Uni project to improve life for young people

A new project to improve young people's integration within society in countries across the world has been launched at Leeds Beckett University.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Dec 2018, 11:14 BST
Updated 14th Dec 2018, 11:18 BST

The university has partnered with a host of not-for-profit youth organisations to run a two-year programme of international exchanges for young people and shared learning for volunteers, entitled Leave No One Behind.

The collaboration began when Leeds Beckett University BA (Hons) Youth Work and Community Development graduate Charlotte Burgess took on a European Voluntary Service (EVS) placement with the Swedish volunteer-based organisation, IFALL - Integration För Alla - during her degree. IFALL - which promotes social integration across Sweden - are the leaders of the new project.

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Charlotte said: “I first connected with IFALL Sweden in Greece, in November 2014, through an Erasmus+ training course. It was a great networking opportunity as while I was there I was offered the chance to do my third year placement of my degree in Sweden.

“I then spent a year on another volunteering project in Sweden before being offered a job opportunity as a project coordinator working in Sweden on Erasmus+ projects.

“It’s a really flexible and open job as I can write projects about any current topics affecting young people - which is why I decided to write the Leave No One Behind project and involve Leeds Beckett, for their academic expertise in youth work and social inclusion.”

All partners have expertise in working with young people to avoid them feeling excluded from society: including refugees, asylum seekers, vulnerable children and those with disabilities or who struggle with more formal forms of education.

The project has received €150,000 of funding from the Erasmus+ programme and will run until October 2020.

The Leeds Beckett team will be observing the project.