Information for older and vulnerable British people in Spain and the Balearics

Useful information website for older and vulnerable British people living in Spain expands into the Balearics

The Support in Spain website (www.supportinspain.info), run in collaboration with the British Embassy, aims to help with the welfare challenges of the foreign-resident population and is being launched this week at virtual events for voluntary groups in the Balearics.

The site contains useful information on how to get extra support and help on a wide range of topics, such as healthcare, disability services and benefits, as well as providing a directory of local support organisations.

The service was designed in collaboration with the University of Birmingham and the British Embassy Madrid and has had over 60,000 visitors since it first launched.

British Consul General Lloyd Milen said: “There is some incredible work carried out by so many volunteers across the islands to support foreign residents who are in need. This website will be a valuable tool to support voluntary groups in their work and for residents as well.

“It is always useful to plan ahead for the future. Many of us see our or our friends’ personal circumstances change and this website is a really good way to check up on the help that’s available.”

The ‘virtual’ launch events with voluntary groups are taking place this week with separate meetings with partners in Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. The events will be hosted by Consul General Lloyd Milen and Neil Hesketh of the Support in Spain project.

Neil Hesketh said: “The site is in Spanish, as well as English, so that social workers, medical staff and Spanish-speaking friends can, for the first time, access information on English-speaking support available.”

Website address: www.supportinspain.info

More information: info@supportinspain.info

 Support in Spain project background

The Support in Spain website is the result of a close cooperation between the British Embassy and the School of Social Policy at the University of Birmingham.

The original project set out to research the issues older and vulnerable British people face while living in Spain and to suggest possible solutions to help prevent them becoming socially isolated in the future.

One of the conclusions of the study was the need to develop a website that included all the contact information of the different voluntary groups and Spanish statutory authorities available locally, as well as helpful advice on common questions, such as how to secure extra social care, help for a disability or assistance with paperwork in Spanish.

The project was funded by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

The content of the website currently covers the Costa del Sol, Almeria, the Canaries and now the Balearics. It is also being extended to other areas with high numbers of British residents in the next few months, including Cataluña, Costa Blanca and Murcia. It is published in Spanish as well as English and has had over 60,000 visitors since it was launched.

Press contact:

Debbi Christophers – British Embassy Press Department. Tel number:  91 990 6845

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