The practice received First place in the Best Practice in Bulgarian Local Self-Governments 2016/2017, category III. Social innovation and partnerships

The practice is aimed at the elderly people from the small settlements in the municipality of Veliko Tarnovo and is based on complex methods of crime prevention and reduction of the risk of social exclusion.

Practice activities include:

- Constant contact between the elderly and the lonely people and the representatives of different institutions in the sphere of their competences;

- Developing "risk maps" that include specific issues that could create conditions for crimes against elderly people, and measures to prevent them (such as improving the street lighting, etc.) ;

- Elaborating cooperation plans between the police and the private security companies and attracting private security mobile groups to protect the elderly;

- Creation of information registers / records of elderly and elderly people without relatives, as well as those in risk health; Organizing visits to them by police inspectors, volunteers;

- Creation of registers of the property of lonely people; registers of houses / apartments, uninhabited for more than a year, for the purpose of monitoring and preventing theft;

- Building video surveillance systems;

- Creating volunteer groups that care for elderly people, with a quick response to phone calls, escorting when needed, product delivery, and more;

- Meetings at the retirement clubs with representatives of municipal administration, police and fire departments.

- Campaign, in which children voluntarily visit and care for elderly people;

- Free delivery of firewood, clothing and food for the elderly with the support of local businesses;

- Emergency telephone line between municipal / emergency centres;

- Regular meetings of the Municipal Committee on Public Order and Security, which monitors the implementation of activities by all partners.

The main partners in the implementation of the practice are the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo, the Police Department of Veliko Tarnovo, the Association of Mayors "Yantra 2001", the Charity Association "St. Ivan Rilski".

Other important partners are: Regional Fire Safety and Population Protection Directorate; Local volunteer groups, local public councils; Children and youth from the 19 centres for work with children and young people on the territory of the municipality; Adult schools in 8 small settlements; Retirement clubs; Media; Private security companies; Representatives of the private business.

The broad and fruitful partnership between the main institutions, civil society, the non-governmental sector, the private sector and the volunteers, based on transparency and accountability, respecting human rights and dignity, leads to a more secure environment and an increased sense of security among the elderly, also to increased public confidence in the responsible institutions. More 250 elderly or living alone people are cared for. The level of crimes against the elderly in the municipality is decreasing and the detection of these crimes is increasing.

The practice is innovative because it affects different aspects of the care for the elderly, especially in the small settlements in Bulgaria. Good communication and coordination between the large number of partners, the clear assignment of tasks and the responsibility for their implementation ensure the good results. The practice is sustainable and is financially supported by the budget of the municipality and other institutions, organizations and private businesses.