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The UK National Agency (NA) and the European Commission continue to closely monitor information regarding the Coronavirus Pandemic.

If your organisation has an Erasmus+ and/or a European Solidarity Corps project funded by the UK NA please continue to follow the advice provided in direct communications relating specifically to your project(s).

It is important to remember that any changes to your project activities and your contract due to the Coronavirus need to be approved by the UK NA. Please also refer to our Frequently Asked Questions (214 KB) which provide further guidance on what steps you need to take in such cases.

Although the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has lifted some of the restrictions on travelling abroad, their advice is kept under constant review and is subject to change with little notice.

Given the circumstances we appreciate that it may be difficult to progress with your project at the moment. Please bear in mind before arranging travel, accommodation or any other activities that these costs may not be covered by your project contract, for example where the level of risk means it is unrealistic to deliver your project. Organisations may wish to consider 'blended' mobilities, with virtual elements supported by physical mobilities in the future.

UK participants currently overseas should continue to maintain contact with their sending and hosting organisations, and must follow the advice of local authorities and the latest FCDO travel advice. The health and safety of programme participants is of the utmost importance.

The European Commission has also published information in the form of Frequently Asked Questions aimed at both participants and beneficiaries of the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes. You can also contact our UK NA helplines available on our Contact us webpage.
Please note: This news item was first published on 26 February 2020. It was last updated on 22 July 2020. We are regularly updating the webpage as more information becomes available.

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Advice about European Solidarity Corps in relation to Coronavirus

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If your organisation has an Erasmus+ and/or a European Solidarity Corps project funded by the UK NA please continue to follow the advice provided in direct communications relating specifically to your project(s). It is important to remember that any changes to your project activities and your contract due to the Coronavirus need to be approved by the UK NA.

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Despite the challenges we are all currently facing due to the Coronavirus pandemic, some of our European Solidarity Corps volunteers have managed to stay involved with their projects, both in the UK and abroad.

This includes Iman Masfene Martinez. Iman supports a range of projects at The Black Box, in Belfast, for those with learning disabilities, who are often socially isolated.

She left Northern Ireland earlier than planned due to the outbreak, and returned to her home in Spain - but that didn't mean the end of her placement. Iman was able to help the organisation to adapt to the new situation quickly, by moving their usual in-person workshops to a virtual setting:

"It is brilliant for our group members, and for the whole staff and volunteer team, to still be able to work with her from a distance", says Seonaid Murray, Outreach Officer at The Black Box.

Iman's placement is coordinated by the Bryson Charitable Group. From Spain, she shares the projects and workshops that she continues to support online.

"It's amazing to see all of us through the screen, and be able to talk, share our thoughts, feelings and, of course, to continue working on the sessions. The Women Carers Project has fantastic sessions like dance and movement, song writing, poetry and music.

I enjoy meeting with all the group, not only because we can see each other, but also because all of us are full of creativity, improvisations, ideas and enthusiasm for the sessions.

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Volunteers in lockdown: time to reflect and innovate

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This includes Iman Masfene Martinez. Iman supports a range of projects at The Black Box, in Belfast , for those with learning disabilities, who are often socially isolated. She left Northern Ireland earlier than planned due to the outbreak, and returned to her home in Spain - but that didn't mean the end of her placement.

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With UK National Agency staff temporarily working remotely due to the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak, European Solidarity Corps staff have adjusted some of their ways of working.

Keeping activities running as smoothly as possible, whilst also supporting our beneficiaries and applicants, has been the top priority for the team. If you have a Solidarity Corps project or are a participant, please check our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document in our Coronavirus update for more information.

Thanks to technology, we can support and keep in touch with our community, whether by email or via recorded and live webinars. In this post, find out about how we have adapted our work and some of the new habits that the Solidarity Corps team have adopted to keep stress at bay, as well as how our social media followers are spending their free time.

Events and meetings

Planned events were, for the most part, postponed following the UK government's announcement of the lockdown. The Solidarity Corps Start-up Seminar, however, occurred in its very first digital version.

Instead of the in-person meeting in Birmingham as initially planned, the Solidarity Corps team prepared a series of webinars for 2019 Call - Round 3 beneficiaries. As part of these resources, beneficiaries had the opportunity to pose questions to UK National Agency staff in a live Q&A on 1 April.

