The Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council received today the award from the State Association of Social Services Directors and Managers, in the Public Institution category, for having the best-rated municipal social services in Spain. The award was presented to the five municipalities that achieved the highest scores after applying the Local DEC Index in Social Services: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Barcelona, Valladolid, Montilla, and Fuenlabrada. Specifically, the Basque capital secured first place.
This recognition highlights the work carried out by municipal social services and Vitoria-Gasteiz's commitment to social justice, inclusion, and support for those most in need. The award was unanimously agreed upon by the association and is based on an analysis of over thirty objective indicators and official data evaluating the social services of Spanish municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants.
“"Vitoria-Gasteiz has achieved an excellent result in the scoring ranking. Specifically, it obtained the best score of all municipalities."
Álvaro Revilla, studies coordinator for the professional association granting the award, explained that the analysis assesses the guarantee of rights, the dedicated budget, and the service offerings. In fact, the City Council dedicates 12.91% of its budget this year to the Department of Social Policies, meaning almost 13 out of every 100 euros are allocated to Social Services.
The Councilor for Social Policies, Lucho Royero, emphasized the importance of this recognition for the city and for the professionals who work daily in social care: 550 municipal professionals and over 1,400 in service provision contracts. "This award is a source of pride for Vitoria-Gasteiz because it values the service we offer to people, families, and realities that need a close, effective, and dignified response. Our commitment is that no one is left behind and that all individuals can count on the support they need to develop their life project," he stated.
Royero highlighted that "strong social services are essential for building a fairer, more cohesive, and inclusive city. This recognition encourages us to continue working to improve care, strengthen support, and ensure that social rights reach those who need them most. We are not just talking about resources or indicators: we are talking about improving citizens' lives."
The State Association of Social Services Directors and Managers presented the award at its XXXIII Annual Congress, held in Fuenlabrada (Madrid). The recognition for the capital of Euskadi was received by the director of the Department of Social Policies, Boni Cantero.
In 2023, the State Association of Social Services Directors and Managers awarded another prize to the Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council, on that occasion for its self-evaluation of Social Services in pursuit of continuous improvement.
