The IN-Póvoa project celebrated on Friday its 10 years of existence with a ceremony that brought together dozens of volunteers, monitors, institutional partners and official entities in Póvoa de Varzim. The 2026 edition, corresponding to the initiative's anniversary, was marked by achieving a historic record of 1,471 accessible baths, the highest number ever, carried out over two months of activity in July and August.
Over this decade, the project supported a total of 1,816 beneficiaries, confirming the growing demand for a response that allows people with reduced mobility and other specific needs to enjoy the beach and sea in equal conditions. What began as a temporary initiative in 2016 became a national reference in promoting accessibility and inclusion on beaches, thanks to the continued support of the Municipality of Póvoa de Varzim.
The project currently mobilizes a vast support network, having accounted for 1,071 volunteer hours and 2,568 hours of accompaniment ensured by 12 monitors, 34 volunteers and six participants integrated in the inclusive volunteering program. Satisfaction data reveals that 92% of the 230 surveyed users expressed being very satisfied with the service provided, while 83% admitted that without IN-Póvoa they would not frequent the beach with the same regularity.
Andrea Silva, mayor of Póvoa de Varzim, Sérgio Furtado, president of Instituto Maria Paz Varzim, the institution managing the project, and Pedro Luís, commander of the Port Authority of Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde, expressed praise for the initiative during the closing session.
