Margherita Società Cooperativa Sociale ONLUS

Who we are:
Cooperativa Margherita is a non-profit organization and social enterprise based on the principle of mutuality. It has been established in 1987 and it offers specific services arising in response to social needs, with a strong vocation for multi-level integration and development of the people involved. Our main target groups are children, youth, elderly and persons with disabilities who are suffering from social exclusion. We provide them with lifelong learning, training and support activities which aim at their growth, self-determination and the containing of cognitive impairments. Each activity is built in connection with the local network, formed by associations, authorities and the citizens themselves.
Moreover, we deal also with different issues focusing on: territorial cooperation and social development, women at work, the economic crisis, human rights and migration. We create training patterns about specific sector and topics – such as about the need of team-working and of drafting and evaluating the projects at the community level – and awareness raising events about emerging territory-related issues – i.e. equity and inclusion, active citizenship and participation, social policies, etc. We aim at activating the local community also through the organisation of public events and meetings, fostering active citizenship and responsible participation. In the last years, we are hence proposing ourselves not only as a provider of social and health services, but also as a “cultural vehicle of change” proposing activities for both our target groups and the whole citizenship.

Our Mission:
According to our Statute, our purpose is to pursue the interests of the community and to promote human and social integration of citizens through social and health services. Primary goal is to support each person in the exercise of his rights of citizenship and in the construction of paths to autonomy, respecting and valuing differences. To reach this goal the Cooperative works together with public and private agencies, and the entire community, in order to increase information and attention toward the need of integrating and rehabilitating persons in need or marginalized for any reason.

Our Values:
• Territoriality: It is our characteristic style and the foundation-aim. The local territory is considered one of the key stakeholders and players during the planning phase, as well as during the provision of services. This means to organize every program and project taking into account the resources and the needs of the territory. There are many links and relationships, which must be considered, valued and included in every activity.

• “Domiciliarity” (Home-care): It is a path that guides our social work, a way to give voice to any kind of minority. Wwe look for the autonomy of our beneficiaries and their families, they have the resources and we can reveal them if we gently enter their life stories We have ask for the permission of the beneficiary before working with and for him/her; taking into account his/her life-story; looking for the best solution and not for the easiest one; thinking that every activity has to promote participation and give value to familiar, individual and territorial resources.

• Work with the community: according to our experience the community quality life may improve only if the relationships between people create identity and are based on shared values. This means to improve relationships, and help to overcome particular interests to provide better services and develop human capital set to be at the service of others.

Our Services:
The Cooperative provides social-health care and education services, mostly but not only geared to respond to the needs of people with psycho-physical handicaps, elderly, children and youth. Our services are provided both through day-care structures (non-residential), and domiciliary assistance. They include:
• Home care services for rehabilitation and education.
• Day-care centres for rehabilitation and socialization.
• Training courses/paths in favour of persons in discomfort/hardship situations with appreciable professional skills.
• Training and counselling activities, networking and realization of promotional and social events for the whole community (in accordance with our mission and objectives).

We work mainly through agreements with the public sector and guarantee a constant collaboration and the co-design of social interventions.
Margherita Cooperativa in numbers

Currently, we are 60 working members among educators, health workers, social workers, sociologists, trainers, administrative and accounting staff supporting about 88 people with disabilities, 152 elders and 157 children who are suffering from social exclusion.

Our network includes:
• Local and regional authorities (including 12 municipalities)
• Health authorities (ULSS)
• Primary, secondary and high schools
• Local associations, theatres and enterprises
• CNCA (National Coordination of Care Communities)
• ALDA (the EU network of the Association of the Local Democracy Agencies)
• More than 15 European partners including: local authorities, universities, NGOs and associations
• Cooperatives and other local stakeholders
Our strengths:
• Long and direct experience in working with end-users
• Strong relationships in the territory and with local stakeholders in the fields of health care, education and social services as well as local public actors.
• Availability of a wide range of skilled professionals
• Strong participatory approach and the ability to listen stakeholders to give concrete answers to unattended needs
• Social innovation perspective
• Experience at the EU level as mobility projects coordinators (Erasmus +)
Margherita and Europe:
Since 2013, Margherita is a member of the European Association for Local Democracy and started to promote several EU projects and initiatives, which are presented in the next session of this document. Currently we are proposing ourselves as:
• Partners for EU projects in our work fields (health, disability, aging, education, social services)
• Pilot site, especially for projects concerning: people with disability, elderly affected by Alzheimer or similar cognitive problems, young and minors at risk of Early School Leaving
• Coordinators, sending/receiving organization for mobility projects