The Bank of Spain, in partnership with the Social Welfare Area of La Laguna City Council, Muvisa, and the Economic and Social Forum (FES), has selected this municipality in Tenerife to celebrate Financial Education Day within the region. The event features a specially crafted programme of activities aimed at the elderly residents. This Thursday, the Hermano Ramón Plaza in the World Heritage City will serve as the venue for a training session where seniors will acquire essential knowledge to prevent digital financial scams and identify counterfeit notes, alongside receiving guidance on enhancing their personal and family finances.
This initiative, which quickly reached full capacity, will be further supported later this month with a pilot project entitled “Your Economy, Your Peace of Mind.” This initiative, issued by the Social Welfare Area through Muvisa’s Dynamisation and Healthy Ageing service, also collaborates with the Bank of Spain. It marks the first stage in creating an innovative annual training programme aimed at assisting older individuals in recognising and safeguarding against fraud and counterfeiting while also learning how to effectively utilise digital resources.
The mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, disclosed this information today, providing a detailed overview of these initiatives alongside Antonio Cruz-Conde Suárez de Tangil, director of the Bank of Spain branch in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and María Cruz, the councilwoman for Social Welfare and Quality of Life.
“These initiatives are part of a comprehensive programme designed to tackle the challenges associated with an ageing population, combat unwanted loneliness, and promote healthy ageing policies in La Laguna. They are also aimed at increasing the participation of older citizens in public life. This commitment has garnered the municipality a designation as an Elderly Friendly City from Imserso, further evidenced by one of the most extensive and progressive programmes for revitalisation and recreational activities at the municipal level in the Canary Islands,” said the mayor.
María Cruz reminded attendees that La Laguna, which boasts nearly 43,000 residents aged over 60, holds more than 90 workshops weekly across the 38 senior associations within the municipality. This also includes activities accessible to the entire elder community, integrating innovative initiatives that encompass physical activity, mental health improvement, digitalisation, cultural advancement, and cognitive development.
In addition to these activities, the programme established to mark Financial Education Day will culminate in a significant event this Thursday (October 10), starting at 4:30 p.m. in Hermano Ramón square, featuring interactive workshops and discussions for approximately one hundred seniors from La Laguna.
All available spots were filled rapidly, reflecting a strong interest in an activity that aims, among other objectives, “to provide pertinent information and guidance to individuals over 60 so that they can manage their personal and family finances more effectively, plan their retirement smartly, and achieve sound financial health. This means equipping them with the knowledge to manage their expenses in relation to their income level, all within an increasingly digital landscape; bridging the informational gap with financial intermediaries, avoiding excessive indebtedness, or enabling informed transactions of financial products,” explained Antonio Cruz-Conde Suárez de Tangil.
This initiative will be supplemented on October 24, with a visit to the Bank of Spain by a group of 25 residents aged over 60, representing the various associations and the Council of Seniors in La Laguna. This pilot event will pave the way for a more extensive training and support initiative set to launch in 2025, specifically tailored for this demographic in the municipality.
A National Initiative
Financial Education Day is an initiative stemming from the Financial Education Plan, championed by the National Securities Market Commission, the Bank of Spain, and the Ministry of Economy, Commerce, and Business, in collaboration with diverse institutions and organisations.
This event, which is celebrated starting on the first Monday in October and marks its tenth anniversary in 2024, encompasses activities nationwide and caters to all audiences, this year operating under the theme “Digital Finance: Learn, Innovate, Advance.”
