Facilitating the transition from school to work (13/04/2021)

A Slovenian project is supporting more than 2,000 young people with special needs – and reducing discrimination and social exclusion – by helping them to make an easier transition from school to employment.

Practical and social support for a positive future (09/04/2021)

Hundreds of young people in Hamburg, Germany, are overcoming challenges and working towards a happier future, thanks to an ESF-funded project that offers them social support and practical employment guidance.

Empowering women in Austria’s low-wage industries (01/04/2021)

With free consultancy and training for Austria’s low-wage sectors, the FairPlusService project is improving work conditions, and finding ways to create gender equality, in a way that benefits everyone

Giving unemployed people the knowledge to find a job (29/03/2021)

In Zagreb, Croatia, unemployed people are being given the opportunity to advance their careers and find work in the tourism industry, thanks to a project from adult education institution Uciliste Magistra.

A focus on skills is the key to job matching (26/03/2021)

What's more important for employers? Is it a worker’s CV, their diplomas... or their skills? In the Netherlands' capital, an ESF-funded project is helping employers find suitable candidates, by focusing on skills.

Dutch project funds local talent and innovation (26/03/2021)

In Twente, eastern Netherlands, the Twente Fund for Craftmanship is giving working people, self-employed people and job seekers professional training and guidance to improve their job prospects.

Creative social project combines culture and industry (24/03/2021)

Nearly 200 women took part in a project designed to bring together the past, present and future of Croatia's textile industry, and to re-establish the link between factory workers and cultural activities

Encouraging entrepreneurship and employment (24/03/2021)

Young unemployed people in Greece can now receive counselling and guidance to turn business ideas into sustainable business plans, thanks to a project funded under the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) from the country's national public employment services.

Students contribute to sustainable public spaces (24/03/2021)

Students from four high schools in Croatia's Međimurje County have become part of spatial and social change thanks to Architecture Laboratory, an ESF-funded project from the City of Čakovec.

Children and schools get extra Support for Success (23/03/2021)

Bulgaria's Ministry of Education and Science is giving thousands of school students access to a good quality of education and helping them to develop their potential with a project called Support for Success

Digital training courses for lifelong learning (23/03/2021)

Staying up to date with the digital world can be difficult but, thanks to ESF funding, people in north-east Italy can now take a number of free training courses to develop and improve their digital skills.

Using confiscated properties to give people a home (08/03/2021)

By renovating and furnishing apartments that would otherwise be empty, a project from the Social Policies department in Italy's Abruzzo Region has been able to support hundreds of vulnerable people, and give many homeless people a permanent hom

Exciting opportunities for young people in rural areas (03/03/2021)

Rural development and the prevention of rural depopulation is at the heart of a project that gives young people in Galicia, Spain, a choice of interesting career workshops

Everybody needs good neighbours (03/03/2021)

Czech project “Neighbours 83” is not only helping former prisoners to learn new skills, find work and become “good neighbours” upon their release – it has also provided vital services during COVID-19.

Building a socially responsible business (02/03/2021)

With ESF help, a Czech “re-use centre” is not only saving municipal waste – it’s creating new jobs and building relationships with the local community.

Healthy Cities improve everyone’s quality of life (02/03/2021)

In the Czech Republic, the National Network of Healthy Cities is helping territorial self-governing units (TSUs) to improve their strategic planning and management – and so improve the quality of life for all Czech citizens

Green ‘soapworks’ offers fresh opportunities (02/03/2021)

In the Northern Bohemia region of the Czech Republic, a social enterprise is not only improving biodiversity in otherwise neglected local meadows; it’s also creating jobs for people in the area

New ways of teaching help the bio-economy to grow (01/03/2021)

A project that brings new digital teaching tools to an old trade is hoping to attract more people to train as timber truck drivers, and so provide a much-needed boost for Finland's growing bio-economy.

Healthier brains make a healthier workforce (01/03/2021)

Finnish universities are helping employees to improve wellbeing and productivity and to be COVID-19 resilient, by using neuroscience expertise to better understand and manage brain health at work.

Better mental wellbeing encourages social inclusion (01/03/2021)

A project called MIOS (Mental Wellbeing and Inclusion in Multicultural Finland) is helping people who have recently migrated to the country to improve their mental wellbeing.

Climbing the Digital Steps to business success (11/02/2021)

As more and more companies move online because of COVID-19, the Digital Steps project in South-Eastern Finland is showing SMEs how to improve their digital skills to boost their business.

Environmental experts promote sustainable employment (11/02/2021)

For more than two decades, the University of Alcalá's Department of the Environment has been carrying out scientific and technical environmental studies, teaching others, and promoting sustainable development and environmental awareness.

Bringing workplace wellbeing management into focus (11/02/2021)

Finland’s FOCUS project offers a framework and digital app to help businesses manage staff wellbeing, and its innovative crisis management tools are helping companies respond to COVID-19.

Making a point: PIN supports Italian innovation (10/02/2021)

Italy’s PIN (Pugliesi Innovativi) project is supporting groups of 18-to-35-year-olds, who have an idea relating to cultural, technological or social innovation, to create exciting business models.

Working ‘More Remotely’ proves relevant and timely (04/02/2021)

A Finnish project, designed to develop remote working skills in leadership, supervision, peer support and change management in the health and social care sector, is proving very timely during COVID-19.

Diversity Promotion is reaching thousands (21/01/2021)

Diversity Promotion, from Latvia’s Society Integration Foundation, is educating thousands about the benefits of a diverse workplace and an inclusive society, with a series of nationwide activities.

‘Cooking up’ more opportunities for young people (21/01/2021)

“Preparing for the Catering Trades” offers young people in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France the chance to obtain not only catering qualifications but practical, professional work experience.

Project gives skills boost to tens of thousands (21/01/2021)

Thanks to a project from Latvia's State Education Development Agency, tens of thousands have been able to take up professional training.

Still delivering high quality career support (20/01/2021)

Despite the changes due to COVID-19, thousands of Latvian students are continuing to receive high quality career guidance, and have even been able to take part in National Youth Skills competitions.

Ensuring all students can reach the next level (16/12/2020)

Thousands of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and students with disabilities now have better access to university education in Ireland, thanks to the ESF-funded Third Level Access project.

COVID-19 hasn’t stopped women from Moving On (15/12/2020)

The Moving On project isn’t just helping women in Ireland to find work and education. It is nurturing their abilities, building their confidence, and enabling participants to feel ready for anything.

Thousands now have greater access to adult education (15/12/2020)

Thanks to Ireland’s Adult Literacy programme, more than 50,000 adults are not only improving their reading and writing – they are increasing their confidence and participation in social and civic life.

Award-winning project is reaching Ireland's youth (15/12/2020)

In Ireland, Youthreach Clondalkin provides a positive “second chance” learning environment for early school leavers. This year, students won national awards for their innovation and leadership skills.

Young people get specialist support that’s Just For You (07/12/2020)

The Just For You project in Speyer, Germany, offers long-term, intensive support to young people who need help to transition into school, vocational training, work or society.

Despite COVID-19, recruiters find the perfect fit (07/12/2020)

COVID-19 is changing the way recruitment works. But in Germany, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, IHK Berlin, is still matching the perfect candidates to a range of “custom-fit jobs”.

New state e-services make life easier for Bulgarians (07/12/2020)

More than 390 “e-Government” online services are already making life easier for thousands of citizens and businesses, by allowing documents and applications to be submitted securely, remotely and fast.

Still helping refugees into work, despite COVID-19 (07/12/2020)

Finding work is hard for refugees and asylum seekers at the best of times. But, despite COVID-19, Germany’s FiBA 2 network is still providing specialist employment advice, training and work placements.

International internships help thousands into work (03/12/2020)

TLN Mobility, an EU exchange programme co-ordinated from Germany, is helping disadvantaged young to discover their strengths, by offering a range of work-related learning experiences abroad.

“Digital” doesn’t have to mean “impersonal” (27/10/2020)

The ‘Digital Red Cross’ is encouraging Red Cross employees in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, to learn and use digital tools and technologies, whilst ensuring that caring roles still have the human touch.

Medical supplies allow a safe return to studies (27/10/2020)

Students in Greece have been able to safely return to their studies in labs and clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to a project that enabled Higher Education institutions to buy protective equipment.

Funding boost for digital business collaborations (23/10/2020)

Extra COVID-19 funding for a project in Denmark means that more businesses will be able to collaborate with knowledge institutions, develop digital innovations and adapt to a rapidly changing market.

Hundreds of families benefit from Digital Inclusion (15/10/2020)

Luxembourg-based non-profit organisation Digital Inclusion sprang into action during the COVID-19 lockdown, offering computers to households with school-age children that didn’t have one.

Virtual classes make home learning easy for jobseekers (14/10/2020)

Training centre Technocité used in-house expertise, high-performance equipment and the latest software to allow its IT and digital trainees to study from home during Belgium's COVID-19 lockdown.

Strengthening retailers’ digital business (29/09/2020)

Retailers in South Funen, Denmark, have received a boost to help them navigate the changing retail landscape, thanks to extra funding for a project that strengthens their digital business skills.

Emergency funding provides essential Patronage Care (03/08/2020)

Local authorities in Bulgaria have been able to provide vital services to vulnerable people during the pandemic, through its home care network Patronage Care for the Elderly and People with Disabilities.

The Matrix offers inclusion and friendship (08/06/2020)

Young people from vulnerable communities in Fundão, Portugal, are taking part in activities to build their confidence and feel more included, thanks to a project called the Matrix.

Malta’s planners board the SpatialTRAIN for success (05/06/2020)

Public sector employees in Malta are being encouraged to study the latest technologies with SpatialTRAIN, a scholarship scheme from the country’s Planning Authority.

One Tablet Per Child has proved to be a vital tool (05/06/2020)

An ESF-funded project created to help Malta reach EU benchmarks in education has turned out to be a vital tool in recent months, allowing children to continue their education effectively during the pandemic crisis.

Postgraduate scholarships for career development (05/06/2020)

Postgraduate education is forming an increasingly important part of every country's economic and social agenda. That’s why a project from Malta's Ministry for Education and Employment is making it easier for people to further their professional development, with a series of higher education scholarships.

Investing In Skills is helping thousands to train (05/06/2020)

In Malta, more than a thousand people a year are undertaking further study as part of their employment, with a scheme called Investing In Skills (IIS).

Access to Employment brings hundreds back into work (05/06/2020)

Employers in Malta are being encouraged to employ people who have not worked for six months or more – especially those from less-employed groups such as people aged over 50, single parents and people with disabilities – with a project that offers incentives to bring people back into work.

Taking the mystery out of good customer service (05/06/2020)

In Malta, Public Administration departments are being improved thanks to a Mystery Shopper Project, created with help from the ESF.

Youth Guarantee 2.0: updates bring success (03/06/2020)

Since 2014, Malta's Youth Guarantee has worked with NEETs (young people who are not in employment, education or training), providing training and other activities to help them find success in the world of work. Recently, however, Youth Guarantee has undergone an update.

Specialist training to help those who help others (03/06/2020)

For staff in organisations that support vulnerable people, the right kind of training is vital. Support workers often have to help people with multiple complex needs, so it is important their knowledge is up to date.

Support and training is the key to employability (03/06/2020)

After being out of work for a long time, finding a job becomes more difficult. Repeated rejections, an aging skill set and a lack of practice with applications and interviews can all become very demotivating.

Vocational Assessment, Support, Training & Employment (VASTE) activities are getting people into work (03/06/2020)

Funding from the ESF has allowed Malta’s Public Employment Service (PES) to develop training and different support measures to help people with vulnerabilities to find work and retain it

Encouraging age diversity to benefit businesses (02/06/2020)

As the population ages, and people are required to work for longer, a project called Demographic Consulting is making it easier for Austrian companies to attract and retain staff, by helping them to create better working environments for everyone.

Easing the transition from school to work (02/06/2020)

For some young people, further academic education simply isn't the right choice after school – but they also lack the qualifications to start work or vocational training. For those facing this dilemma in Austria, the Vocational School can help.

Helping women On The Way to a professional future (02/06/2020)

In Austria, a Girls Centre is helping young women to get On The Way to a professional future.

Everything but pain: learning in a virtual hospital (29/05/2020)

At the Medical University of Gdańsk, students can now learn vital clinical skills in a realistic setting, thanks to the installation of a new Centre of Medical Simulation (CMS).

Career counselling and boosts for businesses (29/05/2020)

More than 150 unemployed people in north-west Poland are taking up training, getting career advice, or receiving financial support to develop their own business – thanks to free help from a dedicated employment project.

‘Competences’ helped Rafał to visualise his future (29/05/2020)

When Rafał finished his degree, finding work should have been easy. But something was wrong: his eyesight was starting to fail.

Helping people with disabilities become independent (28/05/2020)

For most people, everyday activities like making a cup of tea or preparing a sandwich do not require much thought. Some people, however, need a bit of extra help to learn these and other basic life skills.

Labelling good employment practices: Empl’itude (26/05/2020)

In Marseilles, France, a professional network with its own quality mark is encouraging businesses to be socially responsible and share good employment practices.

Intensive incubation helps businesses to grow (25/05/2020)

What's the best way to nurture a business and help it develop? In a Growth Factory, of course!

Jobseekers are on course for a sustainable future (25/05/2020)

In Sardinia, Italy, thousands of jobseekers have been taking training courses designed to help them find work in Europe's green and blue economy.

Understanding Roma culture as part of Hungarian culture (25/05/2020)

"The majority of our society regards Roma people as a problem. However, I believe that we are equal as people, equally important." As third year medical student Tamás points out, people with a shared Hungarian and Roma identity often face increased challenges in society.

Changing perceptions through national debate (19/05/2020)

New Time, a project led by the Diaconia University of Applied Sciences, has been changing Finland's perceptions of the country’s Roma minority – and improving people’s wellbeing in the process.

Inspiring activities to help young people find work (19/05/2020)

How do you get the job of your dreams? For young people in Estonia who were not already working or studying, an ESF-funded project aimed to help them find out.

Career counselling for everyone (19/05/2020)

Free, high-quality career counselling is now available to everyone in Estonia, thanks to funding from the ESF.

New teaching model inspires enterprise… and awards! (19/05/2020)

By taking a successful training model and expanding it to work for a range of subjects, an ESF-funded university project from Finland is helping entrepreneurship to flourish – and winning awards along the way.

Developing digital skills to improve healthcare (19/05/2020)

Digital technologies have revolutionised the health and social care industry over recent years, so it's vital that health workers understand how to use and make the most of them.

Encouraging co-operation for wellbeing and inclusion (19/05/2020)

A project from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health has been encouraging young people to work together in ways which don't just improve their overall wellbeing but help them to integrate into working life.

Targeted support is keeping children in school (18/05/2020)

Tens of thousands of vulnerable children are benefiting from additional classes and access to socio-emotional support, thanks to an EU funded project in Cyprus.

Personligt karriärstöd för unga i Gävleborg (18/05/2020)

Det faktum att så många svenska ungdomar varken studerar, arbetar eller går någon typ av yrkesutbildning är ett problem. I Mellansverige har man dock i ett projekt i Region Gävleborg börjat ta uti med problemet på ett annat sätt tack vare medel från Europeiska socialfonden.

Reducing bureaucracy to improve quality of life (18/05/2020)

For people with disabilities, navigating multiple bureaucratic procedures to understand their rights and access support can be an exhausting job. In Cyprus, however, a new system of assessing disability and functioning is making things easier.

Raising employers’ awareness gets more people into work (18/05/2020)

Hiring people whose ability to work is reduced because of disabilities or health matters can be a challenge for employers. That’s why a project called 'Labour market services related to workability reform' is working with both employers and potential employees to raise awareness of the issues and maximise people’s employability.

Planting the seeds of employment success (18/05/2020)

Unemployed people who want to work are being given training and support from a project in Croatia called Ja želim raditi – or, "I want to work!"

Incentives for employers help people back into work (18/05/2020)

After the financial crisis and the following economic recession, the labour market in Cyprus was severely impacted. Many businesses closed and the country suffered a dramatic increase in unemployment.

Specialisthjälp vid jobbsökning inspirerar kvinnor (17/05/2020)

Det kan vara svårt för människor som har migrerat till Sverige från andra länder att få arbete – ofta på grund av utbildningsbakgrund, språkkunskaper eller kännedom om de lokala arbetsmarknaderna. Dessa svårigheter är ännu mer uttalade för kvinnor, varför den svenska arbetsförmedlingen har utvecklat projektet Mirjam.

Kvinnor arbetar för självständighet och inkludering (13/05/2020)

Med låg utbildning eller liten arbetslivserfarenhet har många kvinnor som flyttar till Sofielund i Malmö svårt att komma in på arbetsmarknaden eller klättra på karriärstegen. I själva verket är det inte bara osannolikt att de arbetar, de löper också stor risk att isoleras i sina egna hem, avskurna från resten av samhället.

Engaging the youngsters in quarantine in Emilia-Romagna (05/05/2020)

The coronavirus crisis has led to major changes in the daily lives of all people, first of all, young people.

One small contract change could get thousands into work (22/04/2020)

By encouraging local governments to add a new clause into contracts when they purchase goods and services, one ESF-funded project could help thousands of people into work.

Gifted children are gifted new opportunities (21/04/2020)

Elementary schools in the Croatian region of Zadar are benefiting from a project which identifies gifted children and educates them in a way that makes the most of their talents.

‘Lumen’ casts light on Croatia’s gifted children (21/04/2020)

In Krapina-Zagorje County, Croatia, a project called Lumen is supporting teachers and other educational professionals to learn how to identify gifted children – those pupils with special talents – and to work with them to help develop their potential.

Vauhdittamo: the one stop career shop for over 30s (21/04/2020)

In Lahti, Finland, around a hundred people a month are taking advantage of a one-stop-shop offering career advice for people aged over 30.

Sharing best practice helps productivity to grow (21/04/2020)

New ways to share information and knowledge about forest management have caused a leap in efficiency and productivity for the industry, thanks to a project from Finland's Natural Resource Institute.

Working with nature to increase employment (21/04/2020)

The Agricultural, Food and Veterinary School of Stanak Ozanic, based in the Croatian county of Zadar, has made free training available via an innovative project called Perma-Horti.

Osuma: inspiring competitors to become co-operators (17/04/2020)

In Finnish, ‘Osuma’ means ‘hit’: hitting the target and being successful. It's the perfect name for a project set up to bring together professionals who have applied for EU funding, and to help their projects ‘hit the target’.

Multiculturalism Festival creates new modern citizens (17/04/2020)

Children at three Croatian elementary schools have been widening their world knowledge with a Festival of Multiculturalism.

