GRATO – Support Group for Drug Addicts, based in Portimão, since 1995,
made on April 26, 25 years, and in a press release his direction thanks the
sponsorships it has received because only in this way has it been possible to help, not only
users, as well as a fringe of the increasingly vulnerable population.
When GRATO started its activity it was mainly with the intention of
refer drug addicts to treatment centers that recommended the Program
Minesota or the “12 Steps” as it is best known. Having checked that a part
was also homeless, in 2001 began the
task of distributing in a systematized form, at the time for about 10 to 15 people per
day, cooked meals, and in 2003 began to receive food from the school park
of the municipality. With the pandemic situation and the declaration of the State of Emergency that
led to the closure of schools, GRATO returned to prepare in its facilities the
meals that it then distributes, currently, for about 60 to 70 people per day.
“People are not homeless because they want to,” says Joaquim Magalhães, president of GRATO, “there is
many other reasons to be homeless. In this group of people we find those
who suffer from domestic violence and all kinds of abuse, others who have their own
work and their salary, but do not earn enough to bear the costs of the income of
home, gas and light, and, still others suffering from mental illnesses, the latter
increasingly helpless because mental health remains the poor relative in
health area. It joins this scenario – already problematic – the use of drugs and
alcohol».
Joaquim Magalhães, President of GRATO, reiterates: “over the 25 years that
we develop our activity in Portimão – despite serving people at all
the Algarve and the country – we owe a lot to all those who help us to help those who
accurate.
It is at a time of crisis and major difficulties – such as this one – that the
true character of humanity stands out in our fellow citizens and also for this reason
we want to thank, not only, our employees who do a job
invaluable, but also, to local entrepreneurs who over 25 years have
helped us, and we want to publicly thank the benefactors: Aurora Santos; Adelino
Aderneira; Pedro Costa; Lina Cardoso; Fernando Gião; Fátima Cachão; Fernando
Guimarães; Paula Zalubnik; Artur Fonseca; Joaquim Matias; and to companies and
organizations: IEFP; Social Security; Portimão City Hall; Board of
Parish Council of Portimão; Food Bank; the Schools of the Municipality; the Dar and
SUPPORT GROUP FOR DRUG ADDICTS – Av. Guanaré (Pavilhão) / 8500 – 507 Portimão
Tel./Fax: 282 419 306 Tlm. 969753177 / NIPC: 503441767
Acordar – Zero Desperdício”; Mundo do Café”; “Delícias de Portimão”; “Mel & Canela”;
Ild Song Portugal; associação “Covid Marafade”; “Agulhas
Marafadas”; “Os Moinhos”; Restaurante “JJ25”; Restaurante “A Tocha”;
“Signos”; Refrisete; Churrasqueira “Guerreiro”; Churrasqueira “A Cozinha”;
Churrasqueira das Cardosas; Restaurante “O Chefe Silvestre”; Panificadora
“Portimonense”; supermercado Elimar; Casa Matias; AMarca – Marketing e Design; A
CASA WOW – Imobiliária; Clinica dos Tinteiros; Atelier de Costura “Despontar
Encantos”; “Mini-Mercado da Pedra Mourinha”; supermercdo “O Rossio”; supermercado
“Intermarché”; supermercado “Continente”; supermercado “Jumbo”; “Pernod Ricard
Portugal”; Pastelaria Algarve; Hotel Júpiter; Hotel Algarve; Portitours; “The Goodwill
Charity”; restaurante “Ikon”; Mercearia Bio; Gráfica Central Algarvia; pizzaria “La
Gioconda”; pizzaria “La Dolce Vita”; “Casa das Pizzas”; “Eurodocepão”; “Delicias de
Portimão”; “O Pão da Manuela”; “Dança Mais”; Copitrês; BitShop; “Academia dos
Marinheiros”, de Albufeira; “My Dinamic – Insufláveis”; “Loja dos caracóis”; “Talho
Paulo Zé”; “Talho Avenida”; “Talho Alves e Águas”; fado singers Mário Jorge Neves, Rita
Luz, Generosa Cerdeira, Conceição Fernandes, Fátima Martins, Ondina Santos and
acordeonista Fernanda Gonçalves; musical group “Amigos dos Montes”; Rádio Costa
D´oiro; Rádio Alvor FM; Rádio Solar FM e Cultugarve.
