Kohesio: discover EU projects in your region

project info
Start date: 1 March 2024
End date: 28 February 2027
funding
Fund: European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
Total budget: 431 302,00 €
EU contribution: 258 781,00 € (60%)
programme
Programming period: 2021-2027
European Commission Topic
European Commission Topic

Contact Force Project

The project is carried out by TampereMissio, Helsinki Deaconess Institute Foundation and Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county. The project addresses the youth in age 16-29 who are not in employment, education or training (NEET). The target group faces several simultaneous challenges in their lives. Experiences of loneliness and bullying are the root causes on which problems accumulate. Many have challenges managing their everyday life and housing, getting out of the house, fear of social situations, and inabilities to independently apply for and benefit from the services offered. The target group shows mental health and addictions problems, including depression, substance use, violence or other risky behaviour. Identified problems include service shortages and prolonged transition times when moving from one service to another, complicated service paths where young people cannot survive without support, and the fact that young people do not get help at an early enough stage. The aim of the project is 1) to develop everyday support and coaching for young multi-service customers aged 18-29, ensuring the availability of necessary public services; 2) to develop a hybrid model of treatment, social work and everyday support for 16-17-year-old minors waiting for youth psychiatry; 3) to integrate peer mentoring as a mode of action that complements the public service system; 4) to prevent young people from joining street gangs and violent movements; and 5) to develop cooperation with the public, third and fourth sectors based on strategic partnership. As concrete results of the project, 325 young people belonging to the target group and 60 of their family members have participated in the project activities. 30 % of the young people have have carried on to employment and education path and 25 % have started looking for a job after the coaching. Furthermore, 20 young volunteers have been trained as peer mentors and they act as support for target group in their own residential areas. In the long run, the cooperation of the public sector with the third and fourth sectors has increased. Social innovations have been born in connection with the development of services and new operating methods have become a permanent practices. The service system has improved in terms of coverage, versatility, continuity and customer orientation. Early intervention and support have contributed to breaking the cycle of unemployment and marginalisation of the target group.

Flag of Finland  Multiple locations, Finland