New strategies to prevent homelessness in Finland (17/04/2020)

New city-level strategies for preventing homelessness are being built across Finland, thanks to a four-year project funded by the European Social Fund.

Fun peer-to-peer activities improve wellbeing (17/04/2020)

In Finland, young people are being taught how to create fun and interesting activities for their peers, which don’t only improve everyone's wellbeing, but promote social empowerment too.

Online Homework Help Service has hidden benefits (17/04/2020)

In Finland, an Online Homework Help Service isn't just helping young people with their homework – it's also helping higher education students to learn digital and communication skills, and giving them some valuable work experience along the way.

Streamlined prison services improve employability (17/04/2020)

Giving offenders the best possible chance of a crime-free life after prison is the goal of Prison Term as a Possibility, a project from Finland's Criminal Sanctions Agency.

Making Time for Leaders... and inspiring others (16/04/2020)

Time for Leaders is a national initiative to encourage leadership skills within the Lithuanian education system.

‘Out of the woods’ and into nature: Olivier’s story (15/04/2020)

For as long as he can remember, Olivier has known that he wanted to work outdoors, in nature. He also knew that he wanted to make his own decisions and have some autonomy in his professional life. What he didn't know was how he could make his dream happen.

Helping entrepreneurs turn creativity into business (15/04/2020)

For many creative people, running a business can mean learning commercial skills that take them out of their comfort zone. It’s one thing to have creative talent, but quite another to know how to grow and market a business successfully.

New employment strategies lead to social inclusion (15/04/2020)

For some people who have been unemployed for a long time, getting back into work can be a daunting prospect. In central Jutland, Denmark, an ESF-funded project is developing new strategies to create jobs for people who are on the edges of the labour market.

Greater social responsibility for Greater Paris projects (14/04/2020)

Over the next few years, the Île-de-France region – which includes Paris and its surrounding areas – will see some big changes in its infrastructure. New transportation and housing developments will provide many opportunities for new business and, in turn, many new jobs.

Out of prison and into society (14/04/2020)

When ex-offenders are released from prison, it can be hard to reintegrate. Now, a project from the Estonian Ministry of Justice is offering support, including individual mentoring and good quality accommodation, to help ex-prisoners avoid re-offending and rejoin society.

A salad bar with a difference: Mano Guru (14/04/2020)

On the face of it, Mano Guru is a salad bar, serving healthy food to the people of Vilnius City, Lithuania. But underneath, it offers ex-offenders and people with addictions a way to rejoin society.

Training new care workers and changing lives (07/04/2020)

For many years, there has been a shortage of care workers in Cyprus qualified to work with persons with disabilities at home. For people with severe mobility disabilities caused by spinal injuries, including paraplegia and tetraplegia, this often means having to depend on family for help or employing unskilled workers from other countries.

Grants for graduates turn knowledge into business (27/03/2020)

A project that makes grants available to graduates so that they can start a new business – or develop an existing one – related to their studies, is helping to fight unemployment and create new jobs in Greece.

Making local social services easier to access (21/03/2020)

In Central Macedonia, Greece, each of the region’s municipalities now has its own Community Centre offering free support for all aspects of social, working and family life.

Additional support makes classrooms more inclusive (20/03/2020)

Children across Greece are benefiting from an ESF-funded project that brings students with disabilities or special educational needs into mainstream classes, by giving them additional support from teaching staff and assistants.

Community Centres: a social care network for everyone (20/03/2020)

Greek citizens can now access free support for all aspects of social, working and family life from almost anywhere in the country, thanks to an ambitious network of Community Centres.

Support for young migrants at the Jugendcollege (11/03/2020)

In Austria, it is almost impossible to get a job or apprenticeship without being able to speak German. So, for thousands of young people who have arrived in Vienna as migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, a project called “StartWien – das Jugendcollege” is providing them with vital support.

International collaboration is building businesses (05/03/2020)

The European Coworkings Programme EOI is a business acceleration programme with a difference. It not only offers free online training, but gives Spanish entrepreneurs the opportunity to visit one of 20 EU countries. There, they can collaborate with others at an innovation hub, and receive free personalised support to progress their business idea.

Taking treatment for addiction one step further (02/03/2020)

Since 2016, more than 4,500 people from 13 Spanish regions have benefited from the INSOLA Project, which helps people who are receiving treatment for addiction to return to work.

Universities get a research recruitment boost (02/03/2020)

Young people in Andalusia, Spain, are being given the opportunity to work at the region's universities in the field of Research and Development and Innovation (R&D&I), thanks to funding from the ESF.

New types of funding for Poland’s social enterprises (07/02/2020)

Social enterprises in Poland are being given easier access to finances, including loans and counter-guarantees, allowing them not only to complete their vital work, but to develop themselves further.

CIAO provides a welcome for women (06/02/2020)

In Luxembourg City, a project based at a popular meeting centre is helping women to gain confidence and to better integrate into society.

Want to find work abroad? Cook Spanish! (05/02/2020)

Participants in Poland’s “Cook Spanish” project have been preparing for life and work in Spain by learning a range of professional skills... and the secrets of Mediterranean cuisine.

Promoting Poland’s “Best of the Best” (03/02/2020)

A project from Poland's Ministry of Science and Higher Education has been helping gifted students to showcase their creativity and innovation on an international platform – and to win accolades from around the world.

Pedagogical Villages keep cultural heritage alive (30/01/2020)

The Pedagogical Villages project, in the north of Portugal, validates older people’s life experience, and encourages integration, by making them the “Masters” of the villages.

Bringing communities together through the arts (30/01/2020)

A project in northern Portugal is bringing communities together and improving social cohesion through art, theatre, music and dance.

INOV Contacto offers lessons for life (30/01/2020)

A Portuguese international internship programme is giving young people invaluable training – and a life experience they'll never forget.

Internship and Employment: a rudder for young people (30/01/2020)

A project from PO ISE, Portugal's Operational Programme of Social Inclusion and Employment, offers young people the chance to take up a professional internship, giving them valuable work experience to help them into employment.

Helping jobseekers find employment in construction (29/01/2020)

Among those receiving their professional diplomas at Luxembourg's Building Sector Training Institute this year were nearly a hundred graduates from "FIT4 Green & Build Jobs", a project run by employment development agency ADEM and funded by the ESF.

"A door opened": Santos Mártires Parish Social Centre (29/01/2020)

When Dirce Aires retired, she found herself becoming lonely. Thankfully, a friend put her in touch with a project at her local social centre which has helped her to make new friends and become active again.

PEPAL: building professional experience (29/01/2020)

After Nuno Pinto Santos graduated, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to find work. Now, thanks to the PEPAL Internship project, he’s gained professional experience… and a new career.

When no-one else can help, call the A-Tiem! (24/12/2019)

In Ghent, Belgium, a team of work coaches is supporting some of the city's 14,500 EU mobile persons towards employment and positive change.

Engaging groups through culture and creativity (19/12/2019)

Include and Activate! That's the call from the Slovenian Book Agency, which is helping to reintegrate people into society through culture and creativity.

Little Chickens: closing the employment gender gap (16/12/2019)

With no-one to babysit her daughter, Radana was finding it hard to return to work. Now, baby Bára goes to the Little Chickens nursery, mum goes to work, and the Czech employment gender gap is closing.

An extra assistant to help keep children in school (16/12/2019)

A Czech kindergarten has been able to expand its teaching team and offer extra support to pupils who are at risk of failing school later in life – thanks to a new school assistant, funded by the ESF.

Quietly breaking down communication barriers (16/12/2019)

Barrier-free Communication for the Deaf is breaking down the barriers between deaf people and employees of public administration, hospitals and other services, with a simple app called Quiet Line.

Digital Inclusion offers IT skills to everyone (16/12/2019)

The Digi4All project, from social enterprise Digital Inclusion in Luxembourg, is helping to conquer the digital divide, giving more people access to digital literacy skills and computer knowledge.

Helping hundreds of young people to travel and learn (16/12/2019)

The Galeuropa project is supporting hundreds of young people from the Galicia region of northwest Spain to travel and learn, by matching them up with life-changing traineeships across Europe.

New emergency services training helps save lives (16/12/2019)

A new educational programme for Integrated Rescue System (IRS) workers in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic is helping services to work together more efficiently during emergencies.

Teachers and students explore science together (10/12/2019)

In the Czech Republic, ESF funding has helped to expand a national network of teachers and schools who love science and share their experiences of exploration-based teaching methods together.

KolorApp: New technologies for civic participation (09/12/2019)

A new online platform and app are allowing local residents of Kazincbarcika in Hungary to receive information about local life as well as proposing improvements needed in the community.

Happy Frog Youth Clubs: Supporting disadvantaged children (09/12/2019)

Children from poor, rural families with high unemployment in Poland are offered an opportunity to escape the vicious circle of poverty and dependency on social benefits thanks to ESF-supported youth clubs.

Microcredit for Small-Scale Fishermen (09/12/2019)

A FLAG has worked with a private credit company to set up a microcredit scheme for small-scale fishers.

A shop and meeting place for the community (09/12/2019)

The “GOODie Shop” project creates a friendly, inspiring hub where people can get local food, sit down with community members and buy high quality products.

Encouraging more girls into science and technology (06/12/2019)

Computer pioneer Ada Lovelace is the inspiration behind a series of workshops and activities taking place in schools across Spain, designed to encourage more girls into STEM careers.

Giving more young people a Passport to Employment (06/12/2019)

In Spain, the ONCE Foundation is supporting young people with mental health issues by giving them access to more suitable employment training and promoting accessible work environments.

Calling on future portraits to showcase youth training (06/12/2019)

Agence FSE hosted the exhibition "Portraits d'avenir" to highlight the training of young people thanks to funding from the ESF.

Career Guidance with SkillsLatvia General and Vocational Education Institutions (05/12/2019)

SkillsLativa is a national competition for Vocational Education Institutions (VET) students, managed by the State Education Development Agency in Latvia.

Jobsplus Training for Employment (05/12/2019)

Jobsplus provides thousands of jobseekers and employers with successful work experiences through their strong partnership with employers and assistance in the recruitment process.

Helping migrants to integrate and find work (11/07/2019)

In the region of Leiden, in the Netherlands, an innovative educational programme is successfully helping residence permit holders to integrate into society and become economically independent.

EasyMove makes nature accessible (11/07/2019)

A group of inventors in Poland have created EasyMove, a platform on caterpillar tracks which can transport people in wheelchairs, making it much easier for them to access the natural environment.

Passengers help each other on KolejLove Travels (11/07/2019)

KolejLove Travels allows people with disabilities who want to travel in Poland to register their journey details, then matches them with other passengers who can offer support along the way.

Journal Konterbont is helping everyone to learn (11/07/2019)

A digital magazine called Journal Konterbont isn't just helping people to learn Luxembourgish – it's also helping people with autism to get onto the career ladder with a range of IT and admin skills.

Promoting inclusion for people with disabilities (11/07/2019)

In Luxembourg, the Handi(Cap) Emploi project is coming up with new ways to help businesses better understand the needs of people with disabilities and promote inclusion in the workplace.

Access to Higher Education brings dreams closer (10/07/2019)

For many students with disabilities, accessing higher education can be more difficult. Now, a Lithuanian project called Increasing Access to Higher Education is helping to create equal opportunities.

Fertile Alliances are helping more people into work (10/07/2019)

The Fertile Alliances project offers people from rural south-west France the chance to work with local businesses to develop new skills, making it easier and faster for them to find work or training.

“Discover Yourself” – and find your dream job! (10/07/2019)

When Brigita decided to work towards the career she had always wanted, she turned to Discover Yourself, a project from Lithuania's Labour Exchange that supports young people to follow their dreams.

The Amsterdam Approach fast-tracks new citizens (10/07/2019)

In the Netherlands, the Amsterdam Approach offers personalised support for refugees with a residence permit, helping them to find work or training quickly and to integrate fully into Dutch society.

From farm to fork… and into work (09/07/2019)

As a child, Julien dreamed of becoming a farmer. Now, thanks to a project from the Mons Public Centre for Social Action in Belgium, he isn't just working in organic farming – he's helping others, too!

Training prepares inmates for working life (09/07/2019)

Over five years, more than 46,000 inmates in Polish prisons will receive professional training based on local job market needs, thanks to a project from the country’s Central Board of Prison Service.

Jobseekers benefiting from Specific Skills Training (14/06/2019)

A range of Specific Skills Training courses from the Donegal Education and Training Board in Ireland is allowing more and more people to learn vocational skills and find work they love.

Giving new businesses the best possible STAR/T (29/05/2019)

In the Netherlands, STAR/T: Startup Accelerator for Refugees in Twente has created an inclusive, supportive community for people who have migrated to the area and want to start their own business.

“Keeping it safe” leads to acceptance and support (29/05/2019)

Let Us Keep It Safe training allows staff to share important de-escalation techniques with clients at a residential facility in the Netherlands, leading to a better living environment for everyone.

Inspiring young people to achieve an education (29/05/2019)

In West Wales, UK, one-to-one support has been the key to success for the Inspire 2 Achieve project, which is helping young people to complete their education and join the labour market.

A Creative Path to Knowledge that benefits everyone (29/05/2019)

In Slovenia, a project called Creative Path to Knowledge is bringing together university faculties, students and companies to develop innovative solutions to corporate and social challenges.

App academy offers worldwide collaboration (29/05/2019)

In Naples, Italy, technology students from around the world are learning how to create apps – and develop skills for life – in an exciting, creative environment, at the IOS Developer Academy.

Setting people's sights on work (29/05/2019)

In Leeuwarden, Netherlands, a project called Sight On Work is creating better partnerships with businesses, and working with unemployed people to match their skills to the local demand.

Helping temporary workers become “Fit for Flex” (29/05/2019)

By encouraging self-development and better communication between temporary workers and agencies, Fit for Flex is creating a culture of sustainable employability for temporary staff in the Netherlands.

Soft skills training is enriching working life (29/05/2019)

In the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region of Italy, "Services for the development of a network of training and guidance in the field of lifelong learning" helps people develop important soft skills for work.

Growing In Digital helps young people and businesses (28/05/2019)

Hundreds of young people and companies in Italy are Growing In Digital, thanks to an innovative project that trains young unemployed people in the latest digital skills and matches them with local businesses.

Learning on the inside to prepare for the outside (28/05/2019)

The Belgian project Learning Inside Out (LIO) offers high quality educational guidance to inmates in three West Flanders prisons, to ease people’s reintegration into society and help them find work.

Helping women into work (28/05/2019)

The Office Worker project in the Province of Bolzano, northern Italy, is helping some of the most under-employed people in the area to find administrative accounting work in their new home country.

Cultivating new skills in the Social Farm (28/05/2019)

Young people with disabilities in the Basilicata region of Italy are benefiting from a project which not only offers practical training but creates a network to support their progress.

Jobseekers learn at work with On-the-Job Training (28/05/2019)

The On-the-Job Training project provides unemployed people in Slovenia with guidance from a mentor, and a chance to learn as they work, bringing benefits to both employer and jobseeker.

Turning young people from crime to community (28/05/2019)

In inner-city Dublin, Ireland, the MOST Garda Youth Diversion Project works with young people at risk of turning to crime, giving them opportunities to learn life skills and be part of their community.

When experience isn’t enough: the EPIC project (28/05/2019)

The Employment for People from Immigrant Communities (EPIC) programme supports migrants into employment, education and training, making an impact on diversity and social inclusion in Ireland.

Learning to succeed with Youthreach (28/05/2019)

Youthreach is an education and training programme aimed at unqualified early school leavers. It provides second-chance education geared to the specific needs of the individual. Youthreach also provides a safe, structured and supportive environment in which to learn.

Closing the entrepreneurial gender gap (28/05/2019)

In the west of Ireland, EMPOWER is closing the gender gap for entrepreneurs by supporting women to start or grow their own enterprise, network with peers, and fulfil their business potential.

Support, encourage, improve, succeed… Motiv8 (29/03/2019)

Motiv8 offers tailored support to people in Manchester, UK, helping them overcome issues like health conditions, debt, drug or alcohol dependency, and homelessness, and to move towards employment.

Helping more people to move in Positive Directions (29/03/2019)

Positive Directions, based in Northern Ireland, UK, offers specialist employment training to people aged 16-65 with a disability or long-term condition, improving their skills and confidence.

Supporting young people in Scotland to find work (29/03/2019)

For young people aged between 16 and 29 in the East Ayrshire area of Scotland, UK, finding work recently became a little easier thanks to the East Ayrshire Youth Employment Initiative (YEI).

Språkträning på arbetsplatsen hjälper till att skapa samhörighet (27/03/2019)

Kompetens och samverkan erbjuder människor som invandrar till Sverige utbildning på arbetsplatsen som gör skillnad genom att kombinera arbetsplatsförlagd utbildning och språkutbildning och hjälper dem att integrera sig på lokala arbetsmarknader och i samhället i stort.

Hjälp till ungdomar att hjälpa andra ungdomar (27/03/2019)

I Sverige hjälper projektet Hassela Movement ungdomar i utanförskap att upptäcka sina talanger och anställningsbarhet, genom att utbilda dem för att själva arbeta med barn och ungdomar som coach.

All good things come in threes: B3 Education and Consultation (15/03/2019)

B3 Education and Consultation, part of the IQ Network, is helping migrants with education-related degrees to have their qualifications recognised in Germany, and to integrate into German working life.

Helping migrants to fulfil their employment potential (15/03/2019)

IQ Network Saxony-Anhalt is helping people who have migrated to Germany to have their professional qualifications recognised – and to fulfil their employment potential.

Improving children’s quality of life (11/03/2019)

More children in Latvia with life-limiting illnesses will have access to care services, thanks to a project from the Children’s Palliative Care Society that will boost its promotional activities.

Children’s snow bikes get a big push (11/03/2019)

In Latvia, woodworker Artūrs Immermanis has been able to grow an interesting idea into an international business, thanks to funding from the ESF.

Together beyond silence (11/03/2019)

Together Beyond Silence offers deaf and hearing-impaired women specialist support and better access to information during and after childbirth, marking a new era of care in Latvia.

Exciting exchange opportunities from Chance Europa (11/03/2019)

Young people from Southern Hesse, Germany, are gaining vital work, cultural and language experience, thanks to Chance Europa’s exchange programmes and support.

Production Schools offer young people a new chance (11/03/2019)

Young people in Saxony, Germany, are being urged to take up the chance of individual support – including training in a range of vocational and social skills – offered by one of ten Production Schools.

SoFIT serves up jobs, training and integration (11/03/2019)

Young migrants and refugees in Germany are being given the chance of a professional catering career thanks to SoFIT, a project from social enterprise Graefewirtschaft.

