EU Solidarity Corps

What is the European Solidarity Corps?

What is the European Solidarity Corps?

TheĀ European Solidarity CorpsĀ is a new EU initiative which creates opportunities for young people to contribute to projects that benefit communities and people around Europe. Organisations can apply for funds to host the volunteers.

Are you between 18 and 30 and looking for an opportunity to help the wider community, in Europe and beyond?

You could do this with funding and support from the European Solidarity Corps, which helps young people take part in projects that benefit communities, either abroad or in their own country.

These projects offer an inspiring and empowering experience, as well as the chance to bring change while developing your skills and competences.

So what can you do?

Broadly, you can get involved in:

  • volunteering
  • traineeshipsĀ (whereas traineeships can still run this year funded by the budget from the previous programme, please be aware that in the new programme 2021-2027 they are discontinued)
  • jobsĀ (whereas jobs can still run this year funded by the budget from the previous programme, please be aware that in the new programme 2021-2027 they are discontinued)
  • local Solidarity Projects

These can be in a wide range of fields ā€“ education and training, citizenship and democratic participation, environment and natural protection, migration, culture, and many others.

How does it work?

The European Solidarity Corps funding is provided in the form of grants to organisations through call for proposals.

Young people wishing to engage in such activities need toĀ register in the European Solidarity Corps portal. The European Solidarity Corps portal offers a place for those young people and organisations, holding a grant, to implement activities and to find each other.

Who runs the Corps?

The European Solidarity Corps is managed by the European Commission.

It is implemented on the ground by a variety of bodies:

It accompanies theĀ EU Aid VolunteersĀ platform, but with a specific focus on youth: The European Solidarity Corps is only open to people between 18 and 30 years of age. Moreover, the Corps offers both volunteer and paid positions including internships and jobs.

Funding

At the moment, the system is in place with an ad hoc funding, drawing money from many European funds and programmes. The biggest part of its budget comes from Erasmus+.

In 2018, the European Commission presented a proposal for a regulation governing the European Solidarity Corps and their funding. In line with the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, the budget for the Corps is set at 1,26 billion euros.

What kind of activities does the Corps offer?

  • Volunteering ā€“ individually or in a team

Volunteering activities:Ā Young people are given the opportunity to participate in the daily work of the respective organisation. These activities usually last between 2 and 12 months. Participants will receive training before and during their assignment and can participate both on their own or in groups from different participating countries.

  • Traineeships and Jobs

Traineeships and jobsĀ are full-time experiences, paid for by the organisation offering the position, taking place in the participantā€™s country of residence or abroad. Trainees and workers develop their personal, educational, social and professional skills. They usually last between 2 and 6 months.

Volunteering

Type of activity

Volunteering

Traineeships or jobs

Duration

2 to 12 months (exceptionally: 2 weeks to 2 months)

2 to 6 months (exceptionally: up to 12 months)

Financial support

The costs of accommodation and food are covered. Participants also receive a small allowance for personal expenses. Travel costs to and from the project venue are covered

Travel costs to and from the project venue are covered.

Other types of support

Participants receive medical insurance coverage for the whole duration of the activity, online linguistic support, general and activity-specific training, mentoring, and a certificate from the European Solidarity Corps. Additional expenses for young people with fewer opportunities may be covered.

Participants receive medical insurance coverage for the whole duration of the activity, online linguistic support, general and activity-specific training, mentoring, a certificate from the European Solidarity Corps and post-placement support. Additional expenses for young people with fewer opportunities may be covered.

  • Solidarity projects

Solidarity projectsĀ are initiated, developed and implemented by motivated young people who want to make a positive change in their local community. Projects should be specifically targeted to and carried out at the local level (neighbourhood, municipality) and receive funding to start and run the project.

Solidarity projects

Type of activity

Local initiative of at least 5 participants of the European Solidarity Corps, with the aim of adding a plus to the life of their neighbourhood, their cityā€¦

Duration

Between 2 and 12 months (part-time volunteer work: evenings, weekend, during school holidaysā€¦)

Support

Participants receive funding to start and run the project (max. 500 euros/month), online linguistic support, general and activity-specific training, and a certificate from the European Solidarity Corps. Additional expenses for young people with fewer opportunities may be covered.

