The Region of Murcia has presented the first Regional Strategy to combat loneliness in its older residents, with the implementation of a 24-hour help line that provides support and intervention. The help line, 065, is managed by the Telephone of Hope, a non-profit organisation that has been operating in the region for nearly 50 years.

Emotional support for the Region’s elderly residents

The aim of the help line is to offer listening, emotional support, and accompaniment for older residents of the region. Additionally, the help line has been put into place to detect possible risk situations involving the residents.

The plan detailed in the Regional Strategy includes the creation of local committees in all municipalities of the region, involving social services, health centres, senior centres, and shops and pharmacies, in order to effectively activate alert signals for possible cases of isolation.

The strategy has been outlined following a period of careful and thorough research. Data extracted from the investigation has shown that one in five people over the age of 65 admit to feeling lonely, a situation that can worsen with age, health problems, or the loss of a friend or loved one.

To be developed between 2026 and 2030, this strategy is estimated to benefit more than 50,000 elderly people in the Region of Murcia, and improve the coordination and organisation of existing resources.

What is Telephone of Hope?

Teléfono de la esperanza, or Telephone of Hope, is a non-profit organisation that has been operating in the Region of Murcia for an astounding 47 years. According to the organisation’s official website, the group aims to “provide mental health care to all those who need it or who are experiencing any kind of psychological conflict or problem, through telephone or in-person sessions.” Its facilities offer both individual and group support on a variety of topics and concerns. The organisation also offers various courses, workshops, and support groups led by professionals trained in different specialties, “equipping people with resources they can use in their daily lives.”

Cartagena hosted the 33rd edition of the Regional Youth Football League Cup at various fields in the city, as well as in La Unión and Torre Pacheco. The tournament, which has now been established as one of the most important spring sporting events in the region, has brought together close to 5,000 young and passionate footballers, in both male and female categories.

A successful event, bringing together young athletes in the hub of Cartagena

The event, organised by the Cartagena City Council in collaboration with other institutions and entities, has brought together sports schools, clubs, and families in this exciting, fun, and vibrant sporting event on the Costa Calida. On Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11, dozens of teams competed at the different venues across the area.

In total, the competition featured 13 categories, ranging from beginner levels to Under-14 and Under-16 categories. The tournament also included Under-14 and Under-18 for the girls’ categories, reflecting a growing support for women’s football and a greater interest in female sports participation from the children. 

The matches were held simultaneously on more than a dozen municipal pitches, marking the tournament as a major sporting event in Cartagena. Among some of the values highlighted during the event for the children was teamwork, respect, and camaraderie.

The event also generated a significant social and economic impact on Cartagena; the arrival of players, coaches and their families generated income for sectors including hospitality and commerce, and reinforced Cartagena’s position as a leader in grassroots football.

Sports on the Costa Calida

When it comes to sporting events, the Costa Calida has already showcased the ability to host major tournaments. The Mar Menor, for instance, one of Europe’s most important lagoons, is gearing up for the final and main event of a recent string of international regatta competitions, the ILCA 4 European Championship.

Among other sporting events that have attracted international visitors in the region are a dressage competition, which Murcia has hosted for the first time; beach football, for which Mazarron recently hosted a tournament; and motorcycling, which is increasingly popular in the Region of Murcia.

The Region of Murcia has once more showcased its prowess as an ideal filming location, as an audiovisual production released a casting call for extras for a new shoot taking place in April. The casting agency of the major audiovisual production, Modfie, specified that the series requires people of African and Arab origin, as well as children.

Residents can look out for a new filming in Murcia from mid-April to mid-May

The shoot will take place in Murcia from Monday, April 20 to Thursday, May 14. The series, a large-scale production, will also be filming in different locations across Spain, including in Almeria on April 17 and in Barcelona from May 18 to June 5.

This is far from the only production choosing Murcia as a filming location; the Region has been popular with audiovisual projects for some time, due to its variety of natural environments and the cost-effectiveness of filming licences in Murcia.

Big-name projects frequently choose Murcia

Another series, Movistar Plus+’s Secuestro, also began filming in Murcia on Thursday, April 7. The series is headed by director Marcel Barrena, a Barcelona-born filmmaker who achieved the Goya Award for Best Film for El 47.

The most recent big-name project, which wrapped in January 2026, was El Desvío, a movie that was filmed entirely in various municipalities in Murcia. El Desvío stars Javier Pereira, who shares the lead role with Roberto Álamo and Guillermo Campra.

The Region of Murcia, star-studded in 2025

Additionally, 2025 saw an impressive list of cinematic projects taking place in the Region of Murcia. Famed actor Norman Reedus was spotted in the Port of Escombreras in Cartagena where the final scenes of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon were filmed; likewise, the centre of Murcia was transformed into a street in Budapest for the filming of the Hollywood blockbuster FAST, an action thriller created by Taylor Sheridan for Warner Bros Pictures and starring Brandon Sklenar.

Charming local municipalities in the spotlight

Cartagena, San Javier, Mazarron, Puerto de Mazarron, La Manga, the Calblanque Regional Park, Playa Honda and Los Belones have also been some noteworthy filming locations, hosting shoots for various big-name projects including Movistar series El Inmortal, Netflix miniseries Toda la verdad sobre mis mentiras, and the music video for Tuchat by Spanish singer and rapper Quevedo.

Murcia residents interested in participating as extras in big-name projects are often in luck, as casting agencies frequently release casting calls in the Region as Murcia becomes more and more popular with audiovisual projects by the year.