Select Actiris finds employers the perfect match (11/03/2019)

Select Actiris works with Belgian employers and jobseekers to match young people with roles. People like Mohamed, who trained through Select Actiris and now has a permanent contract in a job he loves.

Making school accessible to everyone (29/09/2017)

Making sure that every child is included, whatever their background, is the aim of a project targeting pre-schools and primary schools in the Slovak Republic. The “School open to everyone” project team has designed a new educational model that promotes the inclusion of children from marginalised Roma communities. The model has been trialed in seven of the Slovak Republic’s less-developed regions. The project aims to ensure that everyone has access to good quality education, by training teachers, assistants and other educational professionals.

Learning about leadership can really boost business (29/09/2017)

Strong leadership is vital to a company's growth and success. That's why the Southern Denmark Business Development Centre created a project called Growth by Leadership, which has helped more than 700 people in Denmark to become stronger leaders and better managers. Growth by Leadership was aimed at small and medium sized businesses, offering a range of training and networking activities through its two main programmes "Growth by Competency Development" and "Growth by Counselling".

The little shop that offered big opportunities (29/09/2017)

For some people, integrating or re-integrating into society is a challenge, but a simple idea from the National Committee for Social Defence (CNDS) in Luxembourg helped people into work by providing some interesting retail experience. The Kleederstuff II project was aimed at ex-offenders, refugees, beneficiaries of the minimum guaranteed income scheme, people with mental health issues and others in need of support. The project was run like a retail shop and involved collecting, sorting, repairing and personalising second-hand clothes to be re-sold at a modest price.

Want to discover your dream job? You can do it! (11/08/2017)

For young people, finding a job can be particularly difficult. Without experience or key skills, it can be hard to know which steps to take. You Can Do It!, a project developed by Asociace Manažerů Absolventů (AMA) and funded by the European Social Fund, was aimed at disadvantaged young Czech people aged 18 to 30 who were registered at the jobcentre but hadn’t yet decided on a career path. Each young person was offered one-to-one coaching to determine his or her interests and skill levels, followed by a series of training sessions.

A way out of the unemployment circle (11/08/2017)

Employers in seven of the less-developed regions of Slovakia have been encouraged to help unemployed people with a new initiative – and it’s already got thousands of people into work. The project, called "A Way out of the Unemployment Circle", offers employers a significant financial contribution in return for creating job opportunities for long-term unemployed and low-skilled jobseekers. It is hoped that the over-50 age group in particular, would benefit from newly-created roles across the country.

Ohjaamo: the “one-stop guidance shop” (11/08/2017)

A new chain of advice centres has been developed across Finland – and it's already changing the way that services all over the country work with young people. Ohjaamo centres are "one-stop guidance shops” for people under the age of 30. The Ohjaamo centre in Helsinki is co-founded by five City of Helsinki government departments and the Uusimaa regional Public Employment Services. Developed based on experiences from a previous ESF-funded project, Ohjaamo focuses on employment and career guidance, but also offers advice about everything from finances to health and relationships.

Helping disadvantaged people to find employment (11/08/2017)

There are many reasons why people find it hard to get a job including a lack of qualifications, having a disability, or being from a low-income household. Sometimes, they just need the opportunity to experience working life and that’s where Dabei comes in. Dabei, based in German-speaking Belgium, helps unemployed people to strengthen their practical and social skills through a choice of workshops led by experienced professionals.

One-to-one youth coaching (26/07/2017)

In the Industrial Quarter of Austria’s Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) state, the Jugendcoaching (Youth Coaching) project provides a free advisory service for young people at the end of their final year of compulsory education. The initiative, delivered by Integration Niederösterreich, is part of a nationwide programme set-up by the NEBA career support network and run by 33 supporting organisations across the country.

No professional qualification? No problem! (26/07/2017)

The “Du kannst was!” (You can do something!) project helps people to gain formal recognition for skills which they've acquired throughout their working life. It is estimated that around 50,000 people in Salzburg have not completed any vocational training. Many have a lot of professional experience under their belts but, without a formal qualification, their chance of finding work or moving up the career ladder is low.

Let's make young people equal in the labour market (26/07/2017)

Poland’s Voluntary Labour Corps (VLC), with the help of ESF funding, has developed Equal in the Labour Market. It offers young people who are not in education, employment or training an intensive programme of support to get onto the labour ladder. The project aims to tackle unemployment levels among young people in Poland, which are very high, as in the rest of Europe. The barriers young people face include lack of experience, difficulties transitioning from school, and inadequate "soft" skills – things like teamwork, time management, positive thinking and a flexible attitude.

From readers to writers (26/07/2017)

A project developed by the Slovenian Book Agency aims to help disadvantaged people to integrate into society – and eventually into employment – by offering a range of workshops with a creative, cultural emphasis. Include and Activate! is aimed at people with mental health disorders and disabilities, prison inmates who are scheduled for release, and people who are undergoing drug rehabilitation.

Helping recognised refugees to fit in and find work (26/07/2017)

By the end of 2015, more than 90,000 people – mostly from war-torn Syria and Afghanistan – had applied for asylum in Austria. One of the most important elements for anyone wishing to integrate in a new country is the ability to find a stable job. That's why Caritas Vorarlberg - part of the international Caritas organisation - has developed Start2Work. Participants spend up to 10 weeks on an intensive German language course, which is followed by one-to-one and group employment training, and the opportunity to take part in work placements.

Life Signpost offers better chances through positive thinking (14/06/2017)

More and more young people who are not in employment or education are coming into conflict with the law. However, in Poland, few educational methods are targeted at young people in correctional facilities. That's where Life Signpost comes in. Life Signpost has developed a series of six sport-based training qualifications for 13- to 18-year-olds in correctional institutions, designed around social integration, with an emphasis on empathy.

Från inflytande till anställning: arbetsrelaterat stöd för flyktingkvinnor (14/06/2017)

I Sverige idag saknar mer än var femte utlandsfödd kvinna i arbetsför ålder arbete. Det är därför som den svenska Arbetsförmedlingen har inrättat Mirjam. Mirjams små vägledningsgrupper, på sex platser i östra Mellansverige, ger arbetsrelaterad vägledning och inspiration för nyanlända flyktingkvinnor. Under en tioveckorskurs lär sig deltagarna om den svenska arbetsmarknaden, studiemöjligheter, ekonomiskt stöd för studier, rättigheter i samhället, och balansen mellan arbete/hushållssysslor. De studerar också svenska parallellt, eftersom språket är ett av de största hindren för att arbeta.

Ett hus vid havet skapar vågor på den svenska arbetsmarknaden (14/06/2017)

Ljungnäsvillan ger personer som är utlandsfödda, nyanlända och långtidsarbetslösaen en öka chans att komma näramre den svenska arbetsmarknaden. Projektet, med bas i ett hus på landet vid havet i Småland, erbjuder praktik inom restaurang- och caféarbete, ekologiskt jordbruk, fastighetsunderhåll och konferens- och uthyrningsverksamhet och ger även praktisk språkträning. – I Småland har antalet arbetsplatser inom industrin minskat kraftigt de senaste åren. Så regionen har fått arbeta med en omstrukturering av arbetsmarknaden, eftersom efterfrågan på arbetskraft i servicesektorn och hälso- och sjukvården växer, säger projektledaren Elisabeth Stake.

Unga människor till studier eller arbete (13/06/2017)

Gävleborg i Sverige har hög arbetslöshet och drar nytta av sysselsättningsinitiativet för unga, Youth Employment Initiative, genom ett projekt som kallas Ung i Gävleborg. Som namnet antyder riktar sig projektet till ungdomar i åldern 15 till 24 som inte är i arbete eller utbildning. Tio delprojekt i regionen erbjuder deltagarna coachning och studie- och yrkesvägledning, samt möjlighet att delta i motiverande aktiviteter och praktik. Projektet Ung i Gävleborg stöttar unga människor att närma sig studier och arbete genom individuella handlingsplaner, men också gruppaktiviteter.

Technical training streamlines for success (13/06/2017)

KOMP-AD brought a network of technical schools together with local businesses to identify opportunities and develop better production processes using digital technology and automated solutions. Thanks to the work of the thirty partners in Zealand, Denmark - including vocational schools, academies and business associations - more than 250 companies could take advantage of on-site specialist training, tailored to the needs of their individual business.

Samarbeten hjälper invandrare att hitta arbete snabbt (17/05/2017)

Genom ett samarbete mellan vuxenutbildningsanordnare och SFI, den nationella kostnadsfria språkkursen i svenska, hoppas man i projektet kunna förkorta den tid som det tar för invandrare att lära sig språket och få hållbara anställningar. YFI integrerar yrkesutbildning med språkutbildning i svenska för att kunna erbjuda ett kombinerat studieprogram för nyanlända, och långtidsarbetslösa invandrare. Att integrera studier på detta sätt befrämjar inte bara deltagarnas intresse och motivation under utbildningen, utan sparar även tid.

Ökad självständighet ... bygger självförtroende! (17/05/2017)

Att börja på en praktikplats är en sak, men att resa till ett annat land för att göra det? Det är livsförändrande! Och det är denna extra nivå av utmaning som gör Active Mobility så framgångsrik. Projektet, som drivs av stiftelsen Activa i Örebro län, tillsammans med svenska Arbetsförmedlingen, Försäkringskassan och sex av länets kommuner, syftar till att stödja ungdomar med funktionsnedsättning att hitta arbete, genom att erbjuda praktikplatser i andra länder.

Ny kompetens förenar ett samhälle (17/05/2017)

Yalla Sofielund, ett samarbete mellan Malmö stad och det sociala företaget Yalla Trappan, har utformats för att stödja människor främst i Malmöstadsdelen Sofielund. Projektsekreterare Maria Svenning förklarar varför: – Sofielund har länge varit något av ett problemområde i Malmö, med fattigdom, kriminalitet och social utslagning. Samtidigt är det ett område där det finns en hel del som pågår i olika kulturella och samhällsföreningar, och där människor visar en hög grad av engagemang.

Att hjälpa människor med psykiska problem att få arbete (16/05/2017)

Människor som lever med psykisk sjukdom har ofta svårt att hitta arbete. Det är därför som sex organisationer i Västsverige arbetar tillsammans om Inkluderande rehabilitering - ett projekt för att öka medvetenheten om psykiska problem och ge människor praktiskt anställbarhetsstöd. Inkluderande rehabilitering omfattar sju delprojekt som inte bara stöttar individer, utan även de tjänster som arbetar med dem.

Giving Roma people a chance (26/10/2016)

A project in Romania equipped Roma people with the skills and attitudes they need to find work and so tackle social exclusion.
ESF Contribution : RON 1 526 144 – Number of Participants : 411

Kick-starting careers in Bulgaria (21/10/2016)

A scheme in Bulgaria provided a job, training and mentoring in businesses for more than 50,000 unemployed people.
ESF Contribution : N/A – Number of Participants : 52 644 in employment

Keeping workers safe on the job (21/10/2016)

A scheme in Bulgaria helped employees stay safe through the provision of equipment and training – and by improving working conditions.
ESF Contribution : N/A – Number of Participants : 563 employers; 3 914 employees

Adult literacy courses aim to help people back to work (20/10/2016)

A project in Bulgaria proposed adult literacy courses for people with low educational attainment who sought to boost their employability.
ESF Contribution : BGN 13 697 643 – Number of Participants : 16 662

Practical training for young construction workers (19/10/2016)

The Institute for Building Sector Training in Luxembourg is offering a practical training course for young people who are already working in the construction sector or who want to work in this sector.
ESF Contribution : EUR 252 500 – Number of Participants : 19

Helping people with autism find work (13/10/2016)

The ‘Jobcoach’ service in Luxembourg provides people with autism who are starting out in the job market with support for finding internships and first jobs.
ESF Contribution : EUR 152 950 – Number of Participants : 33

Technical training for construction workers (13/10/2016)

A project in Luxembourg offers construction workers the opportunity to upgrade their skills to answer companies needs and regulatory requirements and sustain their employability in the long run.
ESF Contribution : EUR 293 700 – Number of Participants : 243

Bakery helps itself – and the local community (13/10/2016)

In Bulgaria a bakery has offered a variety of training options to local jobless people, including Roma, young people and the long-term unemployed.
ESF Contribution : N/A – Number of Participants : + 120

Building a better life in Bulgaria (29/09/2016)

A project in Bulgaria provided children and young people with disabilities the chance to live in good-quality sheltered and supported accommodation after closing old institutions like orphanages.
ESF Contribution : EUR 9 996 000 – Number of Participants : 1 797 children and young people

Finding families for vulnerable children (28/09/2016)

A scheme operating across Bulgaria has given more than 1 000 vulnerable children the chance to find loving foster homes.
ESF Contribution : BGN 25 587 565 – Number of Participants : 1 228 foster families

Shining light on how EU money is spent (20/09/2016)

An initiative in Lithuania provides the public with understandable information about how EU funding is spent on various projects. Fireflies proposes a transparency ratings system.
ESF Contribution : EUR 50 042 – Number of Participants : 630 project managers

Kick-starting the social economy (20/09/2016)

A project in Poland supported the growth of the social economy. The goal was to help social enterprises, charities and non-profit organisation cooperate more effectively.
ESF Contribution : EUR 2 907 901 – Number of Participants : 1 711 individuals and 245 organisations

The European Social Fund is music to the ears! (19/09/2016)

Live music concerts in Umbria, Italy acted as platform to show young people what the European Social Fund has to offer. Dynamic, informal presentations and social media were used to communicate directly to the audience.
ESF Contribution : EUR 42 960 – Number of Participants : 3 000

Helping the vulnerable into work (16/09/2016)

A project in Spain helps socially excluded people into the jobs market. A training and skills course provides individuals with the confidence and motivation they need to find work.
ESF Contribution : EUR 5 837 473 – Number of Participants : 1 500+

Improving access to education services in Finland (13/09/2016)

A project in Finland aims to improve the delivery of education counselling services for young people. The changes contribute to the implementation of the national Education Guarantee.
ESF Contribution : EUR 261 342 – Number of Participants : 100 participants; 20 educational establishments

Making sure IT graduates are “job ready” (12/09/2016)

A project in Poland giving IT students a chance to gains skills and experience required by employers.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 005 962 – Number of Participants : 391 students; 55 internships

Building a better future for refugees (09/09/2016)

A programme in Germany prepares the labour market inclusion of refugees who are fit for work and have already left the reception centre in their approach to training and the labour market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 895.802,58 – Number of Participants : 6769 participants

Generation Spain! Training in the digital economy (08/09/2016)

Marketing Digital Programme, to train young Spaniards in technical and personal skills to ensure their professional success within the digital economy sector.
ESF contribution: EUR 495 758 - Number of participants: 160

Finding a path out of social exclusion (06/09/2016)

A project in the Canary islands helps socially disadvantaged persons find their way back into employment as hairdressers or carers.
Number of participants: 42 - ESF contribution: EUR 171 588

Helping low-skilled youths find a job (05/09/2016)

'Every talent counts' is a collaboration between seven municipalities, the UWV and six partners in education in North Limburg. Low-skilled youths aged 15 to 27 can learn and work via the project.
ESF Contribution : EUR 659 985 – Number of Participants : 658

A flexible path to work (10/08/2016)

Flextensie gives new perspective to job seekers that would have few opportunities without the project. They can work temporarily while retaining benefits and receiving a financial remuneration.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 013 600 – Number of Participants : 250

Today's students, tomorrow's pros (10/08/2016)

A project, implemented in seven universities in Romania, improved students’ access into the labour market in relevant professional area of specialization studied.
ESF Contribution : EUR 4 000 000 – Number of Participants : 5 500

Social innovation helps company rise (09/08/2016)

A commonly developed social innovation plan helped employees and management of a publishing company to improve their workplace and secure the future success of the enterprise.
ESF Contribution : EUR 10 000 – Number of Participants : 28

A diploma and work for former detainees (09/08/2016)

A project by the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice allowed detainees to follow a course and improve their chances of finding work upon their release.
ESF Contribution : EUR 3 921 172 – Number of Participants : 2 879

Preparing young refugees for the labour market (04/08/2016)

During one year, a project in Germany prepares asylum seekers between 18 and 27 years old for training or employment through language development courses, internships, help with applications and career guidance.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 028 371.69 – Number of Participants : 1 016

Coaching young migrants towards vocational training (03/08/2016)

Individual coaching allows young refugees and new immigrants in Dortmund to enter employment. The project provides support in the search for internships or training programmes
ESF Contribution : EUR 57 073 – Number of Participants : 217 participants up to February 2016

One-stop-shops improve access to public services (07/07/2016)

The provision of a one-stop-shops in Hungary is making it easier for all citizens to access public services. :
ESF Contribution : EUR 67 000 000 – Number of Participants : n/a

Helping carers cope with the stress of caring (06/07/2016)

A project in Belgium helps healthcare staff deal with the emotional challenges of looking after elderly people. Managers are receiving training to help staff cope with the moral stress of caring.
ESF Contribution : EUR 112 222 – Number of Participants : >1000

“ACCES” all areas for entrepreneurship training (06/07/2016)

A project in Romania equipped people with the entrepreneurial skills and knowledge to start a business or go into self-employment.
ESF Contribution : RON 6 184 280 – Number of Participants : 483

Ensuring open access to national legislation (06/07/2016)

A searchable database has been developed in Romania allowing people easy, free access to national legislation.
ESF Contribution : RON 14 013 822 – Number of Participants : n/a

Attracting more women to science and technology (06/07/2016)

A project in Belgium harnessing research into language and gender to make the study of, and careers in, science, technology, engineering and mathematics more appealing to women.
ESF Contribution : EUR 99 826 – Number of Participants : >4500

Bringing talent to the labour market (05/07/2016)

A mentoring project in Belgium provides support to highly-skilled foreigners so that they can get quality jobs in their fields of expertise.:
ESF Contribution : EUR 230 000 – Number of Participants : 120, plus 100 mentors

E-prescription – a ground-breaking project (08/06/2016)

The e-prescription pilot programme in Greece set the basis for the system to operate on a nationwide scale and tackle the chronic problems of the Health and Social Insurance system.
ESF Contribution : EUR 440 845 – Number of Participants : ≈ 46 000

Stöd till asylsökande i södra Sverige (08/06/2016)

Ett projekt som sammanför sex kommuner i Sverige för att stödja asylsökandes integration på arbetsmarknaden – och i det bredare samhället
ESF Bidrag: 24 953 751 SEK – Antal deltagare : 1 400

Vårdreformer ska ge personalen större inflytande (07/06/2016)