The Solidarity Corps team also conduct regular meetings online, where we share updates, current priorities and even some personal projects.

Stress Awareness Month

April is Stress Awareness Month in the UK, a period which aims to increase public awareness about the causes and cures for stress. Having some extra free time will allow everyone to look into new ways of keeping themselves mentally and physically active in order to help fight off rising stress levels.

'I've started the Couch to 10K interval running programme to stay healthy, which I do after work three times a week,' says senior project manager Aisha Smith ( photo below, left).

The lockdown has revealed a few green fingers in the team, with projects on all sort of scales. Fumie Izaki, Team Leader for European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+ Youth at the UK National Agency, started growing sprouts and germinating seeds, such as black lentils and fenugreek, in a jar ( photo above, right).

'Growing sprouts requires changing the water in the jar twice a day, which I would never have thought of doing if I haven't had to work from home. It is nice to be observant of these little changes', reflects Fumie.

Project manager Mercedes Green has adopted indoor gardening as a new hobby.

'I have been trying (and sometimes failing) to look after a number of new plants and flowers, as they keep me company working from home. Daily watering, repotting and giving them the occasional sunbathe has helped to me to keep busy during this lockdown. Whilst we can't spend a lot of time outside, the addition of plants in my work area is very much welcome and always brightens my day,' she says.

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Challenges, discoveries and solidarity during the lockdown

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Keeping activities running as smoothly as possible, whilst also supporting our beneficiaries and applicants, has been the top priority for the team. If you have a Solidarity Corps project or are a participant, please check our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document in our Coronavirus update for more information.

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The Blob Tree is a tool that can be used to help participants articulate their feelings and help facilitate their development: https://www.blobtree.com/

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Even if you are a newcomer to Youthpass, it is important to have good plans in place for recognition and validation of your participants' learning, which must align with what has been foreseen in your original and approved application.

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Youthpass certificate is usually issued at the end of the project, but if your participant needs more time for reflection, then it can be generated a bit later.

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Highlighting strengths - it is important part of the learning process to be able to recognise that.

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Insights on how to support learning reflection and tools for documenting learning outcomes with Youthpass: https://www.youthpass.eu/en/publications/valuedbyyou/

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"ONE 2 ONE. Supporting Learning Face-to-Face."

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"ONE 2 ONE. Supporting Learning Face-to-Face."

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Handbook on tips and methods on learning support in youth work in one-to-one settings: https://www.youthpass.eu/downloads/13-62-276/Publication_121_Final.pdf

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Practical tips and hands-on methods for making the most of the Youthpass process: https://www.youthpass.eu/en/publications/youthpass-unfolded/

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Please visit Youthpass website to learn more, start issuing your certificates and access numerous resources, like publications, games, handbooks, testimonials and many other.

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Using own, i.e. in-house, certificates to recognise participants learning can only strengthen building up on their achievements and can boost their confidence.

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We use 3 in-house outcomes stars that we have developed internally, looks similar to Impactosaurus and measures confidence on: communication, problem solving, self-management, initiative and enterprise, health and wellbeing, critical thinking and more.
Bethan Spencer

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Mentors can help with self-reflection and spotting the areas for development.

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Most young people are used to formal learning, therefore capturing non-formal or informal learning may be quite surprising to them.

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It is possible to incorporate Youthpass into the performance/appraisal system offered by HR, but this still needs to be a reflection on the participant's learning process and preferably linked with 8 Key Competences. Action Points can be set up and reviewed later, but having regular reflection sessions will benefit participants the most.

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Capturing the distance travelled when it comes to achieving individual learning goals or outcomes can be also captured via surveys done at regular intervals, i.e. baseline questionnaire, mid-line and end-line.

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Youthpass 8 Key Competences can be used as a recording mechanism.

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Some beneficiaries give access to Youthpass to young people themselves to document their learning there.

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Meeting with your participants regularly for Youthpass purposes is very important. As is capturing the learning process and outcomes early on in the project.

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Youthpass is not just a certificate - it is also a tool for reflecting on a learning outcomes and a learning process.

