Catch the BALL – Create a Dynamic Third Age Erasmus Project

Project Title

Catch the BALL – Create a Dynamic Third Age

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Social dialogue; Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

An increasingly larger part of the population in industrialized countries is spending longer time in retirement than before. People can expect on the average a retirement that will last between a quarter to a third of their lifetime. The increasing life expectancy of individuals will lead to a steady increase in the number of people in retirement, their „third age“, and within Europe one can expect up to a quarter of the population in this category. The additional life expectancy of European citizens who have reached the age of 65 is estimated to be around 20 years, and has increased considerably over the last decades (Eurostat Demography Report 2010). The UN report on World Population Ageing 1950-2050 states that „Europe is currently the world’s major area with the highest proportions of older persons and is projected to remain so for at least the next 50 years. About 37 per cent of the European population is projected to be 60 years and above in 2050, up from 20 per cent in 2000 and almost 30 per cent is projected to be 65 and above, up from 15 per cent in 2000“. Consequently, it is of utmost importance for future Europe to guarantee the highest quality of life for this large group of citizens and to ensure that their valuable resources of experience and knowledge are made accessible to the younger generations and to the society at large. It is against this background that the project presented here was defined, aiming at facilitating the entry into dynamic third age, the years after 50, through early and successful planning. This project implemented the recommendations and guidelines developed in an earlier Erasmus + project, BALL (Be Active through Lifelong Learning). A survey undertaken in the BALL project showed that the expectations of people are more towards the positive rather than negative aspects of old age. Based on that conclusion and the team´s belief that it is essential for every individual and stakeholders at the labour market to prepare and to plan for an enjoyable and active latter part of life ( „third age“) the team also believed that it is important have access to appropriate tools and guidance to facilitate this exercise, the emphasis being on creating a stimulating learning environment and ambiance, and on the exchange of knowledge.
The main objective of the project was to develop and implement two tools, i.e. European Warehouse of Opportunities and European Academy of Opportunities.
There were four partners in this project: 1) Evris Foundation ses (Iceland) that was coordinator and took responsibility in leading an expert group in development of Academy of Opportunities. Evris Foundation was coordinator in previous BALL project and has a team of experts in teaching, development of curricula and coaching 2) U3A Reykjavík (Iceland) had a leading role in the expert group that took care of development of Warehouse of Opportunities. U3A Reykjavík is an association of people in their third age who want to keep on learning and sharing their knowledge. It is a part of an international movement of U3A which has now hundreds of thousands of members worldwide. 3) Kaunas Science and Technology Park (Kaunas STP) (Lithuania) is the largest partners of science and business cooperation in Lithuania. It offers training sessions and consultation for people that wants to establish business. 4) MBM Training and Development Centre (UK) offers trainings, consultancy and coaching for individuals and organisations.
The main activities were to develop and implement two outputs, i.e. Warehouse of Opportunities and operating plan for it and an Academy of Opportunities – two tools for individuals at the entry of the third age (50+) and stakeholders at the labour market. All partners shared their expertise in this development work and outputs are highly qualified tools ready to be used in Europe in general (in English) and two specific countries (in Lithuanian and Icelandic). The tools have been presented and activated in countries concerned and presented to worldwide networks that focus on development of people of third age. Other activities, as a part of the development of Academy of Opportunities, were so called pre-pilots and pilots courses, undertaken in all three countries added to a Joint Short term training course. In all three countries there were Multiplier events where intellectual outputs, the two tools, were presented.
Project´s consortia believe that longer-term benefits will be that individuals and stakeholders at labor market better understand and start to plan earlier for the the third part of life, i.e. at the age 50+.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 174692,75 Eur

Project Coordinator

EVRIS FOUNDATION SES. & Country: IS

Project Partners

• U3A Reykjavik
• VIESOJI ISTAIGA KAUNO MOKSLO IR TECHNOLOGIJU PARKAS
• MBM Training and Development Center