This direction only took place in March 2019 and these were received over 25 years
and we hope not to have forgotten anyone, but to all our THANKS, for without
each of you would not be able to help the large number of people who every day ask us for help
“concludes Joaquim Magalhães, recalling that the end of this year and the
early 2021 are very difficult for all of us, and in that sense “the Patronage Act
allows support for IPSS to have an interesting counterpart for companies because
entrepreneurs may see their deductible support/donation in 140% of IRC – The message is
Always the same, help us help.”
Brief History of the Institution
GRATO – Drug Addiction Support Group is a Private Institution of
Social Solidarity founded on April 26, 1995. At the time of its foundation its main objective was to provide community services in the area of drug addiction.
It was created by a group of 9 people sensitized to the problem of addiction.
Focused on the recovery of addicts in use, trying to keep in recovery the addicts that returned from the therapeutic and rehabilitation centers, GRATO organized a Direct Intervention Team, formed by a Psychologist, a Counsellor in chemical dependency, a Social Action Technique, a Socio-cultural Animator, a Sociologist, a Monitor, an Administrative and a Manager.
SUPPORT GROUP FOR DRUG ADDICTS – Av. Guanaré (Pavilhão) / 8500 – 507 Portimão
Tel./Fax: 282 419 306 Tlm. 969753177 / NIPC: 503441767
Through a motivation assessment of the users, carried out by this
Direct Intervention, GRATO refers users to treatment centers and inserts them into therapeutic activities. To this end, a Social Reinsertion Apartment with capacity for 5 addicts in recovery without family support and homeless.
Currently, the services of GRATO are more extensive. Supports people who are directly or indirectly related to the problem of addiction to psychoactive substances, and/or others, and provides services to the disadvantaged and socially excluded community.
It supports addicts and their families by providing prevention, reception, treatment, follow-up, pre-professionalization of users and their social reintegration, leisure and awareness of the whole problem.
Over time, as a result of the increasing demands of the population for social responses, the institution has acted in all areas related to social inclusion.
It provides support and assistance services to the socially and at-risk population and disadvantaged communities.
GRATO is an open door for all those who need personal, social and professional help.
maintaining its mission, vision and values, later, not only for the recognition of the work carried out, allied to the local authority and social security, but also for the extension of the scope of the work of GRATUITOUS to the socially disadvantaged population, protocols and partnerships have been established, giving rise to diferente Social Responses.
Thus, GRATO has developed over the years several Projects and Social Responses of which stand out:
EID – Direct Intervention Team
Cafeteria “Sol e Música” – with IEFP support for job creation
ARS – Apartment for Social Reintegration
UNIVA – Insertion in Active Life Unit
ORF – Infant Philharmonic Orchestra of GRATO
SUPPORT GROUP FOR DRUG ADDICTS – Av. Guanaré (Pavilhão) / 8500 – 507 Portimão
Tel./Fax: 282 419 306 Tlm. 969753177 / NIPC: 503441767
Social Income Inclusion Protocol Team
CLDS – Local Social Development Contract
MEIP – Integrated Education and Training Programme
RENASCER – Project to Fight Poverty
Socio-professional Training Courses
Nursery “Garden of the Sun”
Foster Home for Homeless Women
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Mission, Vision, Values
Member of the Local Council of Social Action of the Municipality of Portimão, GRATO believes in the eradication of poverty in Portugal, and in the social inclusion of the Portimonense community in particular.
We focus on the development of active social policies, based on the empowerment and mobilization of the whole of society, and of each individual, in the construction of an equitable society.
In our work we defend respect for the individual and consideration for their own specific values, origins and traditions. We work in individualized interventions, with personalized responses directed to each individual or family. We are available to assist in any requested situation, and we share information transparently with the elements involved in the process. We are guided by rigour and professionalism and seek the articulation between the various resources supporting social exclusion, facilitating dialogue and interinstitutional cooperation.
We promote inclusion and strive to ensure that all initiatives are targeted at everyone, regardless of their differences and inequalities.