Marbella upgrades Las Chapas senior centre with improved facilities and more space

The Las Chapas Active Participation Centre has completed a major reorganisation of its facilities, aimed at improving daily use for senior residents while also creating better space for Social Services.

The work has now been completed following an investment of more than €50,000 and responds to several requests raised by users and the centre’s management board.

The result is a more spacious, accessible and functional facility in one of Marbella’s most active residential districts.

More space for the Active Participation Centre

One of the main improvements has been the reorganisation of the interior.

The relocation of Social Services to another part of the district has freed up additional space within the senior centre.

That area has now been incorporated into the cafeteria, expanding one of the most frequently used parts of the building.

The project is intended to adapt the centre to an increasing level of activity and regular attendance.

Social Services also gains new facilities

The work has not only benefited the senior centre.

The opening of a new health centre left space available in the former medical consultation area within the Las Chapas district headquarters.

Marbella Town Hall has used those premises to relocate services from the Social Rights Department.

The move provides larger facilities and is intended to improve both accessibility and the quality of service offered to residents.

An investment of more than €50,000

The reorganisation and improvement of the facilities required a municipal investment of more than €50,000.

The work has allowed the Town Hall to redistribute existing areas and make better use of spaces that previously had different functions.

The project responds to demand for more comfortable and practical facilities in a centre that is used throughout the year.

Around 600 members use the centre

The Las Chapas Active Participation Centre currently has around 600 members.

The figure highlights the importance of the facility within the social life of the district.

The centre acts as a meeting point for older residents and offers activities throughout the year related to exercise, learning, leisure and social interaction.

The additional space will make it easier to serve this number of users.

Around 200 people have already signed up for workshops

The new season’s programme has also attracted considerable interest.

Around 200 people have already pre-registered for municipal workshops taking place at the centre.

A total of 13 different activities are planned.

They focus on physical and mental wellbeing, culture, learning and developing new skills.

Yoga, tai chi, zumba and memory workshops

The programme includes a wide variety of activities.

Among those planned are tai chi, yoga, zumba, sevillanas and dance.

There will also be memory workshops and activities linked to digital skills, helping older users become more confident with new technologies.

The aim is to combine exercise, learning and social interaction within the same programme.

Activities beyond the regular workshops

The centre also maintains other initiatives that already form part of its regular schedule.

These include dance events, trips and social gatherings.

These activities have an important social role, encouraging interaction between users and helping older residents maintain an active lifestyle.

Marbella Town Hall considers that these facilities provide much more than leisure activities alone.

Improvements requested by users

The renovation responds directly to requests made by users and the centre’s management board.

The president of the Active Participation Centre, Pedro Mesa, had highlighted the need to expand certain areas to better accommodate the level of activity.

The new layout now provides spaces that are more suitable for daily use.

The Town Hall has also highlighted the involvement of the management board in promoting activities.

A centre with year-round activity

High participation means the Las Chapas centre remains busy throughout much of the year.

Workshops are combined with gatherings, celebrations and other activities aimed at encouraging independence and social participation among older residents.

The new configuration will allow these initiatives to take place in improved conditions.

The enlarged cafeteria will also strengthen one of the main social areas within the centre.

Further expansion is being considered

The recently completed work may not be the final improvement.

Marbella Town Hall has said it is working on a new project to further increase the space available at the Las Chapas Active Participation Centre.

The reason is the high number of users and the volume of activities organised throughout the year.

The intention is to continue adapting the facilities as demand grows.

An important social space in Las Chapas

Active participation centres play an important role in the daily lives of many older people.

Beyond providing activities, they act as social spaces and can help reduce isolation.

In Las Chapas, the nearly 600 members make the centre one of the district’s main community meeting points.

The improvements are intended to reinforce precisely that role.

More comfortable facilities for users and municipal services

The reorganisation has two main benefits.

On one hand, users of the senior centre now have more space and an enlarged cafeteria.

On the other, Social Services professionals can work in larger, more accessible premises better suited to public attention.

The project therefore improves two municipal services through a more efficient distribution of available space.

Las Chapas strengthens services for older residents

With this project, Marbella continues to improve municipal facilities aimed at older residents.

The combination of upgraded spaces and a broad programme of activities is intended to encourage active ageing and social participation.

Las Chapas now begins the new season with 13 workshops, around 600 members and approximately 200 users already pre-registered.

The improvements will allow that activity to take place in facilities that are more spacious and better adapted to the current needs of the district.