I ett projekt i norra Sverige införs reformer av sjukvården som gör att personalen kan koncentrera sig på det arbete som de faktiskt har utbildning för.
ESF Bidrag: 7 427 059 SEK – Antal deltagare : 190

Education and employment opportunities for the citizens of Drama (06/06/2016)

The Lifelong Learning Centre in the Municipality of Drama in Greece gave a large number of local residents the opportunity to gain access to education and the potential to gain access to the labour market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 29 809 738 – Number of Participants : 8 980

Voucher scheme helps people into work (06/06/2016)

A project in Lombardy, Italy provided unemployed people with vouchers which enabled them to access training, internships and entrepreneurship schemes, etc. 70% of participants subsequently entered the jobs market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 26 500 000 – Number of Participants : 82 217

Social enterprises for a greener community (03/06/2016)

The “Local actions for the social inclusion of vulnerable groups in the Municipality of Fyli” programme in Greece helped to bring unemployed people into the labour market through establishing their own social enterprises.
ESF Contribution : EUR 372 653 – Number of Participants : 80

Metalwork qualifications for young refugees (02/06/2016)

A project in Germany prepares refugees and asylum seekers for careers in metal engineering since April 2015. They receive German and mathematics lessons, complete industrial placements and learn welding or turning/milling.
ESF Contribution : EUR 147 238.50 – Number of Participants : 36

Digital applications offer new possibilities to classes! (25/05/2016)

The project regarding the promotion of the “Digital School” in primary and secondary education in Greece provided the educational community with new tools and perspectives on teaching methods.
ESF Contribution : EUR 8 850 000 – Number of Participants : 800 000

Research helps participatory environmental planning (24/05/2016)

The program for the support of researchers’ employment in businesses in Greece created a new model of participatory planning of the management of Natura 2000 Sites’ Network
ESF Contribution : EUR 119 196 – Number of Participants : 950

Opening doors to learning for all citizens (24/05/2016)

The “Academy of Plato - The paths to knowledge” project in Greece offered 12 000 pupils, students and adult citizens the opportunity to participate in educational and social networking activities.
ESF Contribution : N/A – Number of Participants : 12 000

Public work focussing on the needs of the local community (24/05/2016)

The public work scheme in the North Aegean Region in Greece gave a job opportunity to 629 unemployed people, covered the needs of the local communities and enhanced local partnerships.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 452 332 – Number of Participants : 629

The right to a family, and working life (03/05/2016)

A plan devised by the regional government of Castile and La Mancha aims to make it easier for people to balance the demands of family life with the right to work
ESF Contribution : € 17 889 056 – Number of Participants : 34 000 people affected, more than 350 companies

Out of jail, into a job (03/05/2016)

A training scheme in Spain helped boost the employment prospects of prisoners by providing work placements.
ESF Contribution : EUR 32 599 – Number of Participants : 109

Bringing greater efficiency to educational assessment (02/05/2016)

A project in Romania introduced an IT system for the processing and evaluation of PhDs and academic titles. The initiative provided a more efficient and transparent service.
ESF Contribution : – Number of Participants : 3 000 PhD students per year

Knowing what poverty really means (02/05/2016)

A project in Belgium sees people who have experienced poverty take up roles with federal public administrations. They use their personal knowledge to help those in poverty access vital services.
ESF Contribution : EUR 3 700 000 – Number of Participants : 28

Counting on women (29/04/2016)

Avanta Steps qualifies women who have been long-term unemployed for jobs in offices and administrative bodies. . In addition to technical skills, the programme offers them coaching and training in “soft skills"
ESF Contribution : 178 129 EUR – Number of Participants : 30

Prisoners learn to set up a business on release (29/04/2016)

Entrepreneurs in Bavaria have formed a network of trainers and mentors to coach prisoners in setting up businesses when they leave jail, thus helping them reintegrate better into society.
ESF Contribution : € 818 107 – Number of Participants : 106

Helping women return to work (29/04/2016)

GUIDE has given help in setting up a business to thousands of Munich women who were previously having difficulties returning to the labour market after bringing up their families or because of their age.
ESF Contribution : EUR 600 000 – Number of Participants : 5000

MCAST: creating world class vocational training (29/04/2016)

With 6 000 students and working closely with industry and employers, the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) is dedicated to equipping people with the particular and practical skills that the country’s industry and economy need
Participants: 6000 - ESF contribution: €22 838 860

Boosting community engagement in Poland (29/04/2016)

A multi-faceted project in Lublin, Poland gave residents a greater say in municipality decision-making. The initiative also helped to integrate immigrant communities and supported local NGOs as they looked for funding.
ESF Contribution : PLN n/a – Number of Participants : Open to all residents of Lublin: 348 000

‘E-Gov’ tools drive efficiency in educational administration (28/04/2016)

A major e-government infrastructure project in Greece is servicing the education sector. Ultimately, the computerisation of school administration across the country will rationalise the use of resources and public spending.
ESF Contribution : N/A – Number of Participants : Serving about 14 000 schools

Helping marginalised young Danes into education and work (27/04/2016)

A project in northern Denmark helped unemployed, socially marginalised young people into education and on to the jobs market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 5 000 000 – Number of Participants : 1 391

Going green in Spain (25/04/2016)

The Spanish Green Jobs programme provided support to create or grow environmental businesses; at the same time, training programmes helped workers acquire relevant ‘green’ skills.
Participants: 1 300 000 - ESF contribution: EUR 22 500 000+

Building a better future for children and young people (20/04/2016)

A programme in Portugal promotes the social inclusion of children and young people. Projects are supported in a range of areas including education, employment and citizenship.
ESF Contribution : EUR 366 730 (2007-2012) – Number of Participants : 2007-2012: ~20 000 participants per year

Staying in school (06/04/2016)

The Ministry of Education and Culture in Cyprus set in place the Programme for Zones of Educational Priority (ZEP), in an effort to promote tolerance and dialogue and in order to eliminate stereotypes through education.
Participants: 4 centres and 8 zones - ESF contribution: €8 970 000

Tackling early school leaving in Portugal (31/03/2016)

A project in Lisbon, Portugal tackles early school leaving in disadvantaged communities through a variety of measures, including behavioural counselling and additional training options.
ESF Contribution : EUR 907 541 (2007-2012) – Number of Participants : 2 000+

Making disadvantaged people fit for work (30/03/2016)

A project in Austria helped people with migrant backgrounds and Austrians with a lack of education to improve their basic education and language learning skills, and to strengthen their competences relevant for the job market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 200 000 – Number of Participants : 171

Integrating refugees into the region (08/03/2016)

In northern Rhineland-Palatinate, refugees receive individual support in the form of advice and internship and work placements, so that they make a successful start in the German job market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 181 746 – Number of Participants : 900

Training migrants for the job and employment market (04/03/2016)

The Integrationshaus is a project in Austria that works for the acceptance and integration of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants through training and the appreciation of previous training.
ESF Contribution : EUR 228 000 – Number of Participants : 64 (four groups of 16)

Building paths for refugees into jobs (04/03/2016)

A project in Germany helps asylum seekers and refugees to integrate into the job market through advice, education or training and employment.
ESF-Beitrag : EUR 2 077 979 – Teilnehmer : More than 1 860

Making the job market accessible to refugees (25/02/2016)

An ESF-project in Vienna advised migrants on the recognition of their foreign qualifications, guided them through the recognition and evaluation process and informed about them occupations and training and higher education opportunities.
ESF Contribution : EUR 491 750.87 – Number of Participants : 3 298

Helping the young unemployed build their own businesses (23/02/2016)

A programme in Madeira, Portugal is helping young unemployed people start their own businesses by providing financial and technical support.
ESF Contribution : EUR 4 210 379 – Number of Participants : 100+

Sweet employment (23/02/2016)

Thanks to the ESF-backed PEED programme, a formerly unemployed project leader was able to create and develop her own entreprise and employ 23 people.
ESF Contribution : EUR 4 210 379 – Number of Participants : 100+

“EPIC” outcomes for migrant jobseekers in Ireland (12/02/2016)

The Irish EPIC programme provides migrants with training and practical support to help them secure employment and thereby overcome social exclusion.
ESF Contribution : EUR 325 800 per year – Number of Participants : Around 250 per year

Helping new mothers back into work (05/02/2016)

A project in the Czech Republic helped women at the end of maternity leave return to the labour market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 212 370 – Number of Participants : 200+

The right skills for a mobile workforce (05/02/2016)

Intensive German language courses gave unemployed Czech people the skills they needed to try and get work in a neighbouring German region.
ESF Contribution : EUR 185 631 – Number of Participants : 63

Helping addicts live better lives (04/02/2016)

A project in Latvia offered addicts a range of social, health and psychological support so that they could make a new start.
ESF Contribution : EUR 250 496 – Number of Participants : 55

Better public services, closer to the citizen (03/02/2016)

Alytus City Municipal Administration in Lithuania implemented a reform process in order to improve the quality of its public services. The changes included the establishment of a one-stop-shop service.
ESF Contribution : EUR 318 352 – Number of Participants : 170

Learning about Greek language, culture and history (27/01/2016)

A project in Greece gave immigrants the opportunity to learn the Greek language while immersing themselves in the country’s culture and history. The goal was to improve their social integration.
ESF Contribution : N/A – Number of Participants : ~3000 per year

Helping migrant families settle into Greek life (27/01/2016)

A project based in Greece gave students and parents from immigrant communities free training in Greek language, culture and civilisation. The goal was to strengthen their integration into Greek life.
ESF Contribution : N/A – Number of Participants : 80 000

Portugal’s One-Stop-Shops help newcomers settle in (19/01/2016)

A one-stop-shop service for migrants to Portugal provides access to a wide range of support. Customers can get help with issues like work, legal matters and family reunification.
ESF Contribution : EUR 4 990 000 – Number of Participants : About 360 000 service users per year

Integration through work opportunities (11/01/2016)

Social stigma and a lack of support often mean that the long-term unemployed, including those with disabilities, do not always have the opportunity to reach their professional potential. The Agrigent project in Germany is trying to change this, for the benefit of participants, the environment and the community at large.
ESF contribution: €1 561 962 - Number of participants: 412

Female Offenders Train as Cooks (19/11/2015)

Women prisoners improve their employment prospects by training as cooks or hospitality specialists.
ESF Contribution : EUR 102 400 – Number of Participants : 13

Training for the Deaf in Catering (18/11/2015)

The inclusive cafe-restaurant at the Centre for the Deaf in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, offers training and professional orientation for youths with hearing impairments, who train alongside young adults without impaired hearing.
ESF Contribution : EUR 134 500 – Number of Participants : 14

Military methods help turn young lives around (17/11/2015)

A project in the United Kingdom secured the help of ex-military officers to turn around the lives of socially marginalised young people and promote the value of work.
ESF Contribution : EUR 135 000 – Number of Participants : 51

It’s never too late to start a business! (13/11/2015)

A project in Poland provided training, counselling and grants to help people aged 50 and over start their own businesses.
ESF Contribution : EUR 594 334 – Number of Participants : 49

Getting Refugees Ready to Work (03/11/2015)

A project in Berlin seeks to help refugees to integrate through language courses, pre-vocational training courses and work placements.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 101 000 – Number of Participants : 2 500

Teamwork brings results for older jobseekers (16/10/2015)

A project base in Poland helped people aged 45 and over to find their way back into the labour market by using self-help and teamwork to build skills and confidence.
ESF Contribution : EUR 461 062 – Number of Participants : 120

“Green” training helps people find work – and themselves (16/10/2015)

A Spanish project helped unemployed, marginalised people with mental health issues take training in the gardening sector.
ESF Contribution : EUR 74 349 – Number of Participants : 269

Helping marginalised Roma pupils make the grade (15/10/2015)

A project in Slovakia provided a range of activities to help Roma pupils do better at primary school in order to improve their educational attainment and life chances.
ESF Contribution : EUR 177 679 – Number of Participants : 177 pupils; 15 staff

Tailored guidance on finding work (14/10/2015)

The Participation Factory enables jobseekers on benefits to get guidance on finding paid work. They learn from the experiences of other jobseekers and complete courses.
ESF Contribution : EUR 123 076 – Number of Participants : +- 100 participants

Support measures to keep children in school (14/10/2015)

The Puglia region in Italy developed a project to keep children in school longer in order to improve their life chances and future job prospects.
ESF Contribution : EUR 75 234 327 – Number of Participants : 200 225

Placements give long-term unemployed a route to work (14/10/2015)

An project operating across Ireland provided work placements for long-term unemployed people, mainly with small businesses
ESF Contribution : EUR 10 000 000 – Number of Participants : 6 500

Marche students link universities and companies (13/10/2015)

A project brings together universities and companies in the Marche region and proposes doctoral grants that promote applied research integrating academic knowledge and business practices and aiming to innovation.
ESF Contribution : +/- EUR 4 500 000 – Number of Participants : +/- 320

Job creation scheme helps thousands of young people (09/10/2015)

A job creation scheme has helped young people into work in Slovakia. The government offered a financial contribution to private sector employers to encourage them to take on new staff.
ESF Contribution : EUR 42 000 000 – Number of Participants : 12 800+

Strengthening education for Roma children (06/10/2015)

A project in Slovakia uses a holistic approach to improve the educational attainment of children from marginalised Roma communities.
ESF Contribution : EUR 24 989 002 – Number of Participants : 22 328 Roma pupils; 5 325 parents; 2 820 education professionals

A cooperative approach to job creation (05/10/2015)

A project based in Belgium has established a cooperative business that employs people from disadvantaged groups.
ESF Contribution : EUR 39 143 – Number of Participants : 3 initially

A new form of help: working for good causes (22/09/2015)

The pagalbadarbais.lt web page brings together individuals and organisations in need of assistance with volunteers who are able to offer this assistance.
ESF Contribution : EUR 62 418.18 – Number of Participants : 689 helpers, 615 recipients

Selected specialists for schools (21/09/2015)

A project in Lithuania allows young people to work as teachers in one of the schools participating in the project. The project team offers one-to-one support for the participants and arranges courses for them.
ESF Contribution : EUR 208 789.37 – Number of Participants : Over 70

A professional development opportunity for experienced teachers (18/09/2015)

Training courses for Lithuanian teachers with at least eight years’ experience enables participants to acquire new qualifications, to observe work in a difference environment, or to develop new teaching materials.
ESF Contribution : EUR 2 067 696.18 – Number of Participants : Over 100

Professional development in the volunteer community (18/09/2015)

hrough volunteering in various fields and attending training courses, young people in Lithuania gain experience for their future careers.
ESF Contribution : EUR 230 101.66 – Number of Participants : 2056 registered volunteers, 159 organisations

Volunteering – a springboard into work (17/09/2015)

Young people in Lithuania who are neither in work nor in training are given the opportunity of serving as a volunteer in an organisation of their choice and, thus, of acquiring new skills or even finding a job.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 158 480.07 – Number of Participants : 681

The opportunities are there – let's use them (17/09/2015)

Through collaboration with local communities, socially disadvantaged people in rural areas of Lithuania are offered personalised advice and training sessions that assist in adapting the available resources for work.
ESF Contribution : EUR 671 217.34 – Number of Participants : 192

I love the community (31/08/2015)

The Amo SAC project in Santo António dos Cavaleiros, in Loures, Portugal promotes the social, educational and vocational inclusion of young children and their families, who are mostly immigrants, in the community.
ESF Contribution : EUR 197,301.00 – Number of Participants : 490

From unemployed to photographer within 18 months (31/08/2015)

Almost 40 schools throughout Latvia provide young people with an opportunity to spend 12–18 months taking up a profession free of charge, receiving a scholarship and getting their first work experience.
ESF Contribution : EUR 12 116 700 – Number of Participants : y

Digital skills promote competitiveness of SMEs (31/08/2015)

The project provides employees of Latvian SMEs with an opportunity to attend computer skills training courses, thus enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of the company.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 600 000 – Number of Participants : 6 500

Specialised training for young people to promote employability (31/08/2015)

The IPN training department works to promote the employability of young graduates, stimulating practical, creative and innovative application and better adaptation to the labour market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 439,297.60 – Number of Participants : 1,184

Supporting the integration of immigrants to live dignified lives (31/08/2015)

The Portuguese Jesuit Refugee Service’s local support centre for the integration of immigrants is dedicated to receiving and integrating people in the Portuguese communities. The mission attends to and supports the immigrant with social and work contacts and during the process of voluntary return.
ESF Contribution : EUR 383,736.78 – Number of Participants : 1,215

Student assessment for tailor-made education (24/07/2015)

The University of Szeged set up a comprehensive assessment method testing students’ skills, providing tools and training teachers to create a more individual-based and effective educational system.
ESF Contribution : EUR 2 334 000 – Number of Participants : 113 032

Turning Hungary’s museums into tools of education (24/07/2015)

Through a comprehensive training programme for employees, Hungary’s museums were supported in their transformation into modern exhibitions with a visitor- and school-friendly environment.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 380 522 – Number of Participants : 593

Danish-Hungarian project reaches out to those on the margins (24/07/2015)

The First Hungarian-Danish Production School specialising in helping disadvantaged people often destined for long-term unemployment assisted 310 people in western Hungary with vocational training and job-seeking.
ESF Contribution : EUR 578 168 – Number of Participants : 310

Getting 120 homeless off the street and into jobs (24/07/2015)

The project helped 120 unemployed homeless people in Budapest to get temporary or permanent housing, and strengthen their life skills that will allow them to be successful on the job market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 410 200 – Number of Participants : 120

Hungarian project helps poor climb the social ladder (23/07/2015)

A comprehensive project in Pecs, Hungary worked to save an impoverished district by rehabilitating homes, providing training, guidance and education to locals to help them find jobs and improve their life-chances.
ESF Contribution : EUR 476 000 – Number of Participants : 109

Thousands embrace opportunities to learn new skills (15/07/2015)

A project in Hungary gives thousands of people the chance to improve their education and acquire new skills through vocational training, thereby improving their employability.
ESF Contribution : HUF 44 000 000 000 – Number of Participants : 160 000+

24/7: Always there for unemployed young people (26/06/2015)

The 24/7 Project supports disadvantaged, long-term unemployed young people in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf district of Berlin round the clock (even on public holidays and at weekends)
ESF Contribution : 634 978.86 EUR – Number of Participants : 1125

JUNIOR –Students experience business (26/06/2015)

Students experience business in what are referred to as student companies, from the initial idea to implementation. Through this, the students develop an important set of skills for their future careers.
ESF Contribution : 467 500 EUR – Number of Participants : over 3600

100 extra opportunities (25/06/2015)

