Youth in Action Programme

Action 1 – Youth for Europe

Encouraging young people’s active participation, mobility and sense of

citizenship

• Youth exchange

• Youth Initiatives

• Youth democracy

1.1 Youth ExchangeYouth Exchanges allow one or more groups of young

people to be hosted by a group from another country in order to participate together in a joint

programme of activities.

These projects involve the active participation of young people and are designed to allow them to

discover and become aware of different social and cultural realities. It also encourages participants to learn from one another and reinforce their feeling of

being European citizens.

Youth Exchange• Aimed at participants aged 13-25 years

• Bilateral Exchange: minimum 8 participants per group

• Trilateral Exchange: minimum 6 participants per group

• Multilateral Youth Exchange: minimum 4 participants per group

• UK €40/pnpp• WATCH Change How The Story ends

1.2 Youth InitiativesYouth Initiatives supports projects where young

people participate actively and directly in activities which they have devised and play a key role, in order to develop their initiative, enterprise and creativity.

The key concept is that the young people have control over all aspects from beginning to end and that the project responds to the needs and interests of the

local community. In this way, a Youth Initiative project can help young people gain skills and experience that are transferable to work or educational environment.

Youth InitiativesApplications for Youth Initiatives projects should clearly show:

• An idea or theme that has been created by young people • How the young people will run it

• A European dimension, that is, issues of common value to young people of different countries

• Ideally, some potential for networking and establishing partnerships with like-minded groups throughout Europe

• Contact person in the group must be a young person participating in the project

• Legal representative may be a youth worker or coach

Examples of Youth Initiatives• producing a DVD on theme of common interest

• creating a support network to act on a common social problem in Europe

• producing a European CD by recording music from different countries

• preparing a film/video showing different realities in Europe

• preparing a common performance/festival on music, dance, theatre, paintings, etc.

• producing a virtual newspaper, collecting articles from different countries in Europe

Funding for Youth Initiatives

Funding in the United Kingdom

National Y.I €6,900

Transnational Youth Initiatives €10.100

Coach €1,250

* Festivals/South London United

Action 1.3 Youth Democracy

This sub-Action supports young people's participation in democratic life. It aims to encourage the active

participation of young people in the life of their local, regional or national community or at international level.

Youth Democracy Projects enable young people to learn about democratic processes and become active citizens

in their local communities or at European level. They learn to critically analyse political or social issues, and to

make their voices heard. The projects allow them to try out ways of influencing the reality they live in and to make the

world a better place.

Examples of Youth Democracy projects• Creation of networks for exchange and development

of good practice in the field of youth participation• Consultations by and of young people, with a view

to find out their needs and wishes on matters relating to participation in democratic life

• Information events/seminars/debates for young people around the mechanisms of representative

democracy at all levels.• Meetings between young people and decision-

makers or experts in the field of participation in democratic life

Action 2 - European Voluntary Service

The aim of European Voluntary Service (EVS) is to develop solidarity and promote active

citizenship and mutual understanding among young people

What is EVS?

• EVS enables young people to carry out voluntary service for up to 12 months in a country, other than their own country of residence.

• Beyond benefitting local communities, volunteers learn new skills and languages, and discover other cultures

An EVS project has 3 phases

1. Planning and preparation

2. Implementation

3. Evaluation (including reflection and follow-up)

How does EVS work?

EVS is based on a partnership between a host project, the volunteer and a sending organisation.

Volunteers carry out their volunteering placement in a host project outside the UK. Volunteers choose from

accredited EVS projects that interest them.

Host projects select volunteers for the vacancies they have.

Applications for funding are made on the volunteer's behalf by either the host or sending organisation.

What are the benefits?

• Gain confidence and independence

• Experience a different culture

• Learn new skills and develop competencies

• Contribute to the local host community

• Enhance employability (Youthpasscertificate on completion

How much will it cost?It is free. Travel, accommodation, food and

insurance are all covered by an European grant. (volunteers may be asked to contribute 10% of their travel costs)

Volunteers receive a small personal allowance each month.

Exceptional costs can be covered for y.w.f.o

Watch our EVS project ‘’CREATIVE INCLUSION’’

Action 3 – Youth in the world

• 3.1 Neighbouring countries

• 3.2 Other countries of the world

Watch our project BLACK BUTTERFLY

Action 4 – Training and NetworkingActivity Uses Duration Participants

Job Shadowing For youth workers, policy makers, etc. To exchange good practice and build youth work skills and capacity with another country

10‐20 working days, excluding travel Up to two partners from two different countries

Feasibility Visit For partners already in contact to develop their project ideas and prepare the application

Between two and three days excluding travel Up to two representatives per partner

Evaluation Meeting A meeting to evaluate past meetings/seminars/training courses. This is an opportunity to discuss potential follow‐up work.

Between two and 10 days, excluding travel Between one and 50 participants representing each partner

Partnership‐building Activity Brings together potential partners to facilitate the development of new projects

Between two and 10 days, excluding travel Between one and 50 participants representing each partner

Study Visits Visits based around a youth work theme, to establish contacts and set up projects

Between two and 10 days, excluding travel Between one and 50 participants representing each partner

Seminars Exchange of good practice within an international group. Participants undergo a learning process and have a platform for discussion on themes linked to the objectives of the Youth in Action programme

Between two and 10 days, excluding travel Between one and 50 participants representing each partner

Training Courses To develop the skills and capacities of project organisers in practical aspects of international youth work

Between two and 10 days, excluding travel Between one and 50 participants representing each partner

Networking Combination of activities aiming to create new networks, or to strengthen and widen existing networks

Between three and 15 months Six partners from different countries with no limitation on participants

Action 5 – European Co-operation

• 5.1 Meetings of young people and those responsible for youth policy

• National Youth meetings (15 pax)

• Transnational Youth seminars (30 pax)

• Participants should be aged 15 – 30

• Include 5 programme countries for a TS

DeadlinesProjects submitted to a National Agency the three deadlines per year are:Projects starting Application deadline1 May and 31 October 1 February1 August and 31 January 1 May1 January and 30 June 1 October

For projects submitted at a European level (EACEA)Projects starting between Application deadline1 August and 31 December 1 February1 December and 30 April 1 June1 March and 31 July 1 September

Training

• www.salto-youth.net

• SOHO Training Courses