TU-i-NOS Fundació

Support for exercising legal capacity

TU-i-NOS Fundació, formerly Entitat Tutelar del Garraf, is a nonprofit that supports people with disabilities in exercising their legal capacity. Its work is framed by the 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Catalonia's Decree Law 19/2021. Support is established through a voluntary-jurisdiction court proceeding. Depending on the court order, the foundation acts as a supporter, with or without representative authority.

History and service area

Fundació Ave Maria in Sitges, which has provided specialized services for people with intellectual disabilities since 1987, identified a need for guardianship services for residents and people in Sitges and nearby towns. In 2005, it established Entitat Tutelar del Garraf, Fundació Privada, with dedicated funding and a specialized organization. The service grew across Garraf and neighboring areas, including Baix and Alt Penedès and Baix Llobregat, and became a reference point across Catalonia. It adopted the name TU-i-NOS Fundació in 2022.

Services

The foundation offers three main services:

• Guidance: free information about the need for legal support and the different available support arrangements. It serves professionals in local government, primary and specialized social services, and private institutions. The service also reviews referrals from other fields and provides specialized training.
• Ongoing support: a trained, experienced professional works with the individual as part of a multidisciplinary team. The support person follows the individual's preferences and wishes rather than making decisions for them, while promoting autonomy and quality of life.
• Future-planning support: guidance for families planning how a relative will receive support if they are no longer able to provide it themselves.

How the service works

Support under the Catalan Civil Code is free of charge, with costs covered by the Government of Catalonia. The foundation does not operate residences or care centers but can help arrange access to a place. Support can be requested by the person concerned, family members, social services, or the courts. The foundation has maintained ISO 9001:2015 quality-management certification since 2022, with annual verification by SGS.

Contact

Phone: +34 931 188 084.

Email: fundacio@tuinos.org.

Website: http://www.etutelar.org.