A project in North-Rhine Westphalia offers guided and supported vocational training for young people with disabilities with the aim of integrating them into the mainstream labour market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 2.3 million per year – Number of Participants : Up to 150 per year

Tradition and innovation: Shoes in Italy (25/06/2015)

Part of the Italian design tradition, the Shoes in Italy project has trained 16 young people as artisan shoe designers, giving them a start in the working world.
ESF Contribution : EUR 115,000 – Number of Participants : 16

Unemployed over-45s: there's work for them too (25/06/2015)

A programme launched to get long-term unemployed older persons aged over 45 back to work: consulting and coaching for 320 people and contacts with companies in the area
ESF Contribution : 476,971.59€ – Number of Participants : 320

The brains of the Marche region at CERN with “Che fisico!” (18/06/2015)

A project promoting excellence in training, awarding scholarships to graduates from the Marche region in Italy to carry out research projects at CERN, Geneva, followed by internships at Italian businesses and organisations.
ESF Contribution : EUR 328 000 – Number of Participants : 4-6 participants per year

A green network for young people (18/06/2015)

The project “Il Golfo fa rete”, run by the Liguria regional authorities, offers eleven training courses for young people focusing on the green economy and the marine economy.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 598 412 – Number of Participants : 149

Credit to create entrepreneurs (18/06/2015)

A project run by the Marche regional authorities supporting entrepreneurship among those who are unemployed and women over 35 by granting microcredit and providing guidance.
ESF Contribution : EUR 7.9 million – Number of Participants : 1300

Ways out of violence (17/06/2015)

A programme run by the Piedmont regional authorities, Italy, to protect and reintegrate women who have been victims of domestic violence and trafficking.
ESF Contribution : EUR 11 800 – Number of Participants : >300

Getting creative with digital skills (15/06/2015)

A training project in the United Kingdom offers people in the creative industries the chance to learn new digital skills and so boost their career prospects.
ESF contribution: £ 2 600 000 - Number of participants: 1 000

Barking up the right tree (15/06/2015)

Former drug addicts complete courses in carpentry, preparing them for further vocational training as carpenters and joiners.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1,080,402 – Number of Participants : Up to beginning 2015

Sparking interest in science and engineering (15/06/2015)

A project in the United Kingdom seeks to inspire young people to think about a career in science or engineering.
ESF contribution: £ 2 100 000 - Number of participants: 7 000

Securing skills to launch a new career (12/06/2015)

A project based in Wales, UK that helps employees from two decommissioned nuclear power stations develop new skills required by the local economy.
ESF contribution: £ 2 300 000 - Number of participants: 1 200+

Successfully combine family life with work (12/06/2015)

The project offers young parents (including single-parents), and other individuals who care for family members and are therefore unable to work full-time, the opportunity to complete part-time vocational training courses.
ESF Contribution : 3 912 380 EUR – Number of Participants : 3,220

Young entrepreneurs start to grow in the classroom (11/06/2015)

Learn the basics of entrepreneurship at school through play. The Going to Business School project run by the Umbria regional authority teaches 17-year-olds in 40 schools how to develop a business idea.
ESF Contribution : EUR 250,000 – Number of Participants : 900

A helping hand goes a long way in rural Scotland (10/06/2015)

A project based in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland promoted social enterprise initiatives to help isolated communities run and access a variety of services.
ESF contribution: £ 954 000 - Number of participants: 780+

Green shoots for the ageing forestry sector (10/06/2015)

A project in Scotland, UK, provided apprenticeships and student placements in the forestry sector.
ESF Contribution : £ 840 945

“Matchmaking” young researchers and SMEs (09/06/2015)

A project in Wales brings young researchers and SMEs together. The postgraduate students work on projects that address the companies’ research needs.
ESF contribution: £ 20 300 000 - Number of participants: 450 projects; 380 companies

Bicycle workshop (09/06/2015)

This project in southern Germany offers training and em-ployment to the long-term unemployed and to individuals who face a number of barriers to employment.
ESF Contribution : 96,000 EUR – Number of Participants : 77

Meeting demand for green energy skills (08/06/2015)

A project in the Highlands of Scotland provided young people with apprenticeships and other training options which matched skills requirements in the growing green energy industry.
ESF contribution: GBP 559 343 - Number of participants: 102

On the road to improved mobility and integration (28/05/2015)

A project in Corsica, France allowed people to rent vehicles at low cost for getting to their places of work or training, while also providing work-place training at a garage.
ESF Contribution : EUR 131 581 – Number of Participants : >100

Lotsendienst (Pilot service) for migrants (27/05/2015)

An ESF project in Brandenburg helps hundreds of migrants to establish businesses – with great success.
ESF Contribution : EUR 2,197,500 (2004-2014, 75%, since 2015 80% of the total expenditure) – Number of Participants : 1,020

Startbahn: on your marks, get set, independently! (26/05/2015)

Startbahn project is helping unemployed people in rural areas of Northern Germany to set up their own local business, helping to draw up business plans, getting support and knowledge needed.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1,036,000 (Jan. 08 - Sept. 14) – Number of Participants : 4,000

Social workers help Roma inclusion (04/05/2015)

A project through which two social workers provide assistance to the Roma population of Krivany and helps creating links between the different parts of the community
ESF Contribution : EUR 20 762 – Number of Participants : EUR 24 426

Sharpening the skills of civil servants (04/05/2015)

The ESF helped fund training courses for Slovak civil servants to boost their ICT, language and diplomacy skills.
ESF Contribution : EUR 281 987 – Number of Participants : 186

Hands-on training, down on the farm (30/04/2015)

A project in Slovenia provided job training for people from vulnerable groups based at an eco-social farm, which was established as a model of social entrepreneurship.
ESF Contribution : EUR 849 566 – Number of Participants : 70

Active ageing scheme tackles social isolation (29/04/2015)

An active ageing project in Slovakia offered socially isolated people over 50 the chance to learn new skills and get more out of life.
ESF Contribution : EUR 91 646 – Number of Participants : 96

Creative opportunities for Belgian jobseekers (29/04/2015)

A project in Belgium offers a unique training programme in the performing arts for jobseekers and young people, and helps them develop the confidence to compete in the jobs market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 57 000 per year – Number of Participants : 24 per year

College helps to prepare young people for work (28/04/2015)

The provision of teacher training and modern equipment is helping Tlmače Technical College in Slovakia improve its students’ chances in the labour market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 271 010 – Number of Participants : 228 students; 21 staff

Offering prisoners a second chance (14/04/2015)

Multiple projects in Spain give offenders the opportunity to prepare for working life through training and placements.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 382 107 – Number of Participants : 711

Café Herman makes everyone welcome (27/03/2015)

A project based in Mechelen, Belgium brought business people from immigrant communities closer to local people and services, thereby reducing their social isolation.
ESF Contribution : EUR 149 000x – Number of Participants : 120

Developing skills and building confidence (27/03/2015)

A project in Flanders, Belgium has given young people the chance to obtain skills and work experience through internships.
ESF Contribution : EUR 3 119 996 – Number of Participants : 3 800+

Jobseekers find confidence in teamwork (26/03/2015)

A project in Spain combines teamwork, training and guidance to help people find their way into the jobs market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 165 000 – Number of Participants : 80

Disabled people land jobs thanks to special web portal (26/03/2015)

A jobs portal in Spain is helping disabled people get jobs and find suitable training options.
ESF Contribution : EUR 700 000 – Number of Participants : 200 000+ disabled people; 4 000 employers

Promoting equal opportunities in Rioja (26/03/2015)

An initiative running in La Rioja, Spain is designed to ensure equal opportunities for men and women when they access employment training schemes that are part funded through the ESF.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 448 886 – Number of Participants : -

Creating prospects with PUSH (23/03/2015)

A project in Pforzheim, Germany, provided consulting and opened access to vocational training for youth who did not finish school with a qualification
ESF Contribution : 498 000 EUR – Number of Participants : 79

“Heavy Metal“: ESF project promotes metal-working (20/03/2015)

A project in Germany addressed young people, including from migrant families and especially young women, who are interested in practical work and in learning a profession in metalworking
ESF Contribution : 354 815.08 EUR – Number of Participants : 51 volunteers have become careers advisors and a further 16 young entrepreneurs have been trained, more than 700 multipliers via this and ca. 1000 young people reached.

La Maison du design helps train creators (10/03/2015)

In Mons, the Maison du design enables creators to grow their business by helping them find funding and develop a communication strategy and by running management courses.
ESF Contribution : EUR 766 000 – Number of Participants : ~20 / year

Education and innovation in the maritime sector (09/03/2015)

The Danish Maritime Cluster project set of to develop and offer educational - innovative programs aimed towards the Danish Maritime sector.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1.800.000 – Number of Participants : Several thousand

Encouraging entrepreneurship in rural Spain (26/02/2015)

An entrepreneurship project in rural Spain helping people from an immigrant background develop sustainable businesses and self-employment options.
ESF Contribution : EUR 66 754 – Number of Participants : 116

Prison bakery gives offenders a second chance (12/02/2015)

The Bad Boys Bakery, based in a London prison, provides offenders with a chance to learn new skills in the catering sector, thereby improving their chances of finding work on the outside.
ESF Contribution : £ 206 000 – Number of Participants : 100+

Microloans give excluded people a chance to prosper (02/02/2015)

A project in Italy is providing microloans to people who have been excluded from traditional sources of lending.
ESF Contribution : EUR 58 285 714 – Number of Participants : 1 200

Strengthening human capital in high-tech industries (29/01/2015)

A project in Italy is strengthening human capital in a number of high-tech economic sectors, notably health and biotechnologies.
ESF Contribution : EUR 4 118 626 – Number of Participants : 160

Helping the unemployed score in the jobs market (29/01/2015)

In Belgium, a football club’s mental coaches help unemployed young people find confidence and motivation for work.
ESF Contribution : EUR 119 953 – Number of Participants : 22

Promotion of employment for people with ADHD in the Randers area (23/01/2015)

A project in Denmark working to ensure that persons with ADHD can be retained on the labour market or can undergo training with an approach customised to each individual’s situation.
ESF Contribution : DKK 4,950,993 – Number of Participants : 150

Breaking isolation by training young people (22/01/2015)

A project on the Danish island of Bornholm improves training opportunities for young people in order to boost business and retain inhabitants.
ESF Contribution : DKK 21,251,186 – Number of Participants : 1,232

Boosting civil society organisations in Croatia (27/11/2014)

A project in Croatia is boosting the capacity of civil society organisations while promoting volunteering, especially as a way of improving people’s employability.
ESF Contribution : EUR 175 968 – Number of Participants : 33 CSOs and 60 of their members

Easing the transition between school and work (27/11/2014)

A project based in Austria helped disadvantaged youngsters make the transition from school to working life
ESF Contribution : EUR 435 000

Making new entrepreneurs in Slovenia (26/11/2014)

A project in Slovenia helps unemployed, educated young people to bring out their entrepreneurial talents.
ESF Contribution : EUR 3 305 101 – Number of Participants : 200+

Bridging the gap between working life and retirement (26/11/2014)

A project in southern Austria gave older unemployed people the chance of work before retirement.
ESF Contribution : EUR 174 799 – Number of Participants : 13

Improving the curriculum for students – and teachers (26/11/2014)

A project in Croatia led to improvements in a school curriculum for the study of agriculture. The end goal was to improve job opportunities for students.
ESF Contribution : EUR 195 099 – Number of Participants : 60 students; 15 teachers

Keeping hold of talent (06/11/2014)

A scheme in Slovenia provides young people with company scholarships. The scheme helps tackle the brain drain by giving regional firms the opportunity to recruit quality staff.
ESF Contribution : EUR 11 600 000 – Number of Participants : 3 400

Good for jobs, good for the environment... (06/11/2014)

A project in Slovenia provides work for long-term unemployed women who work in centres which reuse and sell unwanted products to the public.
ESF Contribution : EUR 682 000 – Number of Participants : 6

Getting youngsters ready for work – and life (05/11/2014)

A project in Austria helps young people prepare for the world of work by offering a variety of vocational, social and skills training.
ESF Contribution : EUR 345 713 (between 2010 and 2011) – Number of Participants : 203

Breaking down barriers to employability (05/11/2014)

A project in Slovenia gave blind and visually impaired people work experience in museums and galleries.
ESF Contribution : EUR 143 927 – Number of Participants : 78

Giving homeless men the tools to make a fresh start (05/11/2014)

A project based in Ireland helping homeless men improve the literacy and life skills and so take a more active role in society.
ESF Contribution : EUR 47 981 – Number of Participants : 8 – 15 per course

Raising standards in Austria’s health tourism sector (24/09/2014)

A project in Austria has developed and run training schemes to raise standards in the local health tourism sector.
ESF Contribution : EUR 256 275 – Number of Participants : 1 533 (until 2013)

In-service training helps teachers stay sharp (19/09/2014)

A project in Cyprus helps secondary and vocational school teachers to hone their knowledge and skills.
ESF Contribution : EUR 12 511 450 – Number of Participants : 4 161

Youth4Work empowers young people to find their way (16/09/2014)

A project in Luxembourg is getting young people into work through targeted coaching and networking among professionals.
ESF Contribution : 208 000 EUR – Number of Participants : 279

Helping young people make the right choices (04/09/2014)

A project in Germany which helped young people make the transition from school to work by finding apprenticeships and work placements.
ESF Contribution : EUR 85 000 – Number of Participants : 60

Helping Roma youngsters find work (02/09/2014)

Thousands of Roma youngsters across Spain have been found jobs, in spite of the economic crisis over the past six years, thanks to a wide-ranging grassroots training programme mainly funded by the ESF.
ESF Contribution : EUR 30.91 million – Number of Participants : 50 984

Grants help young people find full-time employment (28/08/2014)

A project in Greece provides graduate recruitment grants that sponsor full-time employment of young people in private companies for 27 months.
ESF Contribution : EUR 92 042 487 – Number of Participants : 6 535

A house full of help – for all ages! (28/08/2014)

The multi-generational house project in Nordhausen, Germany offer the local community a wide-range of support measures which combat social exclusion and improve life-chances.
ESF Contribution : EUR 90 000 – Number of Participants : 123 per day

From good to great: helping companies grow (27/08/2014)

A project in Denmark helped SMEs to grow by providing consulting in strategy, human resources management, general management, sales and marketing, productivity and e-business.
ESF Contribution : EUR 11 739 000 – Number of Participants : 617 companies

Equipping students with skills for life – and work (27/08/2014)

A comprehensive initiative in southern Italy helps secondary school students improve their educational experiences and career chances.:
ESF Contribution : EUR 419 600 000 – Number of Participants : 430 000 students

Helping disabled people into skilled and fulfilling jobs (01/08/2014)

A project in the Czech Republic gave people with physical disabilities an opportunity to find a job at Bezbatour, a travel agency specialising in holidays for disabled people.
ESF Contribution : 4 914 190. 67 CZK – Number of Participants : 20

A way back into work for former drug addicts (01/08/2014)

A project helps long-time drug addicts who are on a successful methadone substitution project to find a job.
ESF Contribution : 3870708.44 CZK – Number of Participants : 120

Real skills from a fictional company (01/08/2014)

A project prepares pupils with mental disabilities for their future careers by simulating real companies within the school environment.
ESF Contribution : 1 889 763. 89 CZK – Number of Participants : 35

Cooking up some valuable training and life-skills (31/07/2014)

A project in Germany provided long-term unemployed people with a chance to train in the catering profession, while giving support to bolster family skills.
ESF Contribution : EUR 431 000 – Number of Participants :226

Helping nurses back to work by providing childcare (31/07/2014)

The General University Hospital in Prague set up its own nursery with the help of ESF funding to provide affordable childcare to its employees.
ESF Contribution : 4 168 228. 70 CZK – Number of Participants : 56

Giving young people the confidence to prosper (30/07/2014)

A project in France aimed to give long-term unemployed young people the guidance, skills and confidence to find work or training opportunities – with a 70% success rate.
ESF Contribution : EUR 224 000 – Number of Participants : 738

Regione Toscana helps young people become independent (29/07/2014)

Through initiatives in areas such as internships, employment, entrepreneurship, and education and training, a project in Italy helps thousands of young people to proactively manage their careers.
ESF Contribution : EUR 72 000 000 – Number of Participants : 40 000

“Re-qualifying” for the jobs of today – and tomorrow (28/07/2014)

A project in Germany offered people the chance to improve upon existing vocational qualifications through a mix of work and study.
ESF Contribution : EUR 298 478 – Number of Participants : 90 workers and 30 unemployed people

Students jump at the chance of training (28/07/2014)

A project in Germany supported students as they prepared to leave school and enter the world of work
ESF Contribution : EUR 199 462 – Number of Participants : 131

Back to school for Asturias’ women entrepreneurs (28/07/2014)

A project provides training and support to women in northern Spain so that they can start their own businesses.
ESF Contribution : EUR 160 000 – Number of Participants : 138 course participants

Training mentors to help the visually impaired (28/07/2014)

A unique project in Hungary has trained and found jobs for 19 community mentors to help blind and visually impaired people in the Budapest region and raise awareness of their difficulties
Number of Participants : 19

Fortbildning hjälper anställda att stanna kvar i toppskiktet (25/07/2014)

Ett projekt i Sverige gav fortbildning som hjälpte mer än 1 700 anställda från 27 företag att hålla sina kunskaper uppdaterade.
Wkład EFS : 1 500 000 euro – Uczestnicy : 1 700 anställda från 27 företag

Fit for IT – and for the job market (25/07/2014)

A project in Estonia trains long-term unemployed people and helps them launch new careers as IT specialists.
ESF Contribution : EUR 279 775 – Number of Participants : 65

Hiring grants give hope to jobseekers in difficulty (16/07/2014)

A project in Malta provides grants to employers who are willing to offer temporary positions to jobseekers in difficulty so that they can gain valuable work experience.
ESF Contribution : EUR 12 038 125 – Number of Participants : More than 2 000

Grants help even the most vulnerable to get jobs (16/07/2014)

A project in Cyprus helps vulnerable groups find long-term employment by providing financial incentives to employers and potential employees.
ESF Contribution : EUR 6 977 700 – Number of Participants : 1166

New model tackles long-term unemployment in Elbląg (16/07/2014)

A new employment model in Poland helps the long-term unemployed or vocationally inactive to find employment by conducting a general evaluation of each individual with a special focus on health.
ESF Contribution : EUR 393 700 – Number of Participants : 32

School to work for children with special needs (04/07/2014)

A project in Hungary focuses on better schooling for children with special needs, involving teacher training in new methods, and participation of parents and external civil society actors
ESF Contribution : EUR 2.85 million – Number of Participants : Approx. 500

Learning how to save on water and energy costs (03/07/2014)

Trainees on the Clara Youthreach programme benefited from a rainwater harvesting project to learn new skills to serve them in the future, including costing, computing, plumbing and community work
ESF Contribution : 50% – Number of Participants : 25

Keeping unemployed people competitive (02/07/2014)

Over 120,000 unemployed Latvians have kept their competitiveness in the jobs market by undertaking retraining and requalification programmes funded by the European Social Fund and Latvian Government.
ESF Contribution : EUR 95.3 million – Number of Participants : 120 118

A fresh start for highly educated long-term unemployed (19/06/2014)

A project in Croatia helps the highly educated long-term unemployed make a fresh start as employees or entrepreneurs.
ESF Contribution : EUR 148 632 – Number of Participants : 50

Improving attendance at school (12/06/2014)

An innovative Slovakian project has helped almost 400 children with learning difficulties learn what they want to do in life and reduced the risk of them dropping out of school before adulthood.
ESF Contribution : EUR 235 900 – Number of Participants : 390

Få in marginaliserade ungdomar på arbetsmarknaden (10/06/2014)

Dalarnas län driver ett projekt som samordnar offentliga förvaltningar för att hjälpa 18–24 åringar att hitta sitt första jobb och samtidigt ge ungdomarna handledning i en rad livsstilsfrågor.

