Albergue Covadonga

What Albergue Covadonga does

Fundación Albergue Covadonga is a private non-profit foundation established in 1988 in Gijón, Asturias, Spain, providing comprehensive care to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and residential exclusion. Its core offering is integrated shelter plus psychosocial support, complemented since 2001 by the Velastur pre-employment workshop (Taller prelaboral Velastur), which delivers socio-labor accompaniment, simulated work environments, and competency assessments aimed at improving the employability of its beneficiaries.

The foundation operates a vertically integrated model: the Velastur workshop manufactures decorative candles that are sold through the foundation's own e-commerce storefront (Tienda Velastur) and at physical events such as FIDMA, creating a self-funding loop tied to the social mission. There is no proprietary technology platform; the digital footprint is a WordPress website with PayPal and card payments, Google Analytics, YouTube, and Google Maps integrations. The supporting technology stack is therefore minimal and not a differentiator.

The business model is dual: (1) institutional funding and donations from public bodies (Ayuntamiento de Gijón, Gobierno del Principado de Asturias) and a broad set of private collaborators (CaixaBank, Fundación Alimerka, Fundación Mutua Madrileña, Ibercaja, LaLiga, Amazon, and others), and (2) transactional retail revenue from candle sales. The primary customer segment is vulnerable populations in Gijón; the secondary commercial segment is socially conscious consumers and organizational buyers in Spain. The organization is a member of national and European networks including FACIAM and EAPN, supports approximately 12 staff, and holds a Quality Management System certification under ER-0400:2023.

Name

Albergue Covadonga

Legal name

Fundación Albergue Covadonga

Website

https://alberguecovadonga.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fundación Albergue Covadonga is a Gijón-based non-profit foundation founded in 1988 that provides shelter, social support, and pre-employment training (Velastur workshop) to people experiencing homelessness in Asturias, Spain, partially funded through sales of its own decorative candles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services / Homelessness Support

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Community Housing Services (62422), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Homelessness support services
• Pre-employment training
• Social inclusion programs
• Shelter services
• Socio-labor accompaniment

Headquarters

HQ city

Gijón/Xixón

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Candle sales (Tienda Velastur): The foundation operates a retail e-commerce store selling decorative candles manufactured by participants in the Velastur pre-labor training workshop. Sales are conducted through the organization's own website. Revenue is one-time transactional, driven by product purchases from individuals and organizations seeking to support the foundation's mission through socially conscious consumption.
2. Institutional funding and donations: The foundation receives ongoing support from public institutions (Ayuntamiento de Gijón, Gobierno del Principado de Asturias) and private collaborators (foundations, companies). These constitute non-commercial revenue streams supporting its social mission of assisting people in situations of homelessness and residential exclusion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Fundación Albergue Covadonga provides shelter and comprehensive social support to people experiencing homelessness and residential exclusion in Gijón, Spain. Through its Velastur pre-employment workshop (active since 2001), the foundation delivers socio-labor accompaniment and practical skills training while manufacturing decorative candles that are sold through its own online store to fund the mission and provide employability experience to participants.

Product overview

Albergue Covadonga operates primarily as a social services foundation providing comprehensive care for people experiencing homelessness, centered around its core offering: the Taller prelaboral Velastur workshop. This workshop, initiated in 2001, provides pre-employment training and socio-labor accompaniment to improve employability. The workshop produces decorative candles (Velas) which are sold through an integrated online store (Tienda). The portfolio consists of the social service program and the commercial candle products that fund the foundation's mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Velastur: Pre-employment workshop launched in 2001, providing socio-laboral training and accompaniment to people in situations of homelessness and residential exclusion.

