Good Practice - Project
Spain’s Somnia project shows the benefits from supporting rural childcare
Young female rural entrepreneurs use LEADER to help launch new commercial services, providing popular local childcare and education services.
General information
RDP Priority
- P6. Social inclusion and local development
RDP Focus Area
- 6B: Local development
RDP Measure
- M19: LEADER/CLLD
Beneficiary type
- Small-Micro Enterprise
Summary
Quality early education in rural areas can bridge gaps in child developmental opportunities. Quality childcare encourages higher participation rates in the workforce and EU funding can help rural families gain better access to local childcare facilities.
LEADER co-funding in Spain helped two young women start a popular educational healthcare service for children, adolescents and their families in rural areas. Funding helped cover the costs of improving disused premises and equipping them with new play, learning and therapeutic features that promote personal growth for children, young people and families.
Businesses aiming to drive rural entrepreneurs sought to provide rural children and families with better services than before. This applied the project staff’s combined qualifications in childcare, providing early childhood needs, primary education and health psychology
Success is demonstrated by the project through its efforts to help parents reconcile work and family, create jobs for people living in rural areas and tackle territorial depopulation.
Results
- More than 200 families in the rural area benefited from the EU-funded services without the need to travel to other municipalities.
- More than 45 professional partners have collaborated with Somnia to provide rural services.
- Parents in 13 municipalities benefited continuously, and in 23 municipalities on an ad hoc basis.
- In 2024, a new Somnia location was opened in Castelló de la Plana.
- Circularity results relate to the reuse and recycling of materials, as well as local purchasing, to circulate money within the local area.
Promoter
Somnia Multidisciplinar SLL
Funding
Total project cost: 59 574 (EUR)
RDP support: 5 278 (EUR)
Other: 54 296 (EUR)
Ressourcen
Context
Rural Europe often faces challenges due to limited access to local childcare services or employment opportunities that don’t align well with family needs. By strategically utilising EU funding, such as LEADER, local child support experts in rural areas can leverage Local Action Groups (LAGs) to enhance community support systems, thereby facilitating a more harmonious integration of work and family responsibilities.
In rural areas where resources may be limited, quality early education can bridge gaps in developmental opportunities. Quality childcare encourages higher participation rates in the workforce, and CAP co-funding can help rural families gain better access to local childcare facilities. This childcare helps create communities where parents feel empowered to pursue career opportunities and manage their professional obligations alongside family duties more effectively, thereby reducing stress and improving overall well-being.
Also, localised child support services (like early childhood teaching, special educational needs provision and childhood health psychology) play useful roles in fostering community development throughout rural areas. These services help the holistic development and social integration of children. Early childhood education lays the foundations for lifelong learning and equips children with essential skills that enhance their abilities and emotional aptitude.
Combining childhood health psychology and early education services can collectively catalyse positive transformations within rural European communities by fostering an environment conducive to growth and development.
LEADER funds in Spain were used to improve education and family services for rural communities in the Culla municipality. The project called Somnia was developed by two young female entrepreneurs qualified in early education and child psychology.
Objectives
The project promoter’s aims were driven by a passion to provide technical childcare services in their rural communities that had not been available when they were children. The aim was to provide rural children with better services than before to help create more of a childcare ‘level-playing field’ throughout the region. This would be achieved by applying the project staff’s combined qualifications in childcare, providing early childhood needs, primary education, and health psychology.
The project would create spaces for learning, play and personal growth for children, young people and families. It was designed to offer educational and support proposals based on well-being and creativity, adapted to the needs of each individual.
Specific objectives included helping parents reconcile work and family, creating jobs for people living in rural areas, and addressing the depopulation of the territory.
Activities
LEADER-funded actions involved:
- Developing disused premises to provide childcare features, equipment, quality standards and renewable energy power.
- Constructing all-abilities access and facilities as well as additional project space for play, group activities and administration.
The professional and business activities associated with this activity relied on gaining a comprehensive understanding of the local context, including demographic trends, economic conditions, and cultural values.
Market research assessed demand for childcare services by considering the number of families with young children, their specific needs regarding childcare options, and any existing facilities that may already cater to this demographic.
Another critical phase involved navigating regulatory requirements and securing necessary licenses. In Spain, childcare providers must comply with regional regulations, which may differ significantly from one region to another. It was essential to understand these regulations concerning health and safety standards, staff qualifications, and facility requirements.
Additionally, developing a sustainable business model was vital for long-term success. It required a detailed financial plan to be created that outlined start-up costs and projected revenues based on realistic enrolment figures.
Competitiveness was further enhanced by implementing effective marketing strategies tailored to facilitate outreach efforts and attract clients in local rural communities. A website was produced and social media platforms popular among parents were also used.
Main results
- More than 200 families in the rural area benefited from the EU-funded services without the need to travel to other municipalities.
- More than 45 professional partners have collaborated with Somnia to provide rural services.
- Parents in 13 municipalities benefited continuously, and in 23 municipalities on an ad hoc basis.
- In 2024, a new Somnia location was opened in Castelló de la Plana.
- The project helps families find services adapted to their own specific needs, as services are personalised.
- City councils of the municipalities have been able to identify activities and services tailored to the unique needs of each municipality, enabling these activities to be carried out effectively.
- Circularity results relate to reused and recycled materials, as well as local purchasing, to circulate money within the local area.
Key lessons
- Rural child health services can catalyse positive transformations within local communities by fostering an environment conducive to growth and development.
- EU rural development funding from the CAP serves as a valuable resource for addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by families in rural areas.
- By investing in childcare solutions and improving community connectivity, LEADER can foster a supportive environment that empowers local residents to achieve a sustainable balance between work demands and family life.
- In rural settings, where specialised resources may be scarce, local initiatives providing special education needs can foster inclusive environments that empower children with different needs.
- By providing appropriate interventions and support systems within a rural community, specialist childcare services not only improve individual outcomes but also cultivate a culture of acceptance and understanding among peers. This inclusivity enhances social cohesion and strengthens community bonds.
- Early childhood education lays the foundations that equip children with essential skills, abilities and intelligence.
Our goal is to help as many families as possible, which is why we travel to different municipalities that need our services, to bring them closer so that they do not have to travel to find them. It is also very important to give job opportunities to young people like us who want to live in our territory. It is very difficult for young people to find job opportunities in rural areas. For this reason, for us it is very important that people who are studying or who have finished their studies, and want to live in the rural area, work with us, because in this way, we are betting that the villages continue to grow and there are more and more families.
Paloma Bellés Segarra