Successful internships, a win-win for companies and students (06/06/2014)

In Lithuania, a project achieved to get students off to a successful career start by rethinking the way in which internships are organised.:
ESF Contribution : EUR 435 331 – Number of Participants : Over 5000 beneficiaries

New honours degree taps potential of video gamers (19/05/2014)

School leavers passionate about video games can enrol on a new honours degree course in software engineering (games development) in Athlone, Ireland, to qualify for a career in a fast-growing industry
ESF Contribution : €626,115.88 – Number of Participants : >200

Innovativ arbetsmetod ser till att ingen halkar efter (19/05/2014)

I ett svenskt projekt använde man sig av ett produkt-/tjänsteutvecklingsperspektiv för att hjälpa långtidssjukskrivna och arbetslösa att få arbete eller starta företag.
Bidrag från ESF: 968 000 euro – Deltagare: 261

First training, then jobs for disadvantaged groups (16/04/2014)

An ESF-funded project in Central Hungary has successfully developed training services for marginalised groups of society
ESF contribution: EUR 263 861 - participants: 30

Nursery for disadvantaged families with children (16/04/2014)

An ambitious ESF project created an inclusive development opportunity for multiply disadvantaged families with children in one of Hungary’s poorest micro-regions.
ESF contribution: EUR 196 408 - participants: 97 children, 20 external experts

A door to the future (15/04/2014)

The initiative "Porta Futuro" in Rome, Italy, is constantly improving its offer to help job seekers find new perspectives.
ESF contribution: EUR 2 700 000 - participants: 36 500

Improving staff management and health care services (11/04/2014)

An ESF-funded project at Pándy Kálmán Hospital in Hungary resulted in better working conditions for staff and improved care for patients
ESF contribution: EUR 183 145 - participants: 244

Investing in reasearch and higher education (09/04/2014)

With support from the ESF, the University of Miskolc in Northern Hungary has greatly strengthened its educational and scientific potential.
ESF Contribution : EUR 7 261 043 – Number of Participants : 468 lecturers and researchers, 60 students in doctoral training

Berlin needs you! (04/04/2014)

A project in Berlin, Germany helps more young people from migrant backgrounds undertake vocational training.
ESF Contribution : EUR 779 984 – Number of Participants : 1000

Targeted support brings dropouts back to school (31/03/2014)

In Lithuania, a project provided psychological and pedagogical follow-up for dropouts and those at risk to get them back into the educational system.
ESF Contribution : EUR 2 420 000 – Number of Participants : 870 children at risk
3236 teachers, educators and psychologists

Giving young people a chance (28/03/2014)

A project in Finland provides a network of support to help young people find work or undertake training and education.
ESF Contribution : EUR 2 125 418 – Number of Participants : 5 000

Empowering excluded groups through local action (14/03/2014)

In Germany, an ESF-funded programme provided small grants for micro-projects adapted to the local situation and using innovative methods.
ESF Contribution : EUR 81 000 000 – Number of Participants : 235 000

Building bridges to the future (14/03/2014)

A scheme run by the Youth Sociotherapy Centre in Ustka, Poland, helped young people at risk of exclusion become active members of society thanks to a practical approach.
ESF Contribution : EUR 369 543 – Number of Participants : 23

Turning the unemployed into entrepreneurs (13/03/2014)

A project in Belgium offering tailored support to unemployed people who are interested in starting their own businesses.
ESF contribution: EUR 1 160 000 (for 2008-2013) - Participants: 2 350 (for 2008-2013)

Supporting young people to find their place (13/03/2014)

In the region of North Karelia, Finland, a project supports young people at risk of marginalisation to help them find their way back into training or employment.
ESF Contribution : Guidance Center: EUR 2 200 000 - Open College EUR 1 900 000 – Number of Participants : 950

Graduating with a (business) plan (04/03/2014)

In Lithuania, a project helped students acquire the practical skills and experience required to set up their own business after graduating.
ESF Contribution : EUR 758 870 – Number of Participants :1000

A major effort for getting young people into work (28/02/2014)

A range of measures in Lithuania aim to boost youth employment and support entrepreneurship.
ESF Contribution : EUR 9 270 000 (Support for the First Job) - EUR 14 480 000 (Entrepreneurship Promotion Fund) - EUR 2 890 000 (Entrepreneurship Promotion Subsidies)
Number of Participants : Support for the First Job: 20 000 people, 10 000 Employers
Entrepreneurship Promotion Fund: 1 200 SMEs
Entrepreneurship Promotion Subsidies: 600 start-ups

Att möta ungdomar på deras egen planhalva (28/02/2014)

Ett framgångsrikt projekt i Sverige bidrar till att få ungdomar tillbaka i arbete eller utbildning genom att ta hjälp av ”ungdomsambassadörer” för att nå ut till dem.
Bidrag från ESF: 2 816 974 euro - Deltagare: 354

Open college, opening doors (28/02/2014)

A project based in Finland supports unemployed, socially marginalised young people by offering vocation training, career guidance and counselling.
ESF Contribution : EUR 4 100 000 – Number of Participants : 1 250

Making a “success” of work and family life (21/02/2014)

A project based in Lithuania offered support for unemployed people and those in work so they could find the right balance between work and family life.
ESF Contribution : EUR 597 429 – Number of Participants : 389

Helping students realise their potential (21/02/2014)

In the region of Gouda, the Netherlands, a project targeting students with special needs has proven instrumental in guiding them towards employment or apprenticeships fitting their profile.
ESF Contribution : EUR 196 873 – Number of Participants : 170

Coaching the next generation of business leaders (19/02/2014)

The Sunrise Valley Entrepreneurship School AdVenture was a two-year project promoting the creation of new businesses launched in Lithuania.
ESF Contribution : EUR 657 594 – Number of Participants : 140

All the world really is a stage! (07/02/2014)

Two projects from the Czech Republic use theatre and acting as tools for the self-development of socially marginalised young people.
ESF Contribution : First Success EUR 197 340; Renome EUR 228 974 – Number of Participants : First Success 30; Renome 24

From the classroom to the boardroom (20/01/2014)

In Lithuania, a project is equipping science and tech students with the additional skills they need to turn their expertise into a business.
ESF Contribution : EUR 551 620 – Number of Participants : 145 students

Hjälp till elever att gå klart gymnasiet (20/01/2014)

I Sverige genomförs ett omfattande projekt för att förhindra avhopp från gymnasiet genom att kombinera personlig uppföljning med åtgärder riktade till kommuner, skolor och samhället i stort.
Bidrag från ESF: 10 930 000 euro - Deltagare: Runt 50 kommuner

Stepping stones to the job market for rural graduates (20/01/2014)

In the Czech Republic, a project offered tailor-made career support to young graduates from rural areas.
ESF Contribution : EUR 240 000 – Number of Participants : 43

Inclusive education: connecting the dots (20/01/2014)

In southwest Finland, the MAST project was launched to prevent social exclusion by bringing all those providing educational guidance to young people together under a common framework.
ESF Contribution : EUR 325 599 – Number of Participants : 364 students, 557 staff

‘Future-proofing’ the skills needs of businesses (20/01/2014)

A project in Austria assesses the future skills needs in six industrial sectors and proposes training plans for individual companies.
ESF Contribution : EUR 184 000 – Number of Participants : 200 companies

Recycling project creates work – and useful products! (20/01/2014)

A project in Greece gives unemployed people a taste of working life through the creation and selling of products made from recycled garments.
ESF Contribution : EUR 408 000 – Number of Participants : 90

Helping senior workers contribute (20/01/2014)

A project based in Austria for the retention and transfer of older workers’ skills and experiences.
ESF Contribution : EUR 49 219 – Number of Participants : 20

Helping newcomers make their mark (20/01/2014)

A project in Austria helping first-generation immigrants find their place in the labour market.
ESF Contribution : EUR 127 766 – Number of Participants : 100

A winning chance (29/11/2013)

With the help of the ESF, ‘Entrepreneurship in Denmark’ seeks to help non-ethnic Danes realise their full potential by offering free counselling when they are setting up a business in Denmark.
Participants: 3075 unique contacts to entrepreneurs - ESF contribution: €1 232 735

Placements offer a way into work (19/11/2013)

A project in Seville, Spain gives unemployed people a chance to undertake work placements which boost their chances of getting jobs.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 177 379 – Number of Participants : y

Inclusive model boosts employment (13/11/2013)

In Hungary, cooperation between a regional training centre and a major local employer led to the successful integration of disabled jobseekers into the labour market.
ESF contribution: 65 306 279 Ft - Number of Participants: 212

Guidance, training, insertion: the inclusive road to success (17/10/2013)

A project offering a step-by-step labour market insertion programme to people at risk of social exclusion helps job seekers in the Canary Islands enter the labour market.
ESF Contribution : 85 % (2011) – Number of Participants : 1195

Guiding the excluded towards long-term employment (17/10/2013)

In the Canary Island, a project creates subsidised job opportunities which serve as pathways into the regular labour market.
ESF Contribution : € 317 175,29 – Number of Participants : 36

Helping disadvantaged young people into work in Finland (17/10/2013)

The Puente project helps marginalised young people in Helsinki enter the labour market by developing their employability and by finding work placements.
ESF Contribution : € 338 069 – Number of Participants : 185

Re-engaging teenagers who are NEET (17/10/2013)

In North London, a project gets disengaged young people back into education, employment or training by combining different actions tailored to individual needs.
ESF Contribution : £ 730 200 – Number of Participants : 413

Family centre offers practical support (10/10/2013)

A family centre in Hungary’s Győr micro-region provides support services to families with young children.
ESF Contribution : HUF 19 515 196 – Number of Participants : 600

New car plant drives training boost (10/10/2013)

In Kecskemét, ungary, a project brought training programmes in the field of vehicle engineering in line with new market requirements following the opening of a car plant.
ESF Contribution : EUR 915 757 – Number of Participants : 208

Helping those living in extreme poverty (01/10/2013)

A project in Gyulaj, Hungary is delivering a package of measures to tackle poverty and social exclusion
ESF Contribution : HUF 124 076 848 – Number of Participants : 71

Skills are key for competitiveness (16/09/2013)

A training scheme in Latvia aims to strengthen the performance of businesses across a range of sectors through personalised training offers for their workers.
ESF Contribution : Over EUR 25 000 000 – Number of Participants : About 22 000, including at least 700 young people.

Rolling out professional training for young people (16/09/2013)

A project in Bilbao of Spain provides socially marginalised young people with professional training across a variety of sectors.
ESF Contribution : EUR 2 600 000 – Number of Participants : ~2 100

New skills, new perspectives (12/09/2013)

In Zealand, Denmark, a project aims to develop new forms of partnership between educational institutions and employment agencies to improve the job prospects of unskilled job seekers over 30.
ESF Contribution : DKK 18.5 million – Number of Participants : DKK 37 million

Taking people off benefits and into work (06/09/2013)

Support from the ESF is helping the long-term unemployed and other income support claimants in the French Department of Sarthe to get a foot on the job ladder.
ESF Contribution : € 91 097 – Number of Participants : 804 (in 2012)

Making the move from benefits to paid work (30/08/2013)

A project in Slovakia aims to give long-term unemployed people work experience and social support in order to improve their employability.
ESF Contribution : EUR 297 463 – Number of Participants : 40

Training in looking after care home patients (30/08/2013)

In the Franche-Comté region, a project set up with support from the ESF is helping improve the care provided to elderly people living in retirement homes.
ESF Contribution : €575 864 – Number of Participants : 559 (in 2012)

Rethinking apprenticeships for made-to-measure training (30/08/2013)

To provide made-to-measure training, the comprehensive Centre for Apprentice Training (CFA) in Marzy has reorganised the courses offered with support from the ESF.
ESF Contribution : €675 497 – Number of Participants : Over 600 apprentices per year

Women, equality and employment : the fight against double discrimination (30/08/2013)

FETE, a collective interest cooperative company, fights against discrimination in the recruitment of female immigrants with support from the European Social Fund (ESF).
ESF Contribution : €71 761 – Number of Participants : 700 women since 2005

Long-term unemployment: halting the downward spiral (29/08/2013)

In the Sarthe region, a project supported by the ESF helps jobseekers to break the long-term unemployment deadlock.
ESF Contribution : €300 813 – Number of Participants : 304

Offering early school leavers a second chance (28/08/2013)

The ‘Second Chance School’ enables young people encountering employability problems to find their feet in the job market.
ESF Contribution : €499 520 – Number of Participants : 1 197 students between 2004 and 2013

More women in crafts and technology (28/08/2013)

In the German Land of North Rhine-Westphalia, a project raised awareness of gender issues among those providing professional counselling services to girls preparing career choices.
ESF Contribution : EUR 163 600 – Number of Participants : 460 girls / 266 counsellors

Helping young dropouts nurture their talent (22/08/2013)

An ESF-project in Antwerp helps unqualified young people who leave school early move closer to the job market by enabling them to develop their talents.
ESF Contribution : EUR 539 913 – Number of Participants : 71 (between April and July 2013)

Finding a sense of purpose…and belonging (22/08/2013)

A project in Denmark aims to improve the educational attainment of young people who are struggling to find work.
ESF Contribution : EUR 982 713 – Number of Participants : 400

Preparing young people for working life in Europe (22/08/2013)

The 'Fit for Europe' project enables young people from Germany’s Harz and Salzland regions to complete an internship abroad.
ESF Contribution : € 2 255 258 – Number of Participants : 300

Using public transport with a SMILE on your face! (20/08/2013)

Pupils in Leipzig, Germany, participated in a training programme to learn more tolerance, friendliness, safety and helpfulness on public transport.
ESF Contribution : EUR 780 623 – Number of Participants : EUR 1 041 803

Improving the job prospects of young people (20/08/2013)

Latvia’s Workplace for Youth project aims to integrate young people into the labour market through practical work placements and other support measures.
ESF Contribution : EUR 1 182 832 – Number of Participants : 1037

A different pathway for struggling pupils (09/07/2013)

The Productive Learning project, based in the German region of Saxony-Anhalt, replaces conventional educational pathways for vulnerable youngsters during their final two years at school.
ESF Contribution : € 2 570 000 – Number of Participants : 315 students per year

Parents are key to integration (04/07/2013)

An ESF project in Hamburg works locally with the parents of students with immigrant backgrounds to improve school success and to facilitate the entry into the world of work.
Participants: more than 1500 parent reached, 43 trained multipliers (April 2013) - ESF contribution: € 287 482

Strengthening Bulgarian civil society (03/07/2013)

A project in Bulgaria aimed to strengthen links between civil society and public bodies in order to improve the delivery of policies.
ESF Contribution : 227 883.84 BGN – Number of Participants : 204

Giving youth a chance (03/07/2013)

The PCPI project helps young people gain the educational qualifications and competences they need to compete in the labour market.
ESF Contribution : € 842 585 – Number of Participants : + 300

Childcare training aims to boost job prospects (03/07/2013)

The Valiflex project provides training, exams and certification in childcare for unemployed people in Luxembourg
ESF Contribution : € 194 589 – Number of Participants : 100 (target)

Recognising qualifications to aid mobility (03/07/2013)

Bulgaria’s National Centre for Information and Documentation aims to ensure that higher education qualifications gained in different countries can be recognised quickly and efficiently.
ESF Contribution : € 620 500 – Number of Participants : n/a

Life skills – and a vocation – are on the menu (24/06/2013)

A German project gives socially marginalised young people the chance to acquire skills and qualifications in the hotel and catering sector.
ESF Contribution : € 1 208 532 – Number of Participants : planned: 125, abroad placements so far: 96

Making learning cool (24/06/2013)

The XtraVert course helps marginalised young people in Cornwall by teaching them practical new work-related skills in a stimulating environment.
ESF Contribution : 16 732.56€ – Number of Participants : 11

Opening up employment opportunities for deaf people (24/06/2013)

'Towards work' helped hearing impaired people in Lithuania find decent jobs through the use of careers counselling, work placements and mediation.
ESF Contribution : €891 055 – Number of Participants : 665

Matching personal skills with job opportunities (24/06/2013)

A project in Lille, France provides practical support to people of all ages so that they can find secure employment,
ESF Contribution : 15 000.00 € – Number of Participants : 145

Supporting research careers in Castilla y León (24/06/2013)

The ESF is funding a programme that supports the post-graduate study and training of young researchers in Castile and León, Spain.
ESF Contribution : € 12 563 248 - Number of participants: 280

Helping women reach their business potential (24/06/2013)

In the province that has the highest level of unemployment in Poland, particularly amongst women, the Marie Curie-Skłodowska University Foundation launched an entrepreneurship project that gave women the chance to realise their own business plans.
Participants: 323 - ESF contribution: 2 508 508 zł

Fostering effective inclusion of persons with disabilities into the labour market (11/06/2013)

Inclusion of people with disabilities at the labour market -
ESF Contribution : € 110 120 – Number of Participants : 180 people with disabilities from Međimurje county

A modern employment service agency (11/06/2013)

Embracing new job opportunities through a modernised Employment Service Agency in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Youth in the Labour Market (11/06/2013)

Young unemployed people in Croatia were trained in childcare, skills they could put to use in the new playgroups in the community of Pleternica.
ESF Contribution : € 94 551 – Number of Participants : 225 young people in the county

Maternity leave means work for unemployed women (06/05/2013)

