said the president of one of the participating organisations, Avatés, Pepi Moya. “Contact between associations is very important. From our beginnings, we have had relationships with other associations and we support one another”, Moya added. “Different associations came together to share the resources we need and so that the Town Hall can learn first-hand about our needs”, said a social worker at AFA Mijas, Claudia López, who believed it is much better to be united to understand what each association requires and to see whether, together, they can address the issues. The vice-president of the Mijas Local Assembly of the Red Cross, María Martínez, agreed: “This working group was a great idea; we’ve been talking about the various needs of each association and realised that we can help each other. Plus, we’ve explained to the Town Hall the specific needs of each association”.

Some of the associations and organisations have been working on social issues in Mijas for many years and have a wealth of experience. Some highlighted the importance of being as transparent as possible so that everyone knows how the funds raised are spent, and they are aware of their significant social role, since they acknowledge that the authorities cannot reach every case. “It is very important that all these organisations are here and, above all, that those of us managing public funds ensure total transparency, that we can show where every euro goes, because this is crucial when people donate money to us; they need to know that it goes to the people for whom it was intended”, explained the president of Adimi, Cristóbal Moreno.

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