The Social Welfare Program is part of the broader policy of the Cyprus Red Cross Society. It aims to prevent and alleviate human suffering, to deal with emergencies in times of peace or war, without discrimination of gender, age, social status, religion or political affiliation.
Moreover, an additional effort is exerted in order to ensure a dignified living and social reintegration of vulnerable people, who see support from the Nicosia Branch.
Days and hours of operation:
Monday and Wednesday: 9:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Target: All vulnerable groups of the population that live within the confines of the City of Nicosia and around the Greater Nicosia region.
Who is eligible?
The categories that are eligible to be included in this programme are Citizens of the Republic of Cyprus; European Citizens, Asylum Seekers, Refugees and vulnerable Immigrants.
The inclusion criteria are the following:
1. Persons with Cypriot Citizenship;
2. Families whose income is lower than the amount set by the Minimum Guaranteed Income (M.G.I.), recognised as quintessential for their living/survival;
3. Recipients of the M.G.I, who face physical and/or mental health problems and whose medication is not covered by General Health System (GeHS);
4. People with disabilities whose income does not exceed the amount of € 700;
5. Retirees whose monthly pension does not exceed the amount of € 700;
6. Single parent families whose income does not exceed the monthly income set by the M.G.I.;
7. Families with many children whose income does not exceed the monthly income set by the M.G.I., for such families.
European citizens:
1. European citizens and their families) whose monthly income is lower than the amount set by the M.G.I., recognised as quintessential for their living/survival;
2. Recipients of the M.G.I. who face physical and / or mental health problems and whose medication is not covered by GeHS;
3. People with disabilities whose income does not exceed the amount of € 700;
4. Retirees whose monthly pension does not exceed the amount of € 700;
5. Single parent families whose income that does not exceed the monthly income set by the M.G.I., and;
6. Families with many children whose income does not exceed the monthly income set by the M.G.I.
Third Country Nationals:
Translation from Matheos
Foreigners with a working visa and are in the process of finding a job;
Asylum Seekers who are unemployed and do not receive any state benefits, and;
Persons who are recognised as being under the international protection status or are recognized as refugees who are unemployed and do not receive any state or the M.G.I.
Vulnerable immigrants
Provision of Social Support:
After visiting the offices of the Nicosia Branch, the potential beneficiaries undergo an initial evaluation whereby their personal data are recorded in the Nicosia Branch registry by a Social Worker. They are then provided with the necessary social and psychological support, and as a final stage, the corresponding humanitarian aid.
Specifically, the procedure is as follows:
Through personal interview an initial evaluation and a detailed social background history is recorded. The Social Worker assesses and records the needs and the difficulties of the potential beneficiary.
Thereafter, there are two options:
In the first case, conversing with the potential beneficiary continues; if and when it is judged that the potential beneficiary does not need therapeutic intervention, the Social Worker provides the appropriate social support. In the course of the interview any potential ‘strong’ points (attributes) of the beneficiary are identified and an intervention plan would be designed, based on the capabilities of the individual.
In addition the Social Worker informs the potential beneficiary about his/her rights/obligations, while, at the same time advising and guiding him/her on issues that may be of concern to him/her, both personally and at the family level. Moreover, the Social Worker informs him/her about the services (governmental and non-governmental) that he/she can apply to, in order to receive appropriate assistance; Whenever it is deemed necessary, the Social Worker intervenes, by acting as a link between the potential beneficiary and the Services, in order to overcome any difficulties particularly in communication.
In the second case, if it is judged that the potential beneficiary is in need of psychological support, then he/she is referred to a professional psychologist, through the programme of Psychosocial Support, run by the Psychosocial Support Services at the CRCS-Headquarters. The psychologist, having been informed on the results of the social evaluation, by the Social Worker, proceeds to a psycho-emotional evaluation. Thereafter, the psychologist designs and implements a ‘tailored made’ therapeutic scheme, suitable to address to the needs of the specific person.
Humanitarian aid is provided to all those served at the end of the process. Assistance includes dry food, used furniture, household utensils and used adult clothing, as appropriate. For the newborns and the elderly, the humanitarian aid includes in addition to the above diapers, fruit creams, baby milk, etc.
Additional Services Provided:
Home visits:
Home visits are conducted by staff members and/or trained volunteers of the Branch, focusing on the evaluation, empowerment and monitoring of those served within their own homely environment.