Products and services

• Taller prelaboral Velastur (Velastur Pre-employment Workshop) A pre-employment workshop initiated in 2001 that provides practical training and socio-labor accompaniment to people in situations of homelessness and residential exclusion, aiming to improve employability through simulated work environments, personalized itineraries, and competency assessments. The workshop produces decorative candles sold through the foundation's online store, providing hands-on work experience to participants.
• Velas Velastur (Velastur Decorative Candles) Decorative candles manufactured by participants in the Velastur pre-employment workshop, sold through the foundation's online store (Tienda Velastur) and at the FIDMA regional trade fair. Revenue supports the foundation's social mission and provides work experience to participants.
• Shelter and social support services for homelessness Comprehensive care program for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and residential exclusion in Gijón, including accommodation, psychosocial support, social-labor accompaniment, and referral pathways to the Velastur workshop. Services are delivered directly at the foundation's facilities in Gijón and are accessed primarily through referrals from municipal social services.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Fundación Municipal de Servicios Sociales del Ayuntamiento de GijóncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal social services foundation of the Gijón city council, providing institutional support and funding for the foundation's social programs targeting homelessness and residential exclusion.
• Consejería de Derechos Sociales y Bienestar del Gobierno del Principado de AsturiascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government department responsible for social rights and welfare in Asturias, providing institutional support and funding to the foundation's social programs.
• Fundación Banco de Alimentos de AsturiassupportingOthersFood bank foundation providing food assistance to support the basic needs of people served by the Albergue Covadonga.
• Fundación AlimerkasupportingOthersRegional supermarket chain foundation supporting the foundation through food donations and funding contributions.
• AmazonsupportingOthersCorporate sponsor providing in-kind or logistical support to the foundation's operations.
• LaLigasupportingOthersSpanish professional football league providing corporate social responsibility support to the foundation.
• EAPN (Red Europea de Lucha contra la Pobreza y la Exclusión)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Anti-Poverty Network — a pan-European network of organizations working to combat poverty and social exclusion. Albergue Covadonga participates in this network, sharing experiences and best practices.
• FACIAM (Federación de Asociaciones y Centros para la Integración y Ayuda de Marginados)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation of associations and centers for integration and aid to marginalized populations. The foundation is an active member and participates in annual assemblies and working groups. In June 2026, FACIAM held its assembly in Bilbao with member organizations sharing experiences and innovative projects.
• IlunionsupportingOthersSpanish company belonging to the ONCE social group, specializing in accessibility and social inclusion services, providing support to the foundation.
• Amandi AsociadosminorOthersProfessional services firm providing support to the foundation.
• Casa GerardominorOthersLocal restaurant/enterprise in Asturias supporting the foundation.
• Fundación MareominorOthersCorporate foundation providing financial support.
• Club Rotario de GijónminorOthersLocal Rotary Club providing volunteer and financial support.
• CIFP Hostelería y TurismosupportingTechnology or IntegrationVocational training center for hospitality and tourism in Asturias, collaborating with the foundation on training and inclusion programs.
• El ComerciominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor regional newspaper in Asturias, providing media visibility and communication support.
• La Nueva EspañaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor regional newspaper in Asturias, providing media visibility and communication support.
• Real Club de RegatasminorOthersHistoric sports club in Gijón providing community support.
• Granel & Co.minorOthersLocal enterprise providing support to the foundation.
• Mar de NieblaminorOthersLocal organization providing support.
• Asociación de Vecinos de LaviadaminorOthersNeighborhood association in the Laviada district of Gijón providing community support.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hogar Sí: Spanish nonprofit foundation focused on supporting people experiencing homelessness and residential exclusion through shelter, housing, and social accompaniment — directly comparable in mission and service mix to Albergue Covadonga.
• Fundación RAIS: Spanish foundation working on housing access and social inclusion for people at risk of exclusion, providing shelter, housing, and accompaniment services — directly comparable to Albergue Covadonga's core offering.
• Provivienda: Spanish nonprofit foundation specialized in housing assistance, homelessness prevention, and support for vulnerable households — directly comparable in service type and target population.
• Fundación CEPAIM: Spanish foundation supporting social inclusion of vulnerable populations, including people experiencing homelessness, with attention to employability and accompaniment — comparable model and beneficiary focus.
• Sant Joan de Déu Serveis Socials: Catalan social services entity providing shelter, housing, and socio-labor accompaniment for people in homelessness and exclusion — comparable service mix and operating model.
• Mescladís: Catalan social-enterprise nonprofit that trains people at risk of exclusion in a catering workshop and sells products to fund its mission — directly comparable workshop-plus-commercial-revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• Cruz Roja Española: Spanish Red Cross society delivering a broad portfolio including homelessness outreach, emergency shelter, and social inclusion programs across Spain — comparable broader incumbent.
• Cáritas Española: Spain's largest Catholic social services confederation, operating shelter, food, and social inclusion programs nationally including homelessness services — comparable as a broader incumbent in the same service space.

Others

• EAPN España: Spanish branch of the European Anti-Poverty Network — the federation that Albergue Covadonga belongs to; included as a thematic peer/network benchmark for funding flows and policy positioning.
• FACIAM: Spanish federation of associations and centers serving marginalized populations, of which Albergue Covadonga is an active member — included as ecosystem/network peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alberCovadonga
• Facebookfacebook.com/alberguecovadonga
• Instagraminstagram.com/fundacionalberguecovadonga
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/albergue-covadonga

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Albergue Covadonga