The Active Participation Centre of Écija opens from 17:30 to 20:30 following the signing of an agreement between the Junta de Andalucía and the Town Hall. This measure responds to a historic demand from the 3,883 users of the centre.
The Active Participation Centre (CPA) of Écija has initiated the extension of its evening hours, allowing the facilities to open from 17:30 to 20:30. This change is the result of a collaboration agreement signed between the Junta de Andalucía and the Town Hall of Écija, with an initial duration of four years, renewable.
The initiative aims to address a constant demand from the centre's users, which has 3,883 members. The usual hours of the CPA, except in July and August, are from 9:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00 from Monday to Friday, as well as Saturdays from 9:00 to 14:00. The extension will allow older adults to have a space for leisure and socialisation during the afternoons, with activities such as dominoes, billiards, or chess.
During the signing of the agreement, the delegate for Social Inclusion, Equality and Family of the Town Hall of Écija, Esther Ostos, highlighted the effort made to materialise this demand. “It was a constant request from our users. With this agreement, the Town Hall provides the necessary personnel for maintenance, opening, and closing, ensuring that the centre is a safe and welcoming place throughout the year,” she stated.
For her part, the territorial delegate for Social Inclusion, Youth, Families, and Equality in Seville, Mª Luisa Cava, described the measure as “good news” and reminded that the centre has also renewed its cafeteria service and has a hairdressing service. Additionally, she announced that the renewal of the air conditioning systems will soon be tendered to improve user comfort.
The mayor of Écija, Silvia Heredia, valued the cooperation between administrations: “This is the best example of what can be achieved when institutions work hand in hand effectively.” She thanked Mª Luisa Cava for her commitment and the work of the centre's director, Diego Afán, “whose work is fundamental for our seniors' home to remain a benchmark of quality and care in our city.”
The CPA of Écija offers various services, including legal advice, podiatry (with 1,000 annual services), hairdressing, and a cafeteria, where between 40 and 50 special-priced meals are served daily for users. Additionally, it has 1,228 annual hours of workshops contracted for 2026, a 26% increase from the previous year, which include ballroom dancing, regional dances, castanets, joint mobility, pilates, yoga, tai chi-chikung, crafts, gymnastics, and zumba.
In collaboration with social entities and volunteers, other workshops are developed, such as self-knowledge and personal development, maintenance gymnastics, computer science, social networks, reading, videoconferencing, or memory recall image workshops. Throughout the year, the centre organises outdoor activities such as cultural visits, hiking, fair celebrations, Cruz de Mayo, or Carnival, and collaborates with the San Agustín school and the Town Hall in an intergenerational activity on the environment.
The extended hours will also allow the CPA to function as a climate refuge during the summer months, offering a cool and safe space against high temperatures. Users will be able to enjoy the facilities in the evening, which contributes to promoting active ageing and socialisation.
The agreement between the Junta de Andalucía and the Town Hall of Écija represents a step forward in improving the quality of life for the elderly in the locality, reinforcing the commitment of both administrations to maintain an agile, effective service focused on the real needs of users.
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