This week, the diocesan Caritas agency of Madrid is unveiling a programme of summer camps and centres for local children, its schedule ending on August 14th. Overall – according to a release issued by the organisation – over 1,100 children will be going. More specifically, 16 urban summer camps will be held in the neighbourhoods of Hortaleza, San Blas, Ciudad Lineal, Salamanca, Moratalaz, Vallecas, Usera, Villaverde, Latina, Argüelles, Tetuán and Cañada in Madrid, as well as in Galapagar; plus 11 residential camps in Cercedilla, Albacete, Pontevedra, Murcia, Burgos, León and Cuenca. Such programmes “support, free of charge, those vulnerable families that do not have enough financial resources to let their children enjoy free time and opportunities for relaxation and socialisation in safe places during the summer holidays”, the text points out. It is an initiative that “helps provide equal opportunities since childhood, so that the socioeconomic status of the families will not affect the children’s access to enriching educational and recreational experiences”, the release goes on. The children’s turnout for Caritas Madrid’s summer programme has been remarkable, with the number of available places increased by 40% in the last two years to meet the families’ growing demand.