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Beneficiaries find Youthpass to be a very effective tool to document learning - there is a lot of learning happening at the beginning of the placement and a lot of soft skills being developed that young people are not really aware of as they are not used to recognise those skills.

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No, BUT the responsibility to issue the Youthpass certificates to the participants/volunteers, in case they wish to receive them, lies with the organisation that signs the contract for the ESC grant.

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Youthpass is the main platform for registering and validating non-formal learning, but beneficiaries use other tools alongside too. E.g. ‘’Impactasaurus’’ is used as a visual way for the volunteers to see their learning progress.

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Beneficiaries recognise the need of both, assessment and self–assessment in the process of building self-awareness and recognising non-formal learning.

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We have shared the internal arrangements when it comes to who’s responsible for Youthpass in the organisation. Usually, it would be one person responsible for Youthpass platform, but the process of registering non/informal learning goes via mentors. Other players also are involved as other non ESC volunteers.

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Yes we have done some more reactive activities than normal including arranging counselling on project

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Yes we have done some more reactive activities than normal including arranging counselling on project

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Everything is Possible - We have done quite a bit of TV and newspaper promotion and had lots of applications - we now run monthly zoom info sessions but mainly for international placements.

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Everything is Possible - We have done quite a bit of TV and newspaper promotion and had lots of applications - we now run monthly zoom info sessions but mainly for international placements.

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Also to mention is added peer to peer support (arranging Zooms without staff), more regular mentor checks and we are fortunate to have a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme which offers confidential support from mental health professionals - we have been able to get our volunteers access to this both from the UK and overseas. 

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Also to mention is added peer to peer support (arranging Zooms without staff), more regular mentor checks and we are fortunate to have a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme which offers confidential support from mental health professionals - we have been able to get our volunteers access to this both from the UK and overseas. 

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IARS - Additional mental health support has been implemented through the introduction of an additional mentor who holds health and wellbeing sessions with the volunteer.

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IARS - Additional mental health support has been implemented through the introduction of an additional mentor who holds health and wellbeing sessions with the volunteer.

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BRC - Adapted to mental health support and mentoring measures for participants. Online measures have allowed it to conect easily and have more structured and regular communication. There is no longer a geographic divide in regards to communication and support.

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BRC - Adapted to mental health support and mentoring measures for participants. Online measures have allowed it to conect easily and have more structured and regular communication. There is no longer a geographic divide in regards to communication and support.

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Virtual space to be released by Europeers soon 

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Virtual space to be released by Europeers soon 

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There is difficulty in ensuring young people are able to meet others due to lockdown restrictions 

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There is difficulty in ensuring young people are able to meet others due to lockdown restrictions 

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Circle of courage to inspire and support young people during lockdown this is based on 4 elements:  

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Circle of courage to inspire and support young people during lockdown this is based on 4 elements:  

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1. Gratitude
2. Compassion
3. Responsibility
4. Kindness

Link to circle of courage: http://www.behavioradvisor.com/CircleOfCourage.html#:~:text=The%20Circle%20of%20Courage%C2%AE%20model%20provides%20educators%20with%20an,professional%20wisdom%2C%20and%20educational%20practice

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Outcomes that Mater based on the Circle of Courage : https://transformoutcomes.com/

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Outcomes that Mater based on the Circle of Courage : https://transformoutcomes.com/

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Time for God - Small, localized hosting organisation have temporarily shut down and no longer have the capacity to welcome volunteers and implement activities. This has been particularly prominent with faith based organisation.

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Time for God - Small, localized hosting organisation have temporarily shut down and no longer have the capacity to welcome volunteers and implement activities. This has been particularly prominent with faith based organisation.

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Alex's challenge - Learn the alphabet in British Sign Language

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Practice or policy that has been altered by Covid-19 : Implementing blended mobilities (6 weeks of virtual mobilities followed by physical activity). Online sessions have allowed for participants to build up relationships with host before arrival. 

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Practice or policy that has been altered by Covid-19 : Implementing blended mobilities (6 weeks of virtual mobilities followed by physical activity). Online sessions have allowed for participants to build up relationships with host before arrival. 

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BRC - managing cross border placements has been particularly difficult.  

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BRC - managing cross border placements has been particularly difficult.  

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Actions - Individual risk assessments.
Actions - Working through placements on a case by case basis.