Other types of support

Participants can ask for specific training and guidance to theirĀ Erasmus+ National Agency.

The European Solidarity Corps is open to all people aged 18 to 30 residing in EU member states or other neighbouring countries (more info in the Corpsā€™Ā FAQ). To participate in the activities, applicants must register on theĀ websiteĀ of the Corps (information on how to register on theĀ Corps homepageĀ andĀ FAQ section).

They can then browse all proposed activities and apply directly, or may also be contacted by an organisation.

For solidarity projects

ForĀ solidarity projects, the procedure is slightly different. The minimum number of applicants is 4, and all of them must be registered on the Corpsā€™ website. They develop a project together and apply for funding within set deadlines. In case of successful application, they can receive up to 500 euros per month to support the project.

More information and deadlines (changing on a yearly basis) can be foundĀ here.

For organisations

Organisations from EU Member States can offer all kind of activities. Organisations from neighbouring countries can participate as partners in volunteering activities but cannot offer traineeships and jobs. The list of partner countries and relevant deadlines (changing on a yearly basis) can be foundĀ here.

Organisations are required to cover the costs of salaries for jobs and traineeships, as well as any other expense provided for by the contract they offer. Costs for participants of volunteering activities are entirely covered through the Solidarity Corps funding.

Organisations from EU member states can apply for aĀ Quality LabelĀ to their Erasmus+Ā National Agency, the body managing and monitoring EU programmes in that country. Organisations from non-EU countries should refer to their Support, Advanced Learning and Training Opportunities for Youth (SALTO) Resource Centre. More information can be foundĀ here.

To take part in the European Solidarity Corps, all organisations should obtain a so-called Quality Label ensuring compliance with the principles and objectives of the Corps. The Quality Label is necessary to offer activities through the EU Solidarity Corps but does not lead directly to funding for these activities, for which there should be a specific funding application.

For this reason, we call on the relevant institutions to take action to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in education and employment. This is in line with principles 1 and 3 of theĀ European Pillarļæ¼ regarding inclusive education and equal treatment for everybody.

It is known that people with disabilities face many barriers in accessing education, as demonstrated by theĀ high drop out ratesĀ and theĀ low rates of people having obtained a university degree. This, in turn, negatively affects their chances of accessing the labour market, leading to additional barriers and exclusion: It leads to many young people with disabilities not being in education, employment or training (NEETs). For this reason, it is crucial to effectively support people with disabilities through inclusive education and other initiatives that might lead to a smoother transition towards employment.

A project Inclusion Europe is currently taking part in isĀ ICLife, aimed at universities more inclusive for all students with disabilities. More information on ICLife can be foundĀ here, and on the importance of inclusive education for students with complex support needsĀ here.

It is known that people with disabilities still struggle in taking part in other programmes aimed at young people, such as theĀ Erasmus+ programme. People with disabilities represent 4,6% of the population age 25-34 with a university degree (EUROSTAT, 2011). However, theĀ Erasmus+ reportĀ mentions that only 0,15% of people with disabilities received extra funding in the year 2013/14, representing 401 participants with disabilities on a total of over 270.000 Erasmus+ participants. The European Commission publishedĀ recommendationsĀ to several bodies participating in the Erasmus+ programme on the inclusion of people with disabilities. Many organisations carried outĀ researchĀ on the topic and developed projects to support the participation of people with special needs (for instance,Ā ExchangeAbility by the Erasmus Students Network).

Also, young people with disabilities are encouraged to join the Solidarity Corps, and specific support measures are provided for them. Persons with disabilities joining the Corps are eligible for additional resources to take part in activities the Corps offers. Moreover, the Corps provides for activities that are adapted to ease the inclusion of people with disabilities, as well as extra support during training and the activity itself.

Among the activities participants can join through the Solidarity Corps, there are also activities focused on people with disabilities. For instance, theĀ December 2018 FactsheetĀ mentions one volunteering experience in Malta ā€œto help disabled people through educational, therapeutic and recreational services.ā€

Our work brings the voice of people with intellectual disabilities and their families where decisions about their future are made.

This has always been incredibly important. It is even more so with the Covid pandemic drastic impact on their rights and lives.

Being visible and vocal on issues directly affecting millions of people requires your support.Ā 

Become Inclusion Europe supporter and help us keep doing our work.

 

 

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