Across Europe, mental health issues are on the rise. Statistics published by the World Health Organization (WHO), show that one in four people in Europe suffer with poor mental health and that almost 20% of all diseases treated across Europe are linked to mental health illnesses; including anxiety, depression and eating disorders. Research shows that negative mental health does not discriminate - it affects all cohorts of society, all communities and all socioeconomic demographics; however, it is most common among young people. A report published by OECD found that 75% of all mental health illnesses emerge between the ages of 15 and 25 years. These formative years are crucial for young people to cultivate habits, routines and behaviours to support positive mental health. Empowering young people to develop behaviours and habits that will support their positive mental health is critically important especially in the face of the youth mental health epidemic that we are witnessing today. Mental health issues affecting young people are often a direct response to what is happening in their lives. Terms that help to describe this youth mental health epidemic did not exist a decade ago but are now commonplace in our vocabulary. Terms such as FOMO (fear of missing out), social anxiety, social media validation, virtual identities and emerging issues including climate anxiety caused by the unknown consequences of climate change on the future of younger generations, have joined the ranks of more established terms like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia etc. to provide a snapshot of the myriad of serious and mounting mental health concerns that afflict young people today. These concerns manifest themselves in drug and alcohol abuse, self-harm, social withdrawal and in worst instances, suicide. Most children grow up mentally healthy, but surveys suggest that more children and young people have problems with their mental health today than 30 years ago. This research shows that there is a need to engage young people in tackling this issue, if they are to overcome the threats and negative impacts that poor mental health can have on their overall well-being, their personal development, their goals, expectations and active participation in civic and social life. Through the peer leadership programme that will be developed by the Safe Space project, partner organisations aim to work directly with young people in their communities, to empower them to become local peer advocates in promoting positive mental health and to tackling this scourge on the well-being of our younger generations. When young people begin to show the early signs of mental health problems, research shows that early intervention is crucial in preventing mental health issues from getting worse. However, it is not always possible for young people to access the services and resources that they so desperately need. The aim of this project is to train youth leaders to support prevention and early intervention measures on a local level among their peer group, as a means of tackling this issue through a bottom-up approach. The project proposes the following outputs to achieve its objectives:(1) Peer Leadership Programme - this programme will comprise 4 modules that will support young people to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to become leaders in tackling poor mental health among their peers.(2) Self-help Cartoons and Resources - this suite of positive mental health cartoons and self-help resources will support young people who are cut off from service providers and counsellors, to access resources that can help them to develop positive mental health habits. They will also be used by newly-trained peer youth leaders in their local mental health promotion activities aimed at their peers. (3) Safe Space Stories Video Library - this library of Safe Space success stories will act as inspiration and motivation for young people who are currently experiencing mental health problems, but who are looking for support and guidance to overcome these issues. Producing the video case studies will also empower the young people engaged in their production to tell their story of overcoming negative mental health and developing positive behaviours and habits.

The increase in risky sexual behaviors among young people has sparked urgency and has become an area of interest for global public health researchers aiming to find innovative approaches to promote better sexual health. Sexual and reproductive health education is one of the objectives of EU Action Plan for Sexual and Reproductive Health dedicated to the need of establishing and strengthening formal and informal evidence-informed comprehensive sex education pointing to the development of competency training and aids for teachers, educators and health professionals. Many people feel less vulnerable to Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) based on their belief that they can ascertain whether a potential partner is likely to be infected or not on the basis of the way that they look or some other superficial characteristic. The challenge is to find the best way to tackle this problem and to ascertain what tools we could further develop to establish this. Digital educational interventions and serious games could be an effective sex education method as this generation is very familiar with this technology. Safe4Play will be a big a step toward the design of tailored and relevant sex education interventions that will promote active learning, rather than passive one-way learning. Two-way, interactive and tailored education is a more promising form of education compared to traditional one-way passive education, as early literature evidence suggests. How much will this form of education benefit sex education and better protect people from contracting STIs? These questions will be addressed by Safe4Play, that aims to include all young people irrespective of background, ethnicity and age. The educational material will be adapted to the user’s needs and delivered via different means, such as text, simulations, games, graphs and e-learning tutorials.Better realising the risks involved in our sexual behaviours and interactions with our sex partners could potentially have a big impact on our behaviour and future actions. According to the Health-Belief-Model model, understanding the consequences of a certain action can have a positive impact on protection against STIs and unwanted pregnancies. As a result, there may be a reduction in STI rates and unwanted pregnancies in the EU after the introduction of Safe4Play. To maximise the project’s impact, special attention will be paid to the dissemination of its achievements, objectives and activities – combined with intensive communication with various target groups, and the broader aim to increase public awareness. All partners are committed to maximize the project outcomes and benefits and to reach the widest possible audience.The consortium: United Kingdom: University of Southampton (leading University in the UK for sex research), Ballybeen Women's Centre Ltd (integrated service provider promoting health and well-being within the community), causaLens (High-tech SME in the area of ML).Belgium: Welcome Home International (NGO providing encouragement, education and assistance to migrants and refugees)Greece: Innovation Frontiers (SME with expertise in Serious Games and AR)Cyprus: Technologos Research and Innovation Services ltd (SME with specialisation in digital educational interventions)

