• Creation of new or expansion of existing social care structures
• Meeting the needs of children and adults with long-term care needs
• Funding of €18 million through the “Cyprus_Tomorrow” Recovery and Resilience Plan
• Granting of grants to Non-Governmental Organizations and Local Authorities

The Social Welfare Services of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare announced today the Social Welfare Services State Grants Plan for the creation of new or the expansion of existing social care structures. The Plan, which was approved by the Council of Ministers, is implemented through the Recovery and Resilience Plan “Cyprus_Tomorrow” 2021-2026 and the total amount that will be allocated for its implementation needs amounts to €18 million. The Plan aims to increase the availability of places to cover the care and education needs of children from an early age and care of adults with disabilities or with long-term care needs. Specifically, the Plan provides for the granting of grants to Non-Governmental Organizations and Local Government Authorities for the creation or upgrading/expansion of existing: Multipurpose Centers for Children (nursery centers and Child Protection and Employment Centers for children aged 0-4 years and 6-13 years), as well as Child Care Centers (nursery centers for children aged 0-4 years), and 24-hour care centers for adults with long-term care needs (small structures integrated into the community to host up to 10 people). In the first phase and with an interim target of the end of 2024, funding will be given for the creation or expansion of at least 11 structures for children and two structures for adults with long-term care needs. The final time target is June 2026, when a total of 30 organizations (11+19) will have been sponsored for the development or upgrading of structures for children and a total of six organizations (2+4) for the creation of structures that will offer care services in adults. With the aim of the targeted allocation of resources, an external expert has carried out a mapping of the existing structures and defined, based on the actual needs, the areas where there are gaps in the provision of services. The Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Mrs. Anastasia Anthousi expresses her satisfaction at the start of the implementation of a very important policy, which aims to strengthen the welfare state and citizens’ access to quality care services, without exclusions, protecting them from the risk of poverty and social exclusion . “Through strengthening the availability of infrastructure for care and social development of our vulnerable fellow citizens, the goal of children’s inclusion in education and care structures from an early age, the social integration of people with disabilities, as well as the active participation of people of seniors in all aspects of life, thus promoting active ageing,” says Ms. Anthousi.   More information about the Scheme, as well as the application, is available on the website of the Social Welfare Services at the link: https://bit.ly/3XUHCtj. The closing date for the submission of an application by interested parties has been set as Friday, April 28, 2023, at 2 p.m. (MKυ) Link: https://www.pio.gov.cy/