This is to contribute to the extension of the range of entities offering rights to card holders.

The agreement on this matter was signed in the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy on 24 January by Minister Elżbieta Rafalska and President of the Association of Large Families, Joanna Krupska.

“It is a very important day for Polish families,” Minister Rafalska said during the ceremony. “The Large Family Card, which has been functioning since 2014, is accelerating, filling the sails, and in territorial terms it will have a different and better effect.”

The ceremony was also attended by Mazowieckie Province Governor, Zdzisław Sipiera. He accepted thanks of Minister Rafalska on behalf of the province governors, as since July 2014, provincial authorities have been dealing with the acquisition of partner companies.

The need for changes in the functioning of the Large Family Card was pointed out by the Supreme Audit Office (NIK). The limited effectiveness of the Card due to the lack of companies responding to the needs of large families and the small territorial diversity of partners were emphasised.

“Concentration of the Large Family Card partners in larger cities and low availability in small towns and villages is characteristic.For this reason, some of its users have a limited ability to use it.We want to change it.The Large Family Card needs to really respond to the needs of large families.Thanks to the 'Family 500 plus' programme, families can use the Card more often.Now, we need to take care of diversity of Card partners and their greater accessibility to families,” said Elżbieta Rafalska, Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy.

“From mid-January, the application for the LFC can be submitted via the Internet,” Minister Elżbieta Rafalska said. “We will soon launch an application thanks to which you will just have to show the card on your phone to get a discount.Plastic card will no longer be indispensable.”

In addition, with the geolocation feature, a card holder will be able to quickly and easily see where the discounts are available nearby, and learn the offer of partners of the Large Family Card.

Already 1.7 million people, including children from large families, have the Large Family Card. 361.6 thousand large families participate in the programme. The greatest number of cards was issued in Mazowsze (254.2 thousand), Małopolska (206.7 thousand), Śląsk (160.7 thousand) and Wielkopolska (155.9 thousand).

At the end of the ceremony, Minister Rafalska gave the Large Family Cards to families who have just joined the programme.