Alejandro Marichal: “We guarantee transportation and meals at the Occupational Center to give peace of mind to families”
Dimas Sarmiento: “We are addressing a long-standing demand from families with a stable dining hall and extended hours until 16:00 PM.”
The Department of Social Services has launched a dining service at the San Bartolomé de Tirajana Occupational Center, responding to a long-standing request from families and related to the center's daily operations. This measure is part of an effort to enhance the support provided to users and is accompanied by the regularization of the transportation service, which will allow for better organization of its provision and facilitate access to the center.
The dining service is provided year-round, except on holidays, following the center's official calendar, and significantly extends the daily service hours from five to seven continuous hours. Users receive breakfast at 9:00 a.m. and lunch at 13:00 p.m., allowing for more comprehensive care throughout the morning and improving the daily organization of the facility. The service is provided through a contract entitled "Catering Service for the Dining Hall of Users of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana Occupational Center."
The Occupational Center was created to provide services to residents of the municipality with special needs after they have finished school. It is a daytime resource (Day Center) that promotes personal autonomy and provides care for people with disabilities. Its aim is to maintain or improve the level of personal autonomy, support families or caregivers, provide respite for families, and enable users to remain in their familiar living environment.
This resource covers two types of places allocated by the Gran Canaria Island Council's Institute of Social and Healthcare Services within the same center, without physical or structural differentiation, but with distinct care needs. On the one hand, there are Day Center places for individuals requiring third-party assistance, offering advice, prevention, rehabilitation, guidance, habilitation, and personal care tailored to age and specialized needs. On the other hand, there are Occupational Center places, designed for daytime care for people with disabilities, providing occupational therapy activities, pre-employment skills training, and psychosocial support for those who face difficulties integrating into a supported employment center or mainstream employment. Currently, the center has 11 Day Center places for individuals requiring third-party assistance and 20 Occupational Center places, for a total of 31.
The catering contract has been awarded to EUREST COLECTIVIDADES SLU for a total of €144.138,24, of which €134.708,64 corresponds to the actual execution of the service and €9.429,60 to the 7% IGIC (Canary Islands General Indirect Tax). The tender includes six improvements: the use of exclusive, reusable containers in 5 kg or larger containers; the inclusion of whole-grain bread, pasta, and rice three times a week with a commitment to provide lists of whole-grain products; the supply of fresh fruit five days a week; a monthly cake for the birthday celebrations of the users; picnic-style menus for days with outings or excursions; and traditional menus on special occasions such as Canary Islands Day, Carnival, and Christmas.
Alejandro Marichal stated that “guaranteeing transportation and meals at the Occupational Center guarantees peace of mind for many families. We want the users to receive the care they deserve and for their families to have the assurance that the facility operates with stability and clear organization.” For his part, the Councilor for Social Services, Dimas Sarmiento, emphasized that “this improvement responds to a long-standing demand from families, because the dining room and transportation arrangements allow for more comprehensive care and extend the time spent at the center, which now runs until 16:00 p.m., providing families with more respite. Furthermore, the contract includes complete and adapted menus with concrete improvements that are noticeable on a daily basis, from fresh fruit five days a week to traditional menu options on special occasions.”
As part of this adaptation and modernization process, the council initiated a comprehensive restructuring of the service in February 2025, with a total investment of €1,2 million. Management was awarded to Asidma Servicios Sociales, a specialized company accredited by the Government of the Canary Islands. Thanks to this management, the center's professional team has grown from 4 to 13 professionals, ensuring uninterrupted service and a substantial improvement in specialized care.
In parallel, the council has finalized the transportation contract for the Occupational Center, structured in three lots for a total of €720.000, with a duration of two years and the possibility of extension. Lot 1, already tendered, amounts to €230.000, while lots 2 and 3 remain to be tendered. This will allow for the consolidation of a stable transportation system adapted to the needs of the users.
To provide this service, the council has also invested in dining room furniture and reclining chairs to improve the comfort and functionality of the spaces. The Occupational Center has a technical team comprised of a speech therapist, a special education teacher, two instructors (an agricultural foreman and a sports instructor), and a physiotherapist with coordination responsibilities. It is working in coordination with the Gran Canaria Island Council to expand its capacity to a total of 40 users.
With this reinforcement, the Department of Social Services is launching an essential day care resource, focused on personal autonomy and support for families, incorporating an already operational dining service and regularizing transportation, which contribute to a more complete and organized care for the users of the Occupational Center.
