On December 12, 2015, in the city of Troyan, a closing annual meeting of the representations of National Alliance for Social Responsibility (NASO) was held. The meeting was opened by Mr. Georgi Georgiev, President of NASO, made an assessment of the implementation of the adopted strategic goals and objectives of NASO through the program of events realized in 2015, and pointed out that in 2016 the way to support the members and structures of NASO would remain at a local level, through regional and local forums, workshops, seminars and trainings. Therefore, a draft annual program of NASO for 2016 was presented, composed mainly of proposals of the individual representative offices by regions, whereby the subjects, events and formats of work are in correspondence with the specifics of the individual needs in the social service sector. Mr. Georgiev pointed out that three national conferences were planned to be held in the following 2016, i.e. in Sofia on March 10 and 11, in Veliko Tarnovo on April 14 and 15 and in Varna on June 8 to 10. It was also stated that the program would remain open and would be supplemented by additional activities, trainings and projects according to the needs. During the discussions, particular attention was paid to the serious legislation work due in 2016 in connection to the preparation of the Law on Social Services and the Law on Social Economy. It was decided that NASO’s representations and members would actively participate with opinions, suggestions and recommendations regarding the different regulations. The representations of NASO praised the draft annual program and shared local specifics of the social sector in the individual municipalities. Various topics of individual events by regions covering the quality of the social services, good practices in the provision and management of services, work with specific target groups, providing opportunities for employment and development of social entrepreneurship and other matters were also discussed. A recommendation for holding more National Advisory Center meetings of NASO and the Agency for Social Assistance (ASA) not only in Sofia, but in different regions, was given as well, the effectiveness and utility of which were assessed as very fruitful in 2015.
In conclusion, the mechanisms of work and coordination between the team of NASO and the individual representations were discussed and specific deadlines for detailed planning and preparation of events of the annual program for 2016 were agreed on. The updates will be introduced to you in the upcoming issues of the weekly bulletin of NASO as well as in the Calendar section at www.naso.bg.