Applications for grants for local governments to purchase social services are now open. Under the “Social Premium” project, any local government unit (LGU) that partners with a social economy entity (SEE) can receive a grant of up to PLN 350,000. Thanks to support from European Funds and the state budget, local governments will receive nearly PLN 90 million in the coming years to partially finance the outsourcing of social services to social economy entities. The first edition of the project is planned to award at least 250 grants to municipalities and counties.
The “Social Premium” project is an innovative initiative that addresses the contemporary challenges of local governments by leveraging the potential of social economy entities to deliver social services. As its creators emphasize, implementing the “Social Premium” mechanism primarily aims to support local government units in the effective management and delivery of social services, while simultaneously reducing the costs of these services by 25-70%, notes Daniel Prędkopowicz of the Cooperation Fund Foundation.
All municipalities and counties that decide to outsource social services to a social economy entity through a public procurement procedure or a public task assignment will be eligible to apply for the funds. This will allow local communities to gain access to a wide range of social services, which will translate into an improved quality of life for their residents. The funds will support activities such as respite care, assistance services in family care homes, support in centers for people in need, and specialized counseling. The grant can be used to implement social services that have not previously been outsourced to social economy entities (SEEs) or to scale them up. The grant is conditional on completing the selection process and signing an agreement with SEEs after each call is announced.
The project is planned for two open calls for grant applications, divided into monthly rounds. Applicants can only receive one grant per call. Applications can request more than one type of social service. The first grants are scheduled to be paid out in October 2024.
The value of the pilot project, implemented until June 30, 2026, is nearly PLN 90 million. The project is co-financed by the European Union under the European Funds for Social Development 2021-2027 program, co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus.
Update: The first round of applications closed on August 26, 2024.
More information can be found on the project website:
www.premiaspoleczna.pl