An ESF operation in Azores, Portugal is designed to help women back into the labour market through the use of short-term maternity leave placements.
ESF Contribution : € 1 226 589 (2008-2012) – Number of Participants : 554 women

Recognising the value of informal learning (22/04/2013)

A Danish project is offering training that takes into account experience gained outside formal education, to make sure the local workforce has the skills needed to fill anticipated shortfalls.
ESF Contribution : DKK 15 000 000 – Number of Participants : 2500

Targeted help for local residents (22/04/2013)

A neighbourhood association is providing a place for residents to grow into a vibrant, culturally aware, productive community in the heart of one of Lisbon’s most socially challenged areas.
ESF Contribution : € 779 026 – Number of Participants : The neighbourhood at large, population 6 000

Boosting professionalism in the food sector (16/04/2013)

Highly successful training for the food sector in Portugal is seeing almost all its graduates find work.
ESF Contribution : € 6 762 075 – Number of Participants : 100 000

All due ‘KREDIT’ to work scheme (02/04/2013)

A project is the Czech Most region aims to help disabled people into the world of work.
ESF Contribution : CZK 7 357 181 – Number of participants : 60

Training café brings an end to isolation (02/04/2013)

An ESF-project in the Czech Republic gave people with mental disabilities the opportunity to gain work experience and self-confidence, improving their chances of finding employment.
ESF Contribution : CZK 2 966 520 – Number of participants : 28

Breaking down barriers for the hearing impaired (28/03/2013)

A project in the Czech Republic aims to integrate people with hearing impairments into the jobs market.
ESF Contribution : CZK 5 004 265 – Number of participants : 375

A small village with a grand vision (28/03/2013)

An innovative ESF- project is finding ways to improve municipal strategic management and planning activities in the Czech Republic.
ESF Contribution : CZK 7 720 871 – Number of participants : 375

Opening the door to work (21/03/2013)

Through vocational training courses, job placements and wage subsidies, a project in the Czech Republic increases the participants' job market chances and leads to work opportunities.
ESF Contribution : CZK 5 095 267 - Number of participants : 400

Into a job - via Scotland or Ankara (21/02/2013)

Students, unemployed youth and people with disabilities from the German region of Münster can increase their training and labor market chances through working visits abroad.
Participants: 200 - ESF contribution: € 3 326 826

Getting into new perspectives for excluded young people (18/02/2013)

The Prince's Trust (UK) helps excluded young people get into work, self-employment, education, training or volunteering.
ESF Contribution : GBP 750 000 – Number of Participants : Over 40 000 participants per year

Coaching for careers (18/02/2013)

In Germany, job coaches help students find an apprenticeship right after they finish school.
Participants: 4 106 - ESF contribution: € 433 808

Nipping violence against young people in the bud (18/02/2013)

In Slovenia, a project provided training to education professionals, parents and volunteers to help them prevent violence and deal with violent incidents.
ESF Contribution : €630 351 – Number of Participants : 2 900 education professionals

Joining forces to build knowledge (18/02/2013)

Ten Slovenian businesses joined forces to maintain and improve competence levels in their field of activity thanks to a helping hand from the ESF.
ESF Contribution : €176 957 – Number of Participants : 1444

A one-stop shop for businesses (18/02/2013)

In Slovenia, an online portal created thanks to funding from the ESF makes life easier for entrepreneurs by speeding up procedures and cutting red tape.
ESF Contribution : €3 679 780 – Number of Participants : Over 300 companies and more than 700 civil servants so far

Greater versatility to tackle the crisis (18/02/2013)

In the Jura mountains, a foundry company has initiated a wide-ranging training programme designed to boost its employees’ flexibility in response to the crisis.
ESF Contribution : €45 636 – Number of Participants : 40 employees (participants in training leading to the award of qualifications).

‘Place, train and maintain’: Getting people with learning disabilities into work (18/02/2013)

In Northern Ireland, a non-profit agency helps people suffering from learning disabilities find their way into the job market by providing tailor-made support services.
ESF Contribution : £906 768 - Number of participants : 368

The challenge abroad (07/02/2013)

A project in Göttingen offers about 200 unemployed young people the challenge to do an internship abroad and thus progress in the labour market.
ESF contribution: €1 716 202 - Number of participants: 200

Traditional boat making as an economic opportunity (25/01/2013)

A boat making course revives traditional skills to create economic opportunities in rural communities in Ireland with the support of the ESF.
ESF contribution: €12,500 - Number of participants: 16

Guiding struggling youth towards a career path (21/01/2013)

In Poitou-Charentes, support units for qualifications and integration enable young school dropouts to integrate into professional life or find training.
ESF contribution: €13 608 - Number of participants: 35

A boost for young businesses (17/01/2013)

The ‘Périgord Initiative’ project, based on the principle of an interest-free, unsecured ‘loan on trust’, helps increase the life expectancy of young businesses.
ESF contribution: €55 000 - Number of participants: 418 in 2011

Local governance: better training, more effectiveness (17/01/2013)

The effectiveness of local public services in Vaslui county, Romania, could be considerably improved thanks to a training project targeting council staff.
ESF contribution: RON 686 000 - Number of participants: 114

A strategy for sustainable local development (16/01/2013)

In Ghizela, western Romania, a project involving local administration personnel and civil society has contributed to improving the quality and sustainability of public services.
ESF contribution: RON 246 649 - Number of participants: 24 (training)

New prospects for neighbourhood youths (16/01/2013)

In Saint-Nazaire, a motivation project has given a boost to a group of young people from problem neighbourhoods.
ESF contribution: €17 578 - Number of participants: 8

Integrated socio-professional support in Alsace (16/01/2013)

To assist those on the RSA income benefit (revenu de solidarité active), the job and training organisation Relais Emploi in Strasbourg has set up a support service, with backing from the ESF.
ESF contribution: €86 966 - Number of participants: €174 053

Nurturing business start ups for a better tomorrow (15/01/2013)

The ‘New business opportunity for a better tomorrow’ project in Poland supports participants to found their own companies by offering raining, consulting and financial support.
ESF contribution: PLN 2 554 679.97 - Number of participants: 60

Supporting at-risk youth (15/01/2013)

In northern France, an association provides workshops for youth underachieving at school, with no fixed abode and with no income, in order to improve their standard of living and their chances of finding work.
ESF contribution: €95 270 - Number of participants: 54 (2010)

On-the-job training: successful integration strategy (15/01/2013)

In Midi-Pyrénées, an integration process targeting struggling female job seekers has enabled participants to train and earn at the same time.
ESF contribution: €15 621 - Number of participants: €29 950

Restoring the appetite for our local products (15/01/2013)

In the Vercors district, the training provided in cooking with local produce, backed by the European Social Fund (ESF), meets the growing needs of professionals and consumers.
ESF contribution: €52 776 - Number of participants: 15

Financial help for students to curb the drop-out rate (15/01/2013)

The Student Assistance Fund (SAF), co-funded through the European Social Fund, provides assistance to students who are experiencing financial difficulties.
ESF contribution: €277 735 - Number of participants: 738

A common e-learning platform for the IT sector (16/11/2012)

A jointly developed e-learning platform allows a needs-based training of employees in the IT sector
ESF contribution: € 292 254 - Number of participants: >100

Young unemployed receive leg up from local community (08/11/2012)

A project implemented in Pärnu County, Estonia, helped young adults find a job by providing them with tailor-made assistance thanks to support from the European Social Fund (ESF).
ESF contribution: €115 813 - Number of participants: 42

Helping prisoners get back into employment (08/11/2012)

Prisoners in Ida-Virumaa in Estonia received training and access to the job market thanks to a project funded by the ESF.
ESF contribution: €989 550 - Number of participants: 1034

Konserwator: cultural work as job market entry point (07/11/2012)

To help excluded groups access the labour market, a Polish project helps them find training and job opportunities in the cultural sector with help from the European Social Fund (ESF).

Hassle-free commuting for people with special needs (06/11/2012)

A project funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) supports the launch of a centrally organised social transport services for people with disabilities and their caretakers.
ESF contribution: €180 647 - Number of participants: 13 partners

Bringing the news to people with hearing impairments (06/11/2012)

Estonian TV offers news broadcasts tailored to the needs of the hearing impaired thanks to a project supported by the ESF.
ESF contribution: €25 254 - Number of participants: 6

Hjälp att återgå till studier eller arbete (25/10/2012)

Målet med projektet Utsikten i Sverige är att hjälpa ungdomar som p.g.a. psykisk problematik eller funktionshinder har särskilda behov att återgå till utbildning eller arbetsliv.
Deltagare: 90

Improving skills through quality internships (24/10/2012)

The ‘Convergence between academic training and active life’ project in Romania supports students to complement their academic knowledge with work skills developed during quality internships.
ESF contribution: RON 15 808 474 - Number of participants: 15 255

Work experience for those with special needs (23/10/2012)

The ‘Disabled people working in digital TV’ project offers people with special needs the opportunity to integrate socially and develop professionally by gaining specific skills in the archiving and digitizing of old film reels.
ESF contribution: 989 964.74 PLN - Number of participants: 48

Ungdomar får hjälp att komma in på arbetsmarknaden (22/10/2012)

Job College i Sverige hjälper ungdomar att komma in på arbetsmarknaden, motverkar ungdomsarbetslöshet och stöder ungdomar som riskerar utslagning. Stor vikt läggs vid s.k. peer learning.
Deltagare: 2 483

Nurturing young talent to tackle unemployment (15/10/2012)

Jongeren aanpak Noordoost-Brabant or the JAN project in Noordoost-Brabant, Netherlands aimed to prevent unemployment amongst young people by providing education and training.
ESF contribution: €790 000 - Number of participants: 6 200

Preventing and addressing early-school leaving (15/10/2012)

The Ungdomslots project on the Finnish islands of Åland supports young people, primarily aged 15 to 25 years, to pursue their education with the ultimate aim of preventing long-term unemployment, marginalisation and social exclusion.
ESF contribution: €200 869 - Number of participants: 144

Learning on the job in the automotive sector (15/10/2012)

The OOC project ‘Promoting the influx of juveniles into the Car Bodywork Sector’ aims to find ‘learning on the job’ placements for all new BBL students who attended school between 2009 and 2011.
ESF contribution: €138 000 - Number of participants: estimated 700 participants

Promoting primary vocational education (15/10/2012)

The ‘Promotion of Primary Vocational Education Attraction’ project in Latvia enhances the attraction of vocational education by providing scholarship grants to students from 14 to 18 years old.
ESF contribution: €31 264 921 - Number of participants: 31 983 students

Helping young mums overcome barriers to learning (12/10/2012)

The YMWA project in Cornwall in the UK offers learning opportunities and personal support to young mums to allow them to tackle the barriers to learning and employment.
ESF contribution: £ 133 875 - Number of participants: 145

Train of hope offering a chance for everyone (12/10/2012)

“The Train of Hope Centre” in Romania offers social and educational support services to students, teachers and partents with the aim of preventing and combating early school leaving.
ESF contribution: €372 717 - Number of participants: 131

Supporting young graduates on the hunt for a job (12/10/2012)

The ‘Young Graduates’ project in France aims to boost the chances for young job seekers through a six month support programme which helps graduates to define a professional project and create a job search strategy.
ESF contribution: €10 486 - Number of participants: 18/20 participants every 6 months

A ‘kickstart’ for disadvantaged young learners (11/10/2012)

The Kickstart Life project in the UK targets disadvantaged young learners, offering them tailored learning support and guiding them to develop basic and employability skills.
ESF contribution: £1 417 680 - Number of participants: 909

Juwel: helping unemployed young people to sparkle! (11/10/2012)

The Juwel project targets all unemployed under 25 years old in the area of Rhein-Lahn in Germany, supporting their social and occupational integration until they can take up employment or vocational training.
ESF contribution: €500 000 - Number of participants: 768

Retraining after the crisis (10/10/2012)

The Latvian ESF project ‘Raising teachers’ seeks to retrain teachers.
Participants: 27.486 - ESF contribution: €23.968.460

Nurturing entrepreneurial talents in young people (27/09/2012)

It is essential to catch at-risk young people before they drift away from education and training and offer them an environment that will nurture their talents.
Number of participants: 319

Raising Roma awareness on education completion (26/09/2012)

The Roma community has made important progress over the last thirty years in Spain. For example, 94% of Roma children start school at the compulsory age or earlier. However, the majority of them drop out of school before completing secondary education.
ESF contribution: EUR 61 324 (first phase) - Number of participants: 3 000

Supporting young scientists to ‘do it on their own’ (25/09/2012)

What better way to support innovation and increase employment than helping young scientists branch out on their own? That’s exactly what the programme 'Young Self-Employed Scientists' is attempting to do by offering grants that allow young lawyers, doctors, engineers, and pharmacists to establish their own small enterprises across Greece.
ESF contribution: 85% - Number of participants: 6 000 (according to the Call of Tender)

Nurturing confidence to re-enter education (25/09/2012)

Unemployed young people who lack professional qualifications and skills can often find themselves at risk of social exclusion. With the right support, however, re-entering education and the workforce need not be so daunting.
ESF contribution: € 2 530 000 (nationwide programme) - Number of participants: 52 (10 500 nationwide)

Technology for kids - learning while playing (07/08/2012)

The Bavarian initiative "Technology for Children" introduces kids in a playful way to the topic and is helping to secure the future skills needs.
Participants: 16 258 - ESF contribution: EUR 950 490

A business incubator for young people (27/07/2012)

The ESF-funded business incubator workshop "Future Lausitz" supports unemployed young people in starting up their business.
Participants: 270 - ESF contribution: EUR 920 997

En ny chans till jobb eller studier (26/07/2012)

Det är ofta svårt för invandrare att få jobb i sitt nya land. Det kan bero på svårigheter med språket, att kvalifikationer från ursprungslandet inte erkänns i det nya landet eller olika sociala faktorer. Många ungdomar har också svårt att få in en fot på arbetsmarknaden. Båda dessa grupper riskerar därför att fastna i bidragsberoende.
Deltagare: 700–1 000 - Bidrag från ESF: 19 592 496 kronor

Advising on foreign qualifications (26/07/2012)

More and more Europeans travel to other countries to work. Tracking down job opportunities abroad and moving to make the most of them is challenging enough. The trouble of getting the qualifications you earned in your home country recognised in the country you’ve moved to, can be enough to put people off taking the plunge.
Participants: 1088 persons (counselling) - ESF contribution: €374 000

ME2 – benefiting people with disabilities (26/07/2012)

Disabled people are all too often at a disadvantage when it comes to seeking employment. A project set up in Malta is aiming to bring down as many barriers as possible through practical assistance.
Participants: 430 (until December 2011) - ESF contribution: € 1 102 792.55

Increasing the employability of Malta’s youth (26/07/2012)

Completing education only to face unemployment is always depressing and can have a long term impact on a young person’s chances of getting work.
Number of participants: 5 460 - ESF contribution: € 688 455

Jobs for the disadvantaged through recycling (23/07/2012)

Work Factory – Textiles, a non-profit, social enterprise uses recycling to give jobs to disadvantaged people at risk from social exclusion.
Participants: 10 from target group and up to 30 volunteers - ESF contribution: € 249 942.50

A boost for Malta’s professional tourism sector (20/07/2012)

Malta, famous for its historic monuments and costal scenery, is a popular destination for tourists. The industry generates 15% of the country’s gross domestic product and is an important source of employment.
Participants: 1 380

Time of entry (20/07/2012)

Through help for career entry or support during the first six months of activity in the new company the programme "Time of Entry" helps to keep young people in Brandenburg and assists companies in securing their needs for skilled workers.
Participants: 2231 (up to 2012) - ESF-contribution: EUR 9 836 000

Flexible training in Hamburg (17/07/2012)

Balancing work and family commitments is challenging at the best of times. Looking after young children, the disabled or elderly is a commitment that requires significant time and energy.
Participants: 648 persons (April 2012) - ESF contribution: €298 040

Project Fifteen – a recipe for success (17/07/2012)

The best way to learn is to do – that’s the philosophy behind a project that offers the young unemployed top-quality training in the restaurant business.
Participants: 176 - ESF contribution: £ 1 190 956

Supporting literacy (26/06/2012)

In the ‘Basic Education Solutions’ project the Limerick City Adult Education Service is providing a range of learning opportunities for adults who lack reading and writing skills and thus have difficulties in getting work.
Participants: >1000 (in 2009) - ESF contribution: ~EUR 3 875 000

Entry to the world of work (17/04/2012)

The ‘Come In’ project in the German City of Hamburg aims to help young people with their entry into the world of work.
Participants: 652 (until April 2012) - ESF contribution: €5 854 483

Opening an exit from extremism (12/04/2012)

EXIT-Germany is an initiative to help anyone who wants to break with right-wing-extremism and to start a new life. ESF support allowed putting an emphasis on integration of former radicals into the job market.
Participants: right-wing extremism dropouts - ESF contribution: €409 722

Tailoring skills to the local jobs market (27/03/2012)

Better matching of young people’s skills to employers’ needs is vital for creating more jobs and more-successful businesses in Poland.
Participants: Up to 37 000

Building confidence in immigrant communities (27/03/2012)

The Amadora city in district of the Portuguese capital Lisbon is home to many immigrants from former Portuguese colonies seeking a better life in the city.
Participants: 75 - ESF contribution: €66 150

A network for diversity (15/03/2012)

In the Spanish province of Andalusia, the 'Intercultural Network' project is promoting networking and information exchange between organisations that are active in helping immigrants and promoting diversity and multiculturalism.
Participants: 40 organisations - ESF contribution: €1 848 000

Integrated pathways to employment (15/03/2012)

Barcelona Activa is the city’s local development agency responsible for promoting businesses, entrepreneurship and employment throughout the municipality.
Participants: 900 - ESF contribution: €1 155 000

Discovering value in diversity (15/03/2012)

The ‘Value diversity, Use diversity’ project in the Austrian city of Linz focused on supporting migrants and those with an immigrant background – especially women and young people – to integrate better into social life and work.
Participants: Around 2500 - ESF contribution: €258 239

Three steps into work (15/03/2012)

In the Austrian city of Graz, six organisations which promote employment came together to offer better opportunities to the long-term unemployed, asylum-seekers and immigrants.
Participants: 60 - ESF contribution: €460 230

Supporting frontier IT research (15/03/2012)

The information society is rapidly evolving and pushing us to adopt ever newer ways of doing and working in our daily lives.
Participants: 19

Green light for green skills (15/03/2012)

Supporting sustainable development involves giving people the skills that will be in demand in the future.
ESF contribution: €675 540

Competences for the future (12/03/2012)

