The eastern Algarve municipality of Alcoutim started its baby-friendly policy in 2014, hoping to encourage mums to move to the area and for family-minded locals not to leave.
The support payment scheme started slowly, with only five births qualifying for support in the first year, but the Council says that now it’s four years into the open-ended programme, this is the measure that now contributes the most to the increasing birth rate in the county.
Alcoutim Council recently, "approved two more applications to the Incentive Programme for Birth and Family Support, increasing to ten the number of support grants awarded this year."
The Council says it intends to, "reduce social inequalities and promote social inclusion, by reducing the economic difficulties experienced by some households in the county."
The programme supports mothers and couples by offering a maximum €5,000, to cover baby costs, payable over the first three years of the infant’s life.
The Council reimburses mothers for eligible expenses such as nappies, medical costs and baby food, as well as childcare expenses.
Shopping for these items must be done locally, so as to support local retailers and the mother obviously must be living in the Alcoutim area.
