The president Llorenç Galmés and the councillor of Social Welfare, Guillermo Sánchez, have recognised the essential work of entities and professionals of the social services during the ceremony of delivery of these awards.

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The Consell de Mallorca Awards for Social Innovation 2023

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 Prize 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 were the entities awarded in the category of Social Innovation Awards, while the Mancomunitat Pla de Mallorca received the award for Best Awareness Campaign.

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

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

The president, Llorenç Galmés, stressed the “importance of the work of all the people and entities that work to guarantee equal opportunities and well-being for all” and emphasised “the Consell’s commitment to social services, as demonstrated by the 2024 budgets, which are more involved than ever in social policies. We will implement all the necessary programmes to guarantee the basic needs of the islanders, and we will stand by all those who strive every day to build a better world”.

For his part, Guillermo Sánchez congratulated the organisations and professionals “for their capacity for resilience, will and reinvention to face the challenges posed by society. 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 by the music of Anima Gospel, a Mallorcan group with a 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 evening came with the tribute to Aina Alcover, who for many years was an IMAS worker and a person totally dedicated to social services. Her colleagues have valued her implication at the time of starting up any kind of initiative or project of the 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 candidatures have been presented. A jury made up of a dozen professionals from the social services and communication sectors assessed the entries according to specific criteria for each category, which 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-raising campaigns. The winners of the 2023 edition were:

In the Pere Mascaró category for studies and research, with a prize of €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 being able to redefine the methodology to promote social inclusion in Mallorca. Composed of professors from the UIB, they propose to re-adapt protocols and move towards the design of individualised 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 a dual training for young people and people with intellectual disabilities, and an individualised accompaniment. The skills of each participant are strengthened, which in turn respond to the needs of the company, thus favouring their entry into the world of work.
Cultura Inclusiva Balear, for its project “Apropa Cultura Balear”, which aims to transform society through culture. This initiative facilitates admission 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 everyone, regardless of age or disability, can access theatres, auditoriums, festivals and museums.
Sociedad Cooperativa Formación Ocupacional Jovent, for its historical commitment to integration, guidance and insertion or social and community action projects. The training and accompaniment work it currently carries 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” programme. The project was born in 2020 with the aim of creating a housing network and facilitating the coexistence of elderly people who wish to share a flat. This project promotes their autonomy, prevents their institutionalisation and avoids situations of unwanted loneliness.
Projecte Home Balears Foundation, with the territorial care devices for people with behavioural addiction problems. The Foundation offers personalised attention to people with addiction problems to help them become aware of their dependence and change their lifestyle. The project is adapted to the individual needs of each person.
In the category of awareness-raising campaign, awarded €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 through training and awareness-raising, extending to all areas, from public administration to leisure, restaurants and sports.
As far as recognitions and mentions are concerned, the IMAS Advisory Council, where all the political groups and members of the third social sector are represented, has recognised the exemplary trajectory of the Pastoral Penitenciaria Association for its work of reinsertion of prisoners and ex-prisoners with comprehensive care that covers their basic needs and guides them in the process of socio-occupational insertion. The reception flat service is the main reference in its work to facilitate reintegration and prevent recidivism of prisoners and ex-prisoners.

Montserrat Fuster, president of Amadip Esment for the past 36 years, received the exemplary recognition for her involvement and innovative capacity at the head of one of the leading organisations 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, special mention was made of Grup Güell for its ability to mobilise and involve a large part of the public in social and solidarity activities.