The propose of La Fageda is to take mentally ill people out of psychiatric hospitals, to offer them a real job –in an enterprise- and through this help to restore their self-

esteem…

After almost 30 years, 95% of mentally ill people in Spain remain jobless, although in our region la Garrotxa (with the population of 55.000 inhabitants) all such patients have a job, now.

Hundreds of enterprises, organizations, members of the public and visitors have asked us how we have managed to not only be successful in our business...

...but also how we have at the same time developed this project of inclusivity. So we have written down our model.

Only a real job can give people real satisfaction: a decent salary and decent

work conditions.

The organisation reinvests its profit in the company and in its workforce

It is very important to build strong alliances between the social enterprise and other stake holders

It is essential that there is a leader who is not only good at business but who also brings a social awareness to the organisation.

A collective knowledge of the social exclusion problem is required

We have to have our roots firmly planted in our region

The site and its facilities have to be a pleasant working environment

Our values encompass: That the individual is the axis, That he or she must have integrity, That he or she must be confident, That he or she must be responsibleThat he or she must be enthusiasticThat he or she must work hard

Our beliefs:

•Everyone has ability.

•Everyone can be matched to the correct job.

•That the success of the company is important for all those involved in the project.

•We are looking to the long-term success of the project.

(Our beliefs)

•We want to be transparent

•That the work has a purpose

•It is important that we can compete and be part of the open market

•That we have to do things well

•We want to share our experience

•And we are conscientious that our model is not easy to adopt