Taken from the youth workshop held at the Erasmus+ UK 'My Story' Annual Conference 2015. Originally presented by Fumie Izaki and Simon Chambers, joint leads for youth at the Erasmus+ UK National Agency. The theme for this presentation is inclusion and diversity, and how Erasmus+ can benefit young people with fewer opportunities. It includes a presentation from a beneficiary with experience of inclusion and diversity in Erasmus+ youth projects, highlighting the challenges and how these can be overcome.

1. Erasmus+
Inclusion and Diversity
Supporting young people
with fewer opportunities

2. 13.30 – 13.45: Introduction
13.45 – 14.10: Presentations: How do we engage with young
people with fewer opportunities? What are the challenges - and
how we have overcome them?
 Emma Kyles, Jack Kane Community Centre
 John Stewart, Northern Ireland Assembly
14.10 – 14.40: Group discussions
14.45 – 14.55: Sharing key ideas across all sub groups
14.55 – 15.00: Round-up/close
Agenda

3. Opportunities for non-formal learning
• Key Action 1: Mobility projects for young people and youth
workers
• Key Action 2: Partnerships between organisations –
supporting innovation and exchange of good practice
• Key Action 3: Projects bringing together young people and
decision-makers – enabling young people to help shape
policy
Erasmus+ Youth projects

4. • Supporting young people with fewer opportunities is central to
EU youth programmes
• 2007: Inclusion Strategy launched under Youth in Action
• 2015: Inclusion and Diversity Strategy launched under
Erasmus+
• Action by National Agencies to encourage inclusion and
diversity in all stages of Erasmus+ Youth projects
• Support from SALTO Resource Centres and from National
Agencies’ TCA events (listed on SALTO Training Calendar)
• Action by different stakeholders needed!
Inclusion and diversity
in Erasmus+ Youth projects

5. • Disability
• Health problems
• Educational difficulties
• Cultural differences
• Economic obstacles
• Social obstacles
• Geographical obstacles
Inclusion and diversity
Common difficulties

6. Northern Ireland Assembly
Connections Project
John Stewart
Director of Information and Outreach

7. Project in brief
‘Connections’ aims to promote structured dialogue
between decision makers and young people.
We recruited 36 young people, aged between 16 and
18, from across Northern Ireland.
They researched an issue of their choice and will
communicate their findings to Assembly
Committees.

8. Project Aims

9. Topic
The young people decided to research 3 facets of
mental health:
• in school
• in the community
• services available

10. Filming

11. Filming

12. Filming

13. Research
The participants were trained in research
methods by Assembly Research staff and
Queen’s University Belfast Academics from
the School of Education.
• Quantitative Methods
• Qualitative Methods

14. Presenting to Committees
The young people will present their films
and research findings to Northern Ireland
Assembly Committees.
• Presentation training
• Catalyst for discussion
• Recommendations
• Policy influence

15. Inclusion and Diversity- we have
supported young people with fewer
opportunities by:
1 Planning for the E+ application
2 Developing a Recruitment Policy and
Procedure
3 Considering Section 75 legislation
4 Ongoing programme support

16. 1 Planning for the E+ Application
Reflecting demography of NI, it was
agreed that we would aim to recruit:
• 18 participants with fewer
opportunities; and
• 6 participants with special needs.

17. 2 Recruitment
• Development of an Applicant Support
Document
• Accessible Application Form/Monitoring
Form
• Face to face visits to ‘hard to reach’ groups

18. 2 Recruitment
Contacted 513 organisations.
All schools – Secondary, Grammar, Alternative, FHE
Action Mental Health The Rainbow project Disability Action
NICEM VOYPIC Youth Action
BYTES Prince’s Trust MENCAP
GLYNI Roe Valley Community WIMPS

19. 3 Section 75 Legislation

20. 4 Ongoing Support

21. Engagement
Committee forward work
programme
Scrutiny
Policy decisions

22. • What are the difficulties faced by the young people in your
projects/organisation (e.g. disability, health problems,
educational difficulties, cultural differences,
economic/social/geographical and other obstacles)?
• What are the challenges faced by your organisation in
supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable young people?
• How have you overcome these challenges?
– How did you engage with young people?
– Who did you work with to overcome barriers?
– How did you support your staff (e.g. training)?
Group discussions

23. • Inclusion and Diversity Strategy steering-group meeting
(October 2015)
• Learning Networks: Widening Participation theme
• Transnational Cooperation Activities (e.g. Tackling
Educational Barriers project)
• Erasmus+ pan-European Project Results Platform
http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/projects/
Next steps: share your achievements

24. • Key Actions 1, 2, and 3: https://erasmusplus.org.uk/youth-
funding
• Transnational Cooperation Activities:
https://erasmusplus.org.uk/transnational-cooperation-
• SALTO Cultural Diversity: https://www.salto-
youth.net/rc/cultural-diversity/ianddstrategy/
• Eurodesk http://eurodesk.org/
Erasmus+ Youth projects
Resources

25. Erasmus+ is the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport.
The Erasmus+ UK National Agency is a partnership between the British Council and Ecorys UK.
Erasmus+ UK National Agency
Find us online
www.erasmusplus.org.uk
@erasmusplusuk
www.facebook.co.uk/ukerasmusplus