President Llorenç Galmés and the councillor of Social Welfare, Guillermo Sánchez, have recognized the essential work of entities and professionals of social services during the award ceremony of these awards

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The Grup de Recerca Desigualtats, Gènere i Polítiques Públiques of the UIB wins the highest category of the Consell de Mallorca Awards

The Grup de Recerca Desigualtats, Gènere i Polítiques Públiques of the Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB) has been the most voted candidacy and, therefore, winner of the Pere Mascaró Award of the Consell de Mallorca Awards for Social Innovation 2023. Amadip Esment, Cultura Inclusive Balear, Sociedad Cooperativa y Formación Ocupacional Jovent, Intress and Fundació Project Home have been the awarded entities in the category of Social Innovation Awards, while the Mancomunidad Pla de Mallorca has received the award for Best Awareness Campaign.

The president of the Consell de Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés, the councillor of Social Welfare and president of the Institut Mallorquí d’Afers Socials (IMAS), Guillermo Sánchez, and the insular director of People with Disabilities of IMAS, Maria Francesca Rigo, have presided over the ceremony of these awards, tonight at the Teatre Principal of Palma. Also in attendance were political representatives of the Gover of the Balearic Islands, city councils and other departments of the Consell de Mallorca, as well as the entire management team of IMAS and members of the different entities and associations of the Third Sector of Mallorca.

The gala was conducted by the journalist Toni Mateu and the artist Marga Pocoví and had a record number of attendees, with more than 350 people in the audience. During the event, the work of Pastoral Penitenciaria was also highlighted, with the recognition of its exemplary trajectory as an entity, and of Montserrat Fuster, for her career, while the Güell Group received a special mention for its social work, in this new edition of the awards organized by IMAS.

President Llorenç Galmés has stressed the “importance of the work of all people and entities that work to ensure equal opportunities and welfare for all” and stressed “the Consell’s commitment to social services, as evidenced by the budgets of 2024 more involved than ever in social policies. We will implement all the necessary programs to ensure the basic needs of the islanders, and we will be with all those who strive every day to build a better world”.

For his part, Guillermo Sánchez congratulated the entities and professionals “for their resilience, willingness and reinvention to face the challenges that society poses to us. Congratulations to everyone, regardless of whether they receive an award today or not, for their fight against inequality, in favour of full inclusion and opportunities” and stressed that IMAS and entities “will make a common front” to ensure the welfare of all.

The event was enlivened with the music of Anima Gospel, a Mallorcan group with special sensitivity towards social services, known for their willingness to perform charity concerts or concerts aimed at vulnerable people.

One of the most emotional moments of the afternoon came with the tribute to Aina Alcover, who for many years was an IMAS worker and a person dedicated to social services. Her colleagues have valued her involvement in the implementation of any kind of initiative or project of IMAS and have defined her as “a generous person, with a huge heart and always ready to help anyone who needed it”.

Consell de Mallorca Awards for Social Innovation 2023

The IMAS has distributed 48,000 € in this edition of the awards, to which 31 nominations have been submitted. A jury composed of a dozen professionals in social services and communication has assessed them according to specific criteria for each category that determined the quality of the project, its suitability and impact on society and its innovative nature. This year, an exclusive category has also been opened for awareness campaigns. The winners of the 2023 edition were:

In the category Pere Mascaró in studies and research, endowed with €10,200:

Inequalities, Gender and Public Policy Research Group of the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), for their research work in identifying the causes of gender, race, ethnic or class inequalities and social exclusion and thus redefining the methodology to promote social inclusion in Mallorca. Composed of professors from the UIB, they propose to re-adapt protocols and move towards a design of individualized inclusion processes from a multi-dimensional approach.
In the category of Social Innovation, endowed with € 6,300 for each winning entity:

Amadip Esment Fundació, with its project Esment Escola Professional. With the slogan “Learning by doing”, it offers dual training for young people and people with intellectual disabilities, and individualized support. The skills of each participant are enhanced and, in turn, respond to the needs of the company, thus promoting their entry into the labour market.

Cultura Inclusiva Balear, for its project “Apropa Cultura Balear”, which aims to transform society through culture. This initiative facilitates entry to cultural events at affordable prices for people at risk of exclusion and works to raise awareness of the importance of universal accessibility so that all people, regardless of age or disability, can access theatres, auditoriums, festivals and museums.
Sociedad Cooperativa Formación Ocupacional Jovent, for its historical commitment to integration, orientation and insertion of social and community action projects. The training and accompaniment work it is currently carrying out with migrant women to achieve their full social and labour integration, far from prejudices and stereotypes, has been especially valued.
Institute of Social Work and Social Services Intress, for the “Living in company” program. The project was born in 2020 to create a housing network and facilitate the coexistence of elderly people who wish to share an apartment. With this project, their autonomy is promoted, their institutionalization is avoided and unwanted situations of loneliness are prevented.

lears, with the territorial devices for the care of people with behavioural addiction problems. The Foundation offers personalized attention to people with addiction problems to help them become aware of their dependence and change their lifestyle. The project is tailored to the individual needs of each person.
In the category of awareness campaign, endowed with €6,300:

Mancomunidad Pla de Mallorca, with the campaign “There is no room for machismo”, which involves all the municipalities of the Mancomunidad. The campaign is carried out both from training and awareness-raising, extending to all areas, from public administration to leisure, catering and sports.
As regards recognition and mentions, the IMAS Advisory Council, where all the political groups and members of the third social sector are represented, has recognized the exemplary trajectory of the Prison Pastoral Association for its work of reinsertion of inmates and former inmates with comprehensive care that covers the basic needs and guides them in the process of social and labour insertion. The shelter apartment service is the main reference in its work to facilitate reintegration and prevent recidivism of prisoners and ex-prisoners.

The exemplary recognition to the personal trajectory has been for Montserrat Fuster, president of Amadip Esment for 36 years, for her involvement and innovative capacity at the head of one of the reference entities in the field of people with disabilities on the island. Fuster is also part of the group of parents who founded Amadip Esment in 1962.

Finally, a special mention has been made to Grup Güell for its ability to mobilize and involve a large part of the citizenship in social and solidarity activities.