Cerci Braga

What Cerci Braga does

CERCI Braga – Cooperativa de Educação e Reabilitação de Cidadãos Inadaptados, CRL is a Portuguese non-profit cooperative founded in 2011 and headquartered in Braga, Portugal. It operates as a Private Institution of Social Solidarity (IPSS-equivalent) delivering four interconnected social responses for people with intellectual and multiple disabilities and their families: CACI (Centro de Atividades e Capacitação para a Inclusão) provides day programming for 30 beneficiaries aged 10+; RAI (Residência de Autonomização e Inclusão) operates two apartment-style residences serving 5 young adults; CRI (Centro de Recursos para a Inclusão) is accredited by the Ministry of Education to support inclusive education for students aged 6-18; and CAARPD provides psychosocial support, rehabilitation, and family services.

The organization supplements its direct services with project-based initiatives including the EU-funded "Inclusão Ativa" training programme (PESSOAS-2025) covering 33 actions across six pathways, the "Sorrir em Férias" holiday camps, the Play INclusive sustainable bag line produced with Fujitsu Portugal, and a solidarity social store (loja.cercibraga.pt) selling handmade artisan products such as the Pirilampo Mágico children's book series, Senhora do Leite ceramic pieces, Farricoco Easter crafts, Kokedama plants, and traditional Jogo Braguês board games. Products are created by clients and technical teams, embedding vocational training into the commercial channel.

Revenue is generated through a mixed model combining Portuguese government IPSS contracts, EU project grants (Portugal 2030 / PESSOAS-2025), individual and corporate donations under the Mecenato tax regime (EBF), IRS tax consignment (1% of Portuguese income tax, NIF 509680852), and social store sales. The cooperative is governed by a General Assembly, Board of Directors (chaired by Vera Lúcia Araújo Vaz for the 2023-2026 term), and Fiscal Council, and operates with 1-10 staff across four physical locations in Braga. The "Sonhos a Metro" project, launched to address documented unmet demand from dozens of families, signals ongoing capacity expansion.

Name

Cerci Braga

Legal name

CERCI Braga – Cooperativa de Educação e Reabilitação de Cidadãos Inadaptados, CRL

Website

https://cercibraga.pt

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CERCI Braga is a Portuguese non-profit cooperative (IPSS) founded in 2011 in Braga that delivers four interconnected social response services — day programming, residential housing, inclusive education support, and psychosocial rehabilitation — for people with intellectual and multiple disabilities and their families across the Braga municipality.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Braga

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Store Products: The organization operates an online store selling artisanal products (books, ceramics, textiles, traditional games) created by clients and technical teams. Revenue from sales supports social and educational projects of the institution. Products include Senhora do Leite ceramic pieces, books, Farricoco Easter items, Kokedama plants, and various personalized items.
2. Donations and Mecenato: Monetary donations from individuals and companies under Portuguese tax law (EBF - Estatuto dos Benefícios Fiscais) without direct counterparts. Accepts donations via IBAN bank transfers (Montepio, BPI) and MBWAY.
3. IRS Tax Consignment (1%): Portuguese taxpayers can designate 1% of their IRS (income tax) to CERCI Braga at no additional cost. Taxpayers simply indicate the organization's NIF (509680852) in their tax return. This represents a government-facilitated funding mechanism for public benefit organizations.
4. Social Services Funding: CERCI Braga operates as an IPSS (Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social - Private Social Solidarity Institution) receiving public funding and recognition for its social response services including CACI, RAI, CRI, and CAARPD.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CERCI Braga is a Portuguese non-profit cooperative providing social inclusion, rehabilitation, education, and residential support services for children, youth, and adults with intellectual and multiple disabilities in the Braga region. It operates four accredited social responses (CACI day activities, RAI residential autonomy, CRI inclusive education, CAARPD psychosocial rehabilitation), holiday camps, EU-funded inclusion projects, and an online solidarity store selling artisanal products created by its beneficiaries.