In Wallonia in Belgium, the Competence Centre network is the focus for training in the latest skills that the region’s industries and their workers need.
ESF contribution: €1 300 000

A platform for business and science (09/03/2012)

Improving the collaboration between science and business in Poland is the aim of the Platform of Technological Innovation in the Opole Region.
ESF contribution: €107 000

Supporting inclusive enterprise (09/03/2012)

Through the ‘We can achieve more by cooperating’ project, disadvantaged people received training and advice on opening and managing a social enterprise.
Participants: 25 - ESF contribution: €285 000

Taking a close look at your job (09/03/2012)

The Alternatief project run by the Centre for Career Guidance in the province of Limburg in Belgium takes as its starting point the belief that everyone has the right to feel satisfied with his or her working environment – but that an active approach is needed to ensure this.
Participants: over 200 - ESF contribution: €226 000

The art of business (09/03/2012)

The ‘Creative self-employed’ project in Łódź in Poland set out to promote self-employment in the creative sector.
ESF contribution: €21 390

Moving on to better jobs (09/03/2012)

The ‘Move On’ project was launched to help schoolchildren with an immigrant background, who are generally more likely to drop out of full-time education early.
Participants: 952 - ESF contribution: €201 000

Older and wiser workers (09/03/2012)

An ESF-project run by the District Employment Office in Gdańsk invited unemployed or inactive older workers, including pensioners, who were attracted by the idea of self-employment.
Participants: 120 - ESF contribution: €412 000

First of all work! (08/03/2012)

In the Zachodniopomorskie region in Poland, integration employment centres set up with ESF help supported people who face particular obstacles to joining the labour market and finding work.
Participants: 378 - ESF contribution: €512 000

I talk, though I don’t speak (07/03/2012)

Teachers from a school in the city of Toruń in Poland used ESF support to create a systematic approach to the communication problems of children who suffer from mental disabilities.
Participants: 90 - ESF contribution: €61 500

Teaching what IT takes (07/03/2012)

Using ESF funding, the State School of Vocational Education in Elbląg developed attractive information technology courses and lectures to encourage pupils in vocational high schools to continue their education in the field of information technology.
Participants: 212 - ESF contribution: €73 600

A successful strategy for jobs (07/03/2012)

In its ‘Strategy for Success’ project, the Polish district of Rybnik is targeting over 5 000 unemployed fellow citizens with opportunities to get a job or find a better job.
Participants: 1141 - ESF contribution: €1.25 million

A child-centred approach (07/03/2012)

A primary school project covering six administrative regions in Poland took a simple motto as its starting point: “The quality of the first educational experiences is of tremendous importance to further school and life career of a child.”
Participants: 2 700 primary schools - ESF contribution: €9.5 million

Hanging on for new skills (29/02/2012)

The Hold Fast project is playing a major role in encouraging young Danes to stay on at school and get the qualifications they need for a good job.
Participants: 20000 - ESF contribution: €3 031 000

Keeping education rolling (28/02/2012)

In response to the high school and vocational education drop-out rates of young people from ethnic minority backgrounds, the Danish "Hold On Tight Caravan" project is supporting all elements of the education and training process to increase the number of young people from minorities with qualifications.
ESF contribution: €3 214 000

‘Made to measure’ help for homeless families (31/01/2012)

The Family Links project focuses on homeless families with out-of-work single parents to help them overcome obstacles to getting a job.
Participants: >165 - ESF contribution: €300 000

Building a low-carbon regional economy (30/01/2012)

Clear About Carbon is an innovative project in Cornwall with a mission to find new ways to raise awareness among businesses and the public sector about carbon-based gas emissions and their impact on our climate.
ESF contribution: €1 180 500

Making school life a central attraction (20/01/2012)

A large-scale ESF operation in Bulgaria aims to reduce the number of early school leavers by improving employment opportunities and helping social integration among the young.
Participants: around 330 000 - ESF contribution: €45 479 121

Empowering workers with learning disabilities (20/01/2012)

Cornwall Works for Learning Disabilities (CWLD) is a ‘hearts and minds’ project to find sustainable jobs for unemployed people with a learning disability.
Participants: over 550 - ESF contribution: €1 800 000

Tailored solutions for disadvantaged young people (19/01/2012)

During a 10-month training period at a social enterprise, young men and women from sheltered homes acquired not only work skills, but also learned the wider social and communication skills that do so much to ease social integration.
Participants: 18 - ESF contribution: €151 000

A restaurant for rehabilitation (16/01/2012)

The stylish ‘My Guru’ salad bar in downtown Vilnius is an innovative response to helping young drug addicts find their way back into a normal, working life.
Participants: 50 - ESF contribution: €423 610

Green builders for greener buildings (06/01/2012)

In the United Kingdom, the ‘built environment’ – meaning constructing homes, offices and factories and then living and working in them – is responsible for almost half of the country’s carbon emissions, half of water consumption and a third of landfill waste.
Participants: 1250 people - ESF contribution: GBP 999 995

Work is the key (05/01/2012)

Work as the key to social integration is the leitmotif of Job&Co – a Flemish organisation in Belgium, which unites the expertise of three social enterprises that promote access to employment.
Participants: 220 - ESF contribution: €675 000

Working for family welfare (04/01/2012)

The ‘Working for the welfare of the family’ project offered rural women in Tauragė county the chance to break with traditional ‘home-centred’ roles as carers, and to enjoy both family and work responsibilities together.
Participants: 50-100 - ESF contribution: €1 113 520

Giving employees career control (04/01/2012)

Through the 'I can' project, any employed person could apply and receive a voucher for key-competences training and/or a course leading to professional qualifications – according to their wishes and needs.
Participants: 221 000 employees - ESF contribution: €60 844 000

Quality and equality in education (04/01/2012)

The ‘Quality in education – a step to equality’ project led by the ‘Amare Rromentza’ NGO aimed to get more Roma and non-Roma children into education and keep them there, starting at the pre-school phase.
Participants: around 950 - ESF contribution: €719 476

From Drop-out to Drop-In (28/12/2011)

Addressing young people who drop out of school early or leave without qualifications, the Flemish government organisation for employment and vocational training (VDAB) launched the ‘From Drop-out to Drop-in’ (DODI) project to build the bridges they need to make the transition into work.
ESF contribution: €6 432

Ensuring sustainable health care (21/12/2011)

Taking an innovative approach to a shortage of doctors in municipal health centres, the Finnish region of North Karelia invited Russian doctors to make up the numbers, offering language and vocational training.
Participants: 8 - ESF contribution: €323 770

Wanted: qualified doctors (15/12/2011)

An ESF-funded project increased and supported the skills of health workers in a region affected by lack of qualified medical specialists.
Participants: 25 - ESF contribution: €55 610

Qualifications that open doors across Europe (14/12/2011)

The Bulgarian authorities gave a significant boost to youth employment and mobility with the completion of an ESF ‘Administrative capacity’ project on the recognition of EU higher education qualifications.
Participants: 611 - ESF contribution: €346 422

Caritas Española: offering paths to employment (14/12/2011)

In Spain, Caritas has undertaken many jobs-related projects –helping over a million people – and often with the help of ESF funding.

Fostering the culture of work (14/12/2011)

An ESF project in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France drew on an untapped resource of professional expertise among older or recently pensioned workers for helping disadvantaged young people find work or improve their employability.
Participants: 54 - ESF contribution: €6 710

Preserving the know-how of older workers (14/12/2011)

The ‘Senior Capital’ project took up the challenge of getting more small and medium-sized enterprises to integrate older workers into their human resource strategies.
Participants: 6 Companies, 16 employees - ESF contribution: €27 136

Nurturing families, nurturing opportunities (14/12/2011)

To alleviate the problem of lacking childcare facilities, the ‘Employment House’ in the French Department of Seine et Marne launched a counselling service to offer made-to-measure solutions for young mothers looking for work.
Participants: 113 - ESF contribution: €41 204

Breaking down barriers (12/12/2011)

YWCA West Kent successfully delivered a programme that enabled some of the most deprived and disaffected young women in the area to engage in education.
Participants: 54 - ESF contribution: €13 670

Innovation of education (28/11/2011)

An ESF-funded project in Slovakia proved that not only can science be fun for children, it can also be a stimulating experience for teachers exploring innovative teaching methodologies.
Participants: 362 - ESF contribution: €77 230

Creating chances for women, changing attitudes to women (23/11/2011)

The ‘Better Future for Women’ project is promoting a more active role for disadvantaged women in their local economies by helping them set up and manage their own businesses and associations.
Participants: 4 000 women, 2 000 people from vulnerable groups, 10 mass media experts - ESF contribution: €3 831 990

An outstanding performance (15/11/2011)

The Sipario project, conceived to train people for work in live music and theatre, encountered an overwhelming response, with hundreds of applications from young people all over Italy and beyond.
Participants: 182 - ESF contribution: €887 000

Change of ownership of companies (07/11/2011)

A training course partly funded by the ESF helped employees who want to buy their employers’ companies, or another one, and take on a new leadership role.
Participants: 865 employees (75% women and leading to 87% taking over the company) - ESF contribution: up to 45%

Moving up in the world (28/10/2011)

A project aimed at secondary school pupils, teachers and parents throughout the Piedmont region of northern Italy offered young students new perspectives and ‘alternative destinations’ in life.
Participants: 6 995 students, 393 teachers - ESF contribution: €78 667

Encouraging e-business in Cyprus (28/10/2011)

The e-Volve Project aims to improve e-government and e business skill levels in Cyprus. It aims to achieve this by helping companies and organisations to adopt best e-business practices.
Participants: 3419 people - 833 enterprises - ESF contribution: €798 880

From young mothers to young businesswomen (19/10/2011)

The ‘Young enterprising women for job creation’ project provided training courses to encourage a more entrepreneurial environment for women in the region of Tamsalu.
Participants: 60 - ESF contribution: €49 502

Digital skills in demand (19/10/2011)

Projects run by the Digital Skills Academy allowed unemployed participants to acquire skills in professional internet servies and digital media.
Participants: WebActivate: 200; DIGI MEDIA: 100 - ESF contribution: €452 200

Supporting human resources in the research and innovation sectors (19/10/2011)

The 'Spinner 2013' programme was established to promote the qualification and upgrade of people working in R&D, technology transfer and innovation in the Emilia-Romagna Region of Italy
Participants: 2 300 - ESF contribution: €23 million

Movares: moving ahead on social innovation (19/10/2011)

The ‘Sustaining movement’ project set out to find new, bottom-up approaches for cultivating a working environment based around mutual trust, flexibility and the confidence to try out new ideas.
Participants: 750 - ESF contribution: €91 455

Assisting innovation in Finland (17/10/2011)

The Innovation Assistant project introduces bright, entrepreneurial young graduates into SMEs to demonstrate the real contribution they can make – for example, in implementing new technologies, design, or exporting.
Participants: +40 - ESF contribution: €493 725

Lithuanian e-Citizen (14/10/2011)

In Lithuania, the ESF-funded project ‘Computer Literacy Basics for a Lithuanian e-citizen’ aimed to get more people online to stimulate growth and improve Lithuania’s competitiveness.
Participants: >50 000 - ESF contribution: €2 662 200

Be active in the labour market (14/10/2011)

Getting young people under the age of 29 into a job is a full-time preoccupation for the wholly ESF-funded ‘Be active in the labour market’ project.
Participants: 5 230 unemployed youth - ESF contribution: €6 370 000

Equal education for…everyone (14/10/2011)

Tanodas, an ESF-funded project, bridges the gap in education levels between the marginalised and the majority of children in Hungary and ensures proper schooling services for both Roma and other disadvantaged children.
Participants: 66 schools with 5-8th grade and secondary students - ESF contribution: €7 493 024

Learning a trade for a better chance in life (14/10/2011)

A project run by the Vocational Education Centre in Katowice provided ten adolescents from the Educational Centre for Troubled Adolescents in Jaworze with a second chance.
Participants: 10 - ESF contribution: €8 478

Living life to the full (05/10/2011)

The Ef-zin social co-operative in Athens helps its members, many of which have mental health problems, live fuller lives.
Participants: 66 - ESF contribution: €750 000

Keeping Hungarian scientists at home (04/10/2011)

The ESF-funded Semmelweis Bridge Project is stemming the flow of researchers out of Hungary by creating an innovative working group, including young scientists, international collaborators and industry partners, which will carry out long-term basic cardiovascular research.
Participants: 200 - ESF contribution: €2 256 000

Recycling success (04/10/2011)

The ‘Demontage- und Recycling-Zentrum’ (DRZ) is a place where the long-term unemployed and people with disabilities can be reintegrated into the job market.
Participants: 60 ( +~15 in training) - ESF contribution: €358 798

Bright ideas take off (04/10/2011)

The ‘Ideas Project’ launched by th Umbrian Research Agency, and co-funded by the ESF, gives young Italian entrepreneurs a flying start.
Participants: 28 start-up businesses

Investing in great ideas (04/10/2011)

The Nysa Investment Project – run by the District Labour Office – helped 35 new businesses get off the ground with ESF funding.
Participants: 60 - ESF contribution: €215 000

Breaking inter-generational unemployment (04/10/2011)

The M-Power project focuses its efforts on the high levels of unemployment and economic inactivity common for many residents in South and East Belfast.
Participants: 1467 - ESF contribution: €391 747

Giving migrants a working chance (04/10/2011)

MEESP is an ESF-funded project driven by passionate individuals who have a made a huge difference in the lives of unemployed migrant workers.
Participants: 320 - ESF contribution: €148 415

Kompetensutveckling på arbetsplatsen i fokus (03/10/2011)

Fortbildning för hälso-och sjukvårdspersonal är kompetensutvecklande och förbättrar kvalitetssäkringen vad gäller att tillgodose de behov hos vårdpersonalen som är relaterade till krav på arbetsplatsen.
Deltagare: 5 000 vårdbiträden och undersköterskor - Bidrag från ESF: 7,9 miljoner kronor

Coachade för att lyckas (29/09/2011)

I den ESF-stödda föreningen Drömmarnas Hus i Malmö arbetar man med att hjälpa ungdomar i 18–24-årsåldern in i arbetslivet och den sociala gemenskapen med hjälp av en rad innovativa metoder.
Deltagare: 450 (förväntat totalt antal: 900) - Bidrag från ESF: €502 794

Getting a Head Start into work (28/09/2011)

The University of Chester is offering its ‘Graduate Head Start’ programme, an ESF supported short course aimed at equipping graduates with the extra skills they need to get on in the world of work.
Participants: +400 - ESF contribution: €181 981

A helping hand in tough times (28/09/2011)

An ESF-sponsored project in the IJssel-Vecht region of the Netherlands is promoting an innovative form of job creation for the younger generation.
Participants: 28 (up to 320) - ESF contribution: €860 000

A Day Centre for social integration in Athens (26/09/2011)

In central Athens, a dedicated team including psychologists, social workers and therapists is creating new chances for some of their most disadvantaged fellow citizens.
Participants: 15-50 - ESF contribution: €262 500

Harnessing creative energy for the labour market (22/09/2011)

In the district of Pispala, in Tampere, the WORKpop project set out to help unemployed artists and creative workers adapt their skills to the labour market.
Participants: 20 - ESF contribution: €94 636 (figures relate to VALKE umbrella project for labour market development)

Human capital for companies in Aisne (22/09/2011)

In the French department of Aisne, the ‘Emploi et Entreprises – Méthode IOD’ project, funded by the ESF, has addressed the problem of reintegration into the world of work by providing services to both jobseekers and employers
Participants: 310 people supported – 66% ‘positive outcomes’ - ESF contribution: €344 000

Synergies support business creation and relaunch (22/09/2011)

The ESF-supported project ‘Support in business creation and recovery’ in the Burgundy region of France helped people getting micro-enterprises off the ground.
Participants: 1000 - ESF contribution: €195 000

Fostering for a fairer future (19/09/2011)

Giving children in social care the best possible start in life is the mission of the ‘For Our Children’ foundation in Bulgaria.
Participants: 12 - ESF contribution: €96 368

The first STEP into work (19/09/2011)

A one-year project for people from disadvantaged communities in Scotland ended up surpassing targets.
Participants: 1 281 - ESF contribution: €1 496 330

A leg-up in the job market (16/09/2011)

The ESF '1st Job' project has started a traineeship blog where companies, young people, parents and teachers can exchange information and network to encourage new job-seekers to take their first steps on the career ladder.
Participants: 180 - ESF contribution: €207 283

A helping hand (08/09/2011)

An ESF-backed project in Germany helped students improve their chances of getting a job once they reached ninth grade and apply for vocational training.
Participants: 821 - ESF contribution: €60 335

Investing in Portugal’s youth (29/08/2011)

A programme in Portugal provides young people with the chance to complete internships in companies abroad.
ESF Contribution : EUR 50 750 000 – Number of Participants : 5 000

A world of difference for deaf people (29/08/2011)

The aim of the ESF-funded 'World of Silence' project is to help deaf people stay in touch with the rest of society.
Participants: 506 - ESF contribution: €479 420

A second-hand shop with first class ambitions (24/08/2011)

The ‘Second Hand, SECOND HELP’ project helps people with mental disabilities enjoy paid work in a suitable environment.
Participants: 15 - ESF contribution: €191.121

Help for the unemployed in South Bohemia (17/08/2011)

The ESF-funded 'EFEKT' project ('Through Efficient Qualification to the Labour Market') is helping unemployed individuals find jobs in the South Bohemia Region.
Participants: 160 - ESF contribution: €208 699

Utbildning är vägen till arbete (15/07/2011)

Work Factory var ett framgångsrikt projekt som genomfördes i Åmål mellan 2008 och 2010. Fokus för projektet var att hjälpa arbetslösa ungdomar att hitta arbete och börja studera samt även att utbilda deltagarna.
Deltagare: 322 - Bidrag från ESF: €432 557

Creating a well-trained, modern workforce (11/07/2011)

The QUALI-FORM-IDE project’s ambitious objectives include improving the quality of training, increasing the employment rate, and promoting social cohesion in Belgium’s French-speaking region.
Participants: 8 860 (2009-2010) - ESF contribution: €18 435 372

Motivation makes the difference (11/07/2011)

The two-year ESF-project entitled ‘Increasing the employability of jobless youngsters’ was designed to equip 18 to 29-year-old jobseekers with the confidence and skills they needed to secure work.
Participants: 182 - ESF contribution: €220 000

Out of drug dependency and into work (30/06/2011)

The Process project, co-funded by the ESF, set out to help some of the estimated 2 500-2 800 problematic drug users, including ex-prisoners, who find themselves excluded from work and society.
Participants: 307 - ESF contribution: €155 000