As countries increasingly move toward more relaxed drug laws, the role of education will become the main focus of public services who wish to prevent drug abuse. According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction’s (EMCDDA) 2019 Country Drug Reports; The UK has seen an increase in the use of all major illicit substances in the last decade. In Ireland the same study showed that drug use has become more common among the general population in recent years, with the highest use of cannabis, cocaine and MDMA all among 15 – 24 year olds. In Spain, cocaine was involved in almost half of the reported drug-related emergencies in 2016. Available data in Germany suggest there has been an increase in cocaine and amphetamine use among young adults particularly. Interestingly the prevalence of illicit drug use in Cyprus has been relatively stable in recent years, with cannabis being the most used substance. Possession of most common street drugs is treated as a misdemeanour in Cyprus and only criminalized when it is an “amount larger than small” which arguably makes the Cyprus one of the most liberal EU countries in terms of drug liberalization, apart from Portugal. In 2001, Portugal became the first European country to rescind all criminal penalties for personal drug possession and offered remedial treatment rather than prison sentences. EMCDDA data from recent years has shown that lifetime use of cannabis and other illicit substances among Portuguese students is lower than the European average and so to is the use of psychoactive substances. This carefully selected consortium of partners will offer a diverse collection of attitudes and empathys to drug abuse. Partner organisations and stakeholders will experience a unique opportunity to share and discuss best practices.For the youth of today technology is ubiquitous. Over time technology has fused itself with learning, both in education and personal development. Smart phones, tablets and laptops are just some of the devices that are frequently used by a large proportion of the population of Europe, particularly young people. In 2016, 91% of young people in the EU made daily use of the internet. (Euro Stat). Young people reportedly use basic internet skills 20% more than the average for the whole population. The encyclopaedia of mum and dad is no longer. Google is now the go-to source for information. There was a time when even the most relaxed parent would caution against peer pressure, now we celebrate professional influencers. Our attitudes have collectedly shifted and so with it has the role of parents, educators and youth workers. They are no longer the escorts of information. Instead, they are now tasked with providing the necessary skills to enable young people to apply critical thought, reason and structure to the information they gather from a vast multitude of sources. Infographics have been steadily gaining popularity, both in digital and print formats and in organizations and education. They are clear, effective and visually engaging. They present a variety of information while retaining the attention of the viewer. Today’s youth are inundated with information every day and opportunities for distraction are increasing. There are unfathomable amounts of data and sources online, much of it biased, inaccurate and often wrong. Young people need tools to easily digest information while also being offered the opportunity to conduct further, credible and safe research to areas of their interest.A toolkit of purpose designed Interactive Infographics will provide a holistic approach to drug awareness and prevention. The Toolkit will provide a complete suite of 12 interactive infographic resources comprised of 3 core areas selected by partners, namely:1. Problem definition: The role of drug type and patterns of use in drug related harms, Who it impacts and where it impacts to gain understanding of the social costs of drug problems, Early warning systems and key indicators.2. Appropriate response actions: Contextualizing factors and influences such as public attitudes and legal framework. Promoting harm reduction: how to help an individual and establishing the importance of individual and community wellbeing.3. Prevalent problems today: Information on new psychoactive and synthetic drugs, addressing the misuse of medicines and the dangers of the dark web.By the end of the project:- 12 interactive infographics addressing drugs awareness issues will be developed in 5 partner languages - 36 front-line youth workers will complete the pilot of the in-service training programme- 36 young people will complete the peer leadership programme- 300 young people will engage with the interactive infographics developed through the online portal provided

In 2006 the Economic Policy Committee and the European Commission estimated that “the working age population in the EU will decrease by 48 million, a 16% reduction, between 2010 and 2050, while the elderly population will increase by 58 million, a gain of 77%”. Retirement is a universal phenomenon. It is experienced by Europeans in all countries, from all walks of life, from all social classes. It is, however, a period in life when inequalities between different subsets of the population become more pronounced. Either because of the sudden increases in free time, or because of a decline in their personal health, the newly retired are one of the most vulnerable societal groups when it comes to depression and mental illness. The road to inactivity for older workers is more often than not a road of no return. Research shows that prolonging the active engagement of recent retirees’ impacts positively on their personal self-esteem, their mental and physical health and well-being, fights social exclusion and offers recognition of their continued importance to society. As the ageing of the EU population continues apace and the percentage of retirees grows exponentially it is incumbent on service providers in adult education to take the necessary steps to foster positive mind- sets and encourage seniors to plan an active, fulfilling and rewarding life