Who we are
The SACRED project is a collaborative effort between nine partner organisations from across Europe. The project is guided by the Municipality of Rotterdam, with key participants from the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Italy and Spain.
Project Partners
Project coordinator
(The Netherlands)
The Municipality of Rotterdam, led by the Mayor and vice-mayors, governs through six departments, including Social Development, which coordinates the SACRED project. Rotterdam, the second-largest city in the Netherlands, has a diverse population and is known for its youth, with 30% of its residents under 25. The city’s economy, historically driven by its port, is diversifying into sectors like health, education, and consumer services. Rotterdam is focused on improving accessibility for older people and those with disabilities, with initiatives like the ‘Older and Wiser’ policy and the Local Agenda for Accessibility to support independent living, mobility, and social engagement.
“We aim to further the commitment to creating an inclusive society where everyone, regardless of age or ability, can thrive”.
(The Netherlands)
RUAS has 39.000 students, 9 schools and 5 Research Centres, of which the School of Health Care studies and the Research Centre Innovations in Care is involved in SACRED. The goal of the School of Health Care studies and Research Centre is to innovate the approaches of both health promotion and long term care. RUAS does this by practice-oriented research and innovation projects carried out by students in collaboration with research lecturers, professors, professionals, citizens and business partners. Older people are an important group RUAS collaborates with. By addressing real life challenges, such as frail older people with dementia or multimorbidity, RUAS wants not only to gain knowledge, but also to implement it into practice. SACRED is a prime example of a project that aims to do just that, while making use of broad knowledge throughout Europe, as we face similar current and future challenges in health care for older people.
(Belgium)
Odisee University of Applied Sciences will lead the development and execution of the needs assessment in professionals, students and older people with dementia and comorbidities. Next, Odisee University of Applied Sciences will take part in the development and testing of the e-learning. Finally, Odisee University of Applied Sciences will seek for good practices in Flanders and aims to embed the developed e-learning in the teaching activities in its educational programs for nursing, occupational therapy and psychosocial gerontology.
“The richness in knowledge and practical experience in this SACRED project group creates a strong foundation for the further course of this project. Happy to be involved and to contribute to this project!”
(Spain)
POLIBIENESTAR, directed by Jorge Garcés, is a research institute of the University of Valencia specialised in social welfare policies. With more than 10 years of experience, it focuses on applied and multidisciplinary research on the sustainability of welfare systems, focusing on general society, vulnerable groups, businesses and the third sector. Its lines of research cover Health (integrated care, active ageing and mental health), Sustainability and Governance (sustainable cities, democratic participation) and Innovationand inclusive education (digital literacy and learning design).
(Italy)
ISRAA is an Italian public senior care provider based in Treviso with knowledge and experience in assisting older people. Its Innovation and Development Department designs European, national and regional projects to promote the digitalisation of health and social services and to support new forms of inclusion, social innovation, active ageing and health. In the SACRED project, ISRAA will coordinate the implementation and evaluation phases (WP4), organise pilot activities in Treviso and disseminate the project’s results in Italy and abroad.
“Knowledge,awareness, sharing and care are the four elements that will guide us in the SACRED project.”
(The Netherlands)
AFEdemy is a limited private company based in Gouda (Netherlands). Its mission is to capacity-build local, regional and national stakeholders to realise smart, inclusive and sustainable communities and cities. AFEdemy’s role is to develop in close collaboration with the project´s partners the curriculum and e-learning platform for higher education students and care professionals on learning on frail older people with dementia, multimorbidity or physical impairments.
“AFEdemy’s mission is to realise inclusive societies for all by empowering stakeholders to empower (future) care professionals with the skills to look after vulnerable older people. It is one of the steps that could be taken on the journey towards more inclusive societies.”
(Greece)
ALTERA VITA is a social cooperative and research center based in Syros, Cyclades Greece. It is focused on education and awareness programs in Health, Environment, Culture, and Social Intervention. It offers flexible training programs to promote social and professional changes in areas like Social Economy, Health Promotion, Sustainable Development, Arts, Pedagogy, Psychology, and New Technologies. The center is part of the European Network of Social Authorities (ENSA), which fosters international cooperation in the social field, and leads the ENSEL Network for Social Emotional Learning. ALTERA VITA supports vulnerable adults and minors through social reintegration and labor market entry, offering counseling. In collaboration with KEFIAP Syros, it assists people with disabilities, including those with neurological and developmental issues.
“Our motivation to join this European project is to contribute with our expertise in community based education and social intervention with the aim of fostering inclusive supportive environments that empower vulnerable population.”
(Spain)
Anrimac is a Unipersonal Enterprise of Psychological services in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, which attends patients and families with psychological clinical and health issues, and provides assessment, training and research in communitarian and job health problems. The collaboration in this project will be done through Ph. Dr. Angela Rita Martin Caballero, an experienced psychologist and manager, in clinical attention, research and formation. She will lead, in cooperation with the University of La Laguna, Faculty of Psychology (Associated Partner), and with other collaborative entities, the pilot of the SACRED project in Tenerife and test the e-learning among professionals and students.
(Belgium)
ELISAN (European Local Inclusion & Social Action Network) is a network that has been set up at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels and is an INGO enjoying participatory status at the Council of Europe. Its main objective is to contribute to the building of a Social Europe that respects national models, to rais awareness about local social policies and to promote the scaling up of innovative social practices at European level. ELISAN is a place for reflection, analysis, proposals and exchange of experiences. Its members share the common will to promote local social action among the European Institutions.
“Our purpose in this project is scaling up responses and practices at the European and international levels to effectively address the needs and enhance the quality of life of an ageing population.”
Advisory Board
Jeroen van Wijngaarden
(The Netherlands)
Karel Haga
(The Netherlands)
Dante Guitink
(The Netherlands)
Brian de Lord
(United Kingdom)
Anis Ben Brik
(Qatar)
Tony Palazuelos
(Cape Verde)
Veronique Theunissen
(The Netherlands)
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Associated Partners
IVASS
Valencia (Spain)
University of La Laguna
Tenerife (Spain)
Municipality of Palaio Faliro
Syros (Greece)
GENERO
Rotterdam (The Netherlands)
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Treviso (Italy)
