Barcelona City Council has launched a free phone call service for children and teenagers who do not have their own mobile phones. The service will let them contact family members or other trusted adults from municipal facilities across Barcelona.
The council says the aim is to support safety, communication and everyday organisation, including situations where a child or teenager needs information or help. Second Deputy Mayor Maria Eugènia Gay said the measure reflects the council’s wish to back families, strengthen educational and community settings, and encourage healthy screen use.
The service will be available at municipal facilities across the city, including community centres, libraries and sports facilities. Staff will provide access to a dedicated phone, and posters will identify participating sites. Barcelona has ten districts and more than 1.6 million residents. For the council’s original announcement, see the Barcelona City Council press room.
The council says the calls are for justified use only, such as contacting family or another trusted reference. Staff will supervise the service to prevent misuse, including prank calls, insults or fraud, while keeping a prudent distance. The council also says staff will not listen to the content of conversations, so privacy is respected.
Call times are expected to be short and reasonable, with three to five minutes suggested per call. All professionals working in municipal facilities will receive guidance on the protocol so it is applied consistently across the city. The service is part of the wider Community coverage on Barna.News and sits within the city’s broader digital welfare work.
The new measure is part of the Community and digital welfare push known as “Barcelona Beyond Screens”, which includes 51 actions. The campaign aims to prevent early screen use and offer practical alternatives for families. Barcelona City Council says the phone service is one low-tech tool to help children and teenagers stay connected when they need to.
