It can also be different – Restoring dreams to tackle loneliness Erasmus Project

Project Title

It can also be different – Restoring dreams to tackle loneliness

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Health and wellbeing; Access for disadvantaged

Project Summary

This project was initiated based on the analyses of the the research and evaluation conducted during our KA1 Job Shadowing project which we are implementing since July 2017, we came to the conclusion that all partners involved in our project identify one common issue that is still difficult to deal with due to various objective reasons. This issue is LONELINESS among beneficiaries of each partner organization including HVO-Querido. When we set to discuss the possibilities of working together to improve our work and methodology in general, we decided to develop this KA2 Strategic partnership project which would give us an opportunity to work together in innovative methods and tools to educate equip our beneficiaries with competences (Knowledge, Skills and Attitude) on how to overcome loneliness on the emotional and social level. At the same time it is our interest to develop the professional world that works in this field, such as social work professionals on individual and organizational level (e.g. our employees, partner organizations), research and educational institutions, health care organizations and governments.

PPROJECT OBJECTIVES ARE:

1) Enrich the offer of free tools which contribute to the professional development of social workers in dealing with loneliness.
2) Provide long term training programme for beneficiaries and evaluate the final results
3) Use ICT tools to facilitate the engagement of our employees with beneficiaries
4) Increase the level of digital competence among beneficiaries and encourage them to use more digital tools
5) Promote training modules and tools among professionals in the field, locally and internationally

TARGET GROUP:
-> Housing First Programme clients (our Beneficiaries) 210 Person
-> Social Workers (our Employees) 100 person
-> Trainers Social Work Professionals (our trainers pool memebers and memebers of associated partners) 350 person through multiplier events and 2500 person though online platfom.

EXPECTED RESULTS
1. Training Module for professionals to learn about loneliness phenomena and innovative ways to deal with the issue
2. Toolbox of Innovative methods/activities for tackling loneliness among the clients.
3. Development of the online Web Platform as a common space for professionals and clients to share, learn and support each other in tackling loneliness
4. Impact report after 6 months of implementing the new methodology

INNOVATIVE ASPECT OF THE PROJECT

We would like to focus on the clients, taking them by the hand, social worker as bridge in connecting people to projects for loneliness. What differentiates us from already existing projects which are dealing with the topic of social inclusion, is that we already have an existing target group, with high prevalence of loneliness. The advantage is that we can build on the relationships that we already have and be more effective in tackling this issue from the bottom.

We want to add new innovative elements related to loneliness to housing first methodology, where main elements of the Housing First approach have to be seen in contrast to approaches requiring “treatment first” and/or moving homeless people through a series of stages (staircase system) before they are “housing ready”. Housing First diverts radically from these approaches, which have been criticized for being ineffective in ending homelessness for people with severe and complex needs and having unintentional negative effects. Housing First seeks to move home-less people into permanent housing as quickly as possible with on-going, flexible and individual support as long as it is needed, but on a voluntary basis.

Project Website

http://www.itcanalsobedifferent.com

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 168010 Eur

Project Coordinator

HVO Querido & Country: NL

Project Partners

• Platforma pro sociální bydlení, z.s.
• FUNDACION RED DE APOYO A LA INTEGRACION SOCIOLABORAL RAIS
• BUDAPESTI MODSZERTANI SZOCIALIS KOZPONT ES INTEZMENYEI
• PROGRAMMATORISCHE FEDERALE OVERHEIDSDIENST MAATSCHAPPELIJKE INTEGRATIE, ARMOEDEBESTRIJDING EN SOCIALE ECONOMIE
• Association Aurore
• NGO for assistance of homeless, socially marginalized families and individuals KINDNESS