Street Support and public nuisance – inclusive education strategies versus marginalisation Erasmus Project

Project Title

Street Support and public nuisance – inclusive education strategies versus marginalisation

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: Access for disadvantaged; Inclusion – equity; Reaching the policy level/dialogue with decision makers

Project Summary

Context
A broad range of participatory interventions and prevention activities has been developed to prevent nuisance among youngsters. Interventions, targeting adults however, are limited and mainly based on repressive and sanctionary acts, including arrests, restraining orders and fines. Less is known about inclusive strategies and adult learning opportunities, which provide daily structure and support to this specific group. Experience shows that strategies tackling wider economic and social exclusion such as education, training and employment (ETE) can play a vital role in the (re)integration and recovery of homeless people and other marginalised groups (Busch-Geertsema, Edgar, O’Sullivan, & Pleace, 2010).

While many efforts are being made to create equal opportunity for all, in reality, disadvantaged groups face unequal opportunities on all different levels and certainly have less access to work and educational opportunities (Nicaise & NESSE, 2010). Future interventions should therefore reduce these barriers and develop an integrated and more inclusive approach, which create opportunities instead of restrictions.

Objectives:
The main objective of the project was to provide adult learning providers, service providers and local governments with tools and models of good practice, which contribute to the social inclusion and participation of alcohol- and drug users and reduce at the same time alcohol- and drug related nuisance in the public space. The Street Support Project was built on the idea that each person has the potential to learn and to do something meaningful. Adult learning, education, work and other activities, supporting social inclusion and participation can play a vital role in this context.,

More specifically the project aimed to:
* Promote Best Practices and information exchange:
* Develop, implement and validate cost-effective and sustainable practices:
* Disseminate information, knowledge and results of the project on European and national level:

Participating Organisations:
The project consortium consisted of 6 organisations:

De Regenboog Groep – main applicant of this project – offers a broad range of services, such as day and night shelters, drug consumption rooms, adult learning opportunities and work integration programmes, by particular focusing on homeless people and drug- and alcohol users. The organisation coordinates as well Correlation – European Network Social Inclusion & Health, with more than 180 members within Europe (www.correlation-net.org). This networking function will help to disseminate project activities and results to a broad number of relevant stakeholders.

FEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless) is a network organisation and centre of expertise in the field of homelessness. Based on their expertise, their research capacities and their European networking role, they can play a vital role in collecting data and information, linking to relevant organisations in the field and disseminating relevant information.

In addition, 4 other organisation participated in the project, all of them working for homeless people, alcohol- and drug users and other marginalised groups. They explicitly were interested to develop and implement innovative and inclusive strategies:
– Fixpunkt (Berlin, Germany),
– Společnost Podané ruce o.p.s. – SPR (Brno, Czech Republic),
– Comité Ciudadano Anti Sida de la Comunidad Valenciana – CCASCV (Valencia, Spain)
– Cork Simon Community – CSC (Cork, Ireland)

Activities of the project:
The project consortium
* Carried out a European-wide assessment in the field of homelessness and alcohol- and drug related nuisance
* Compiled country reports in 5 European countries (Germany, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain, Ireland) and one European Report, describing the situation in regard to homelessness and alcohol- and drug related nuisance
* Developed a toolbox for service providers and local governments, including guidance and support for the development and implementation of inclusive interventions
* Collected models of good practice within Europe to showcase effective inclusive strategies
* Developed and implemented four local pilot interventions and validated them with the Self-Sufficiency Matrix (developed by the Municipal Health Service of Amsterdam and the City of Rotterdam)
• Organised 4 national multiplier events to disseminate the activities and results of the project among relevant national stakeholders
• Organised a European multiplier event to disseminate the outcomes of the project to a large number of European stakeholders and promote effective and inclusive strategies

Results
The project created impact and awareness at both the policy maker’s level and the service provider’s level. A broad range of stakeholders was informed about the activities and results of the project.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 306610 Eur

Project Coordinator

STICHTING DE REGENBOOG GROEP & Country: NL

Project Partners

• Cork Simon Community
• Spolecnost Podane ruce o.p.s.
• FEDERATION EUROPEENNE D’ASSOCIATIONS NATIONALES TRAVAILLANT AVEC LES SANS-ABRI AISBL
• FIXPUNKT EV
• Comité Ciudadano Anti-Sida de la Comunidad Valenciana
• FUNDACION SALUD Y COMUNIDAD