2024 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

18th Edition

Phase 6 of 7

Publication Preparation 08/09/2024 - 15/10/2024

Process phases

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Massamá e Monte Abraão: Rede Freguês (Freguês Network)

Official proposal

17/05/2024 16:12

Centred on a policy of proximity, the ‘Rede Freguês’ project was born in 2014 with the intention of giving signs of encouragement and stimulus to all those who have chosen the Parish of Massamá and Monte Abraão to develop their business. This was a pioneering project, with the União das Freguesias de Massamá e Monte Abraão being the first parish council to have a project of this nature in the whole of Sintra.

The project's primary objective is to implement a consumption habit in the parish's local commerce, in order to help keep commercial units open and safeguard as many jobs as possible.

As a second objective, but no less important, we work to help people and families when it comes to consuming basic necessities.

The discounts offered by shopkeepers aren't the only means of help, as we run annual competitions within the ‘Rede Freguês’, some aimed solely at shopkeepers and others at customers.

Since its inception, various events/contests have been associated with this project, including: Shop in the Parish, Christmas Shop Windows, Christmas Trees, Giveaway - Valentine's Day, Best Carnival costume and Peddy Paper.

In 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ‘Rede Freguês’ created the PAEL (Local Economy Support Programme) with an allocation of €5,000. The programme consisted of awarding €50 shopping vouchers for citizens to use in establishments belonging to the ‘Rede Freguês’, supporting citizens financially in their purchases and stimulating consumption in our local commerce, in order to help keep commercial units open and maintain jobs.

In 2023, the families supported by the municipality's social services received vouchers worth €13,360, which were then spent in the ‘Rede Freguês’ food shops.

In short, this project has the great ambition of promoting local commerce in this global age, but also of contributing to the active participation of citizens in events of various kinds.