in retirement.Digital Literacy is increasingly becoming an essential life skill and the inability to access or use ICT has effectively become a barrier to social integration and personal development. With the convergence of different media forms in recent years, access to technology platforms can no longer be considered as real barriers to digital inclusion. The real issue where digital literacy is concerned, especially for seniors throughout Europe is about their ability to use the now widely available technology platforms. It is not that there is insufficient training available; On the contrary, there have been dozens of initiatives focused on developing digital skills training for seniors. For many educators who work with seniors, the biggest single barrier to building the digital skills of seniors is the complete lack of interest they show in new technologies which is perhaps masking their fear of these new pervasive technologies. Around 170 million people or 44% of adult Europeans have low or no digital skills. The more you move along the age profile of adults, the greater the percentage of those with no or low skills. Lack of need or interest and insufficient skills are the top reasons cited in the European Digital Progress Report (2017). It is the typical 'chicken' and 'egg' scenario. Do older people have a lack of interest because they have low skills; or do older people have low skills because they have a lack of interest.The VINYL WARRIORS project proposes to develop an embedded learning training programme for seniors that encourages them to recover their musical youth. In the course of the project activities, participants will learn key digital skills to enable them to record in audio and video the musical performance they enact. In this pilot phase, a minimum of 20 seniors in each country will be engaged in producing the proposed musical performance and building their digital skills.To achieve the desired outputs the following resources will be developed:- Digital Skills Training Programme for Seniors divided into 4 categories to support building digital skills for seniors taking responsibility the different roles in the LIVE Performance and Production Team - The Band; The Groupies; The Roadies; The Managers. The proposed embedded learning resources will address a wide range of issues associated with planning, designing, rehearsing, producing and performing at a live VINYL WARRIORS event.- In-service Training Programme and Handbook addressing the pedagogic challenges associated with; (1) online learning and working in dynamic online environments; (2) overcoming motivational deficits through innovative course design for attracting reluctant learners; (3) overcoming digital skill deficits when working with seniors to build digital literacy skills.- A MOOC - a dynamic mobile online learning portal to support the work of adult educators

Investing in entrepreneurship education is one of the highest return investments Europe can make as entrepreneurship and self-employment are keys for achieving smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.The critical role played by start-ups in driving economic development and job creation is increasingly understood. Factory floors are progressively being replaced by creative communities whose raw material is their ability to imagine, create and innovate. In this new digital economy, immaterial value increasingly determines material value, as consumers look for new and enriching 'experiences'.The creative industry sector is one of Europe's most dynamic sectors comprising highly innovative companies and contributing approximately 2.6% to EU GDP. It is a sector with high growth potential and provides quality jobs to over 5 million people.KRE8R aimed to plug the gap between training providers and (nascent) creative entrepreneurs. It has developed a curriculum that meets the needs of (nascent) entrepreneurs in the Creative and Cultural industries. With over 100 hours of training and resources, it goes further than generic courses by addressing specific topics that relate to CCI and speaks to them in language the creative brain can comprehend.Additionally, KRE8R increased the labour market relevance of Vocational Education and Training (VET) by providing tailored pedagogic resources to improve the attainment levels of high-level basic and transversal competences.The KRE8R consortium comprises 7 partners drawn from 7 Member States (CZ, FR, IE, MT, PT, RO, UK) and brings together a range of education providers, businesses and local development organisations to develop 5 main Intellectual Outputs:1. Creative Business Development Curriculum for Nascent Creative Entrepreneurs – programme KRE8R: a bespoke curriculum specifically targeting emerging entrepreneurs and artists in the cultural and creative sector. This curriculum was delivered in a blended learning environment. It includes 8 separate training modules, further readings, a wheel of skills & attitudes to acquire to become an entrepreneur ;2. In-service Training for VET Professionals: a bespoke induction training programme to support VET tutors to deliver the new curriculum and to ensure that the required learning outcomes are achieved. Induction training also addressed issues relating to the delivery of training in blended learning environments;3. E-learning Portal: an e-learning portal as a one-stop-shop providing instant access to the full suite of learning resources developed. 4. Policy Paper: recommendation for a course of action based on the experiences and lessons learned in the course of the project.5. Creative Business Case Studies: a series of case studies profiling creative entrepreneurs and their businesses in each partner country in order to help inspire nascent creative entrepreneurs. The KRE8R project involved local working groups established in each partner country, to bring the world of education and business closer together leading to the development of the unique business immersion programme. This caused a considerable positive impact for both the VET and micro-enterprise representatives involved.86 artists / (nascent) creative entrepreneurs took an active part in the piloting phase. KRE8R had a very strong impact on the two target groups of the project. In fact, after having participated in the online and face-to-face training modules, around 74% of artists / (nascent) creative entrepreneurs declare having progressed in knowledge, know-how and general skills. Among VET professionals, it was more than 74%. Therefore, most partners decided to sustain the project either by integrating the material in their training offer and/or sharing it with key VET providers in their area.It is worth mentioning that, within the all project duration, more than 43000 people were addressed or received the information about the KRE8R project.