Who We Help

NECI is a daycare centre for young children and adults with disabilities. ACCA has already installed a sensory room with special bed, music system, lighting and things to touch and experiment with. On a more individual level, NECI recently had a child with severe hearing problems whose parents could not afford the cost of the operation, let alone the cost of travel and accommodation so that they could be by their child’s side. ACCA were able to help.

This is a part-residential day care centre for children and young people with learning difficulties. Through this organization ACCA has helped individual children with specific problems, such as a young child with severe difficulties and partially blind. We funded an operation to improve his sight which was urgently needed.

This home for young children (4-18) , like many institutions which ACCA supports, is severely under-funded and has many mouths to feed, clothe, get to school etc every week. We have helped them in a number of ways, most recently contributing to a new playground and security gates.

This is a long-term home for girls who are unable to live at home. ACCA funded a brand new kitchen which meant that they were able to take in more children. We have an ongoing relationship with this institution and their children regularly take part in events, singing at our latest gala dinner.

ACCA set up a pantry in 2006, which allowed us to supply the bare essentials (such as nappies, baby food, clothes and so on) to families with children who receive no support from the government; all those things that the average family takes for granted but without which makes life pretty miserable for a lot of children and their families. The community centre also supports those with special needs, providing other essential items such as wheelchairs, eyeglasses etc.

Apexa exists to promote social inclusion for people with special needs. ACCA has supported a number of individuals over the past few years, such as a young boy who suffers from a rare form of epilepsy. We sent him and his family to France, the only country in Europe which has treatment for this condition, and funded their accommodation throughout their stay.

The Almancil Community Centre is a charitable organization that works in the heart of the community providing support to local families. Through ASCA we are able to reach over 600 families, many of whom are below the poverty line, helping them to improve the lives of their children. We are in the process of developing an individual health support programme for around 200 children.

This is a relationship that has been nurtured by one of our long term volunteers. Exisitir exists to provide day care for the handicapped. Our input has been as broad as paying bills and funding life-enhancing individual operations to buying a karaoke machine!

This is an organisation that supports, protects and educates young girls who, for various reasons, are unable to live at home. It is run by nuns and relies heavily on charitable donations, even food. ACCA has rebuilt an outdoor play area and other buildings and our volunteers regularly take groups of girls to the cinema and concerts, developing their social skills.

This is a well established institution which looks after people across all parts of the community including the disabled, the elderly, abandoned children and families living below the poverty line. We supplied equipment for the kindergarten in Olhão.

Our Angel Programme is in its eighth year now. Every December ACCA members and hundreds of supporters collect, label and distribute well over a thousand presents for kids who often don’t receive any. We even act as Father Christmas and join in their parties.

We have also provided funding for transport, accommodation, medical care and operations for two individual youngsters who needed tests, surgery and familial support to help guarantee a future with more promise.

We have received and distributed boxes of clothes, food, toys and other goods to residential institutions, private homes and others.

ACCA is increasingly working with children whose parents may or may not have worked, but now find themselves without employment, living in conditions which are well below the poverty line. Through the local community centres we are able to provide them with furniture and basic needs, including the provision of essential foods every month.

We are never short of requests for help and we have developed superb working relationships with local institutions and aid associations. Each request, however small, is individually assessed before a decision is made. And very tight financial control is maintained throughout the process. Everything has to be accounted for and we pride ourselves on our transparency.