Product overview

CERCI Braga is a social services cooperative (Cooperativa de Educação e Reabilitação para Cidadãos mais Incluídos) that offers a portfolio of social inclusion services and artisanal products. The core social services include: CACI (Centro de Atividades e Capacitação para a Inclusão) - day activity and training center for 30 people with disabilities; RAI (Residência de Autonomização e Inclusão) - residential housing for 5 young adults; CRI (Centro de Recursos para a Inclusão) - educational resource center accredited by the Ministry of Education; and CAARPD (Centro de Atendimento, Acompanhamento e Reabilitação Social) - rehabilitation and social support service. The organization also produces and sells artisanal products including books (Pirilampo Mágico series, A Loja dos Brinquedos), Easter crafts (Farricoco), Senhora do Leite dolls, decorative items (Kokedama, Quadros), and traditional games (Jogo Braguês, Play INclusive board games). Product sales fund social and educational projects through a solidarity-based online store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CACI - Centro de Atividades e Capacitação para a Inclusão Social response providing day activities, capacity-building and occupational programming for people with intellectual and multiple disabilities aged 10 and older, with capacity for 30 clients at the Navarra, Braga facility. Focused on quality of life, autonomy, well-being and community access.
• RAI - Residência de Autonomização e Inclusão Temporary or permanent supported housing in apartment-style residences (Casa de S. Vicente and Casa de Infias in São Vicente, Braga) for 5 young adults and adults with intellectual disabilities who can live communally with support.
• CRI - Centro de Recursos para a Inclusão Service accredited by the Portuguese Ministry of Education supporting mainstream schools in promoting educational success for students aged 6 to 18 through additional specialized measures and resources.
• CAARPD - Centro de Atendimento, Acompanhamento e Reabilitação Social Specialized social service providing diagnosis, psychosocial support, rehabilitation, competence development, service guidance and sociocultural activities for people with disabilities and their families to promote autonomy and quality of life.
• Loja Solidária - Online Social Store of Artisanal Products E-commerce store selling artisanal products created by CERCI Braga clients and technical teams — including books (Pirilampo Mágico series), Farricoco Easter crafts, Senhora do Leite dolls, Kokedama plants, gift boxes (LOVE BOX, Box Natal), tote bags, picture frames, and traditional board games. Ships to mainland Portugal and islands; local pickup available. Revenue funds social and educational projects.
• Sorrir em Férias - Holiday Camps (Colónias de Férias) Holiday colony programs including "Sorrir em Férias na Natureza" and "Sorrir em Férias" running during July and August, providing leisure, well-being, and tourism opportunities for young people and adults with intellectual and multiple disabilities, plus caregiver respite. Locations include Pousada da Juventude do Gerês, Braga, Porto and neighboring municipalities.
• Inclusão Ativa - Capacitação para a Autonomia e Cidadania na Deficiência EU-funded project approved under PESSOAS-2025 promoting social inclusion, autonomy, and full citizenship of people with intellectual and multiple disabilities through 33 training and awareness actions across six differentiated formative pathways targeting families, people with disabilities, social professionals, and community stakeholders.
• Play INclusive (Jogos) Sustainable social project sponsored by Fujitsu Portugal creating a line of reassemblable bags with traditional board game designs, with direct involvement of CERCI Braga clients in production to promote autonomy and skills development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 beneficiaries served daily at CACI
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Município de Braga (Braga Municipality)coreOthersMunicipal government partner providing support and collaboration for social inclusion initiatives. The municipality is listed as a public entity partner on the partners page.
• Fujitsu PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Play INclusive project, a sustainable social initiative creating a line of reusable bags with traditional board game designs. Production involves direct participation of CERCI Braga clients, promoting autonomy and skills development.
• Instituto para os Direitos das Pessoas com Deficiência (IDiPD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment institute for disability rights that supports holiday camps (Colónias de Férias) and initiatives promoting inclusion. A fundamental partner in providing unique leisure, well-being, and participation experiences for supported individuals.
• CASES (Cooperativa António Sérgio)coreOthersCooperative for social economy entities providing recognition and support for IPSS institutions. Displayed as a supporting organization on the website footer.
• FENACERCIminorOthersNational federation representing CERCI cooperatives. CERCI Braga participated in International Cooperatives Day ceremony organized by CONFECOOP and CONFAGRI at FENACERCI facilities.
• Alfilux, Beck, Cachapuz, Casais, Centurium, CNE, Dialogo Numerico, Fabcast, FDG, Fritempo, Fundacao edP, Get Bus, HM Design, IBG, Impetus, International House, Ledechem, Lusologia, MCM, Mebra, Navarra Aluminios, OM, Pimentel, Plano Minho, Primavera, Rotary, Rubis, Samsonite, Sapol, Tipo, Torrestir, UF Santa Lucrecia e Navarra, UselabelminorOthersVarious local and regional businesses listed as collaborators, benefactors, public organisms, and pro-bono supporters on the partners page. These partnerships support various projects and initiatives through donations, services, or in-kind contributions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• FENACERCI: National federation representing Portuguese CERCI cooperatives (CERCI Braga is listed as a member). FENACERCI provides sector coordination, advocacy, and resources that complement CERCI-type organizations at the federation level.

Regional players

• Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Braga: Large traditional social-solidarity institution (IPSS) operating in Braga with broad social services including support for people with disabilities and elderly. Operates in the same geographic market as CERCI Braga with overlapping beneficiary populations.
• CERCICA: A CERCI cooperative in the Cascais/Sintra region offering CACI, residential, employment, and family support services for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable service model to CERCI Braga in a different Portuguese region.
• CERCI Porto: A CERCI cooperative serving the Porto region with CACI, residential, and educational support services. Same cooperative model and service mix as CERCI Braga, operating in a different Portuguese city.
• CERCI Lisboa: A CERCI cooperative serving the Lisbon region with the same multi-program model (CACI, residential, education support). Operates the same social-economy framework as CERCI Braga but in a different geography.

Direct peers

• APPACDM Portugal: The largest Portuguese non-profit association for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, operating across multiple regions with day centers, residential homes, and employment support. Directly comparable mission, beneficiary population, and service mix to CERCI Braga.
• Fundação LIGA: Portuguese foundation supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, day, and family services. Directly comparable mission and beneficiary population to CERCI Braga at national scale.
• CRINABELA: Portuguese non-profit dedicated to the social inclusion and rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Comparable advocacy and direct-service mission to CERCI Braga.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/cercibraga
• Xx.com/CERCIBraga
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cercibraga

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cerci Braga