The Dutch Foundation of Innovation has been a host organisation for a lot of young people in recent years in many Life Long Learning (Leonardo da Vinci) Mobility projects (People to the Labour Market) and Erasmus+ (KA1) projects. We are very proud of the Journey to Work Programmes we have completed so far with our Scottish Partners. Our last project Journey to Work 3 has currently a success rate of 87,5%.

Such a high employment success rate is amazing. But even more important is big the impact it has on the life’s of all these young people. To name a few advantages of Journey to Work, also known as ‘Going Dutch’:
• Gain Work (experience)
• Develop personally & professionally
• Gain vital new skills required for a global economy
• Broaden your horizons – physically & mentally!
• Receive financial support
• Acquire invaluable transferable skills
• Increase motivation to learn
• Boost your employability
• Develop cultural awareness & open mindedness
• Enhance self-confidence
• Acquiring new networks
• Have fun!
• Gain knowledge in new subjects /teaching methods
• Improve & gain language skills
• Receive Quality Coaching
• A lot of testimonials of young people back up our employment statistics. If you want to read more artcles, blogs and testimonials, please click on the Journey to Work website

The European Union 2020 Strategy aims at a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, principle which is found in all Community programs’ objectives, and last but not least in the program for education, training, youth and sport, i.e. Erasmus+ 2014-2020 as well.

According to the recent Isfol study entitled “The cultural mediator in six European countries (Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Greece and the United Kingdom) areas of intervention, access paths and skills”, the stable presence of millions of foreign citizens in various EU countries, starting with Western Europe, daily urges the political authorities and legislators to promote an expansion of the potential of social safety networks. In this context, the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Policies has matured the need to carry out an analysis aimed at reconstructing, in a national and European comparative perspective, vocational and employment dimension of the cultural mediator. Trends for the 2011-2016 period show an increase of 1,5% in the request of Social Services experts included Cultural Mediator by the labour market, which is above the average growth.

For this reason, the partners strongly believes it is necessary monitoring and evaluating the real needs of the local context, in the context of vocational training, in terms of standards and training needs that include the knowledge and skills to be acquired, in order to focus attention on problems in interethnic coexistence in relation to political, economic, international and cultural issues. That is, with this project ‘Crossing Borders’, the students will acquire a solid cultural and linguistic basis in the cultures and language skills of different cultures focusing on- oral and written techniques supported by appropriate metalinguistic supervision.

The trainees will also have the opportunity to acquire basic knowledge in history, politics, economics and law, and geography and anthropology ,  to know and observe the operating model and problems of different work environments (public institutions, enterprises and public bodies in healthcare and social sector, organizations and NGOs) in relation to the vocation of the territory and its possible developments, including inter-ethnic and inter-cultural dynamics.

The knowledge and technical competencies should be accompanied by proper communicative approaches that make it easier to deal with immigrants and to offer them a more professional and appropriate service.

Only through this practice period abroad, the beneficiaries would put in practice their learning path, enriching it with new contents thanks to traineeship cooperating with and within institutions and organizations, both public and private, including the health sector, the socio – cultural-educational world, the security sector, public administration, as well as enterprises and freelancers. it should be considered as, for 100 students of third and fourth year of high schools of Humanities and Language and high students of Vocational Training for “Cultural Mediator courses” at Accredited bodies from regions, such an experience of internship and/or informal learning session abroad, could be an advantage in their recruiting process.

‘The success of the Dutch employment model comes through building on the principles that exist within the culture – the strengths of work and entrepreneurialism. It is not something that can simply be replicated, as it is our strengths that we must look to in Scotland’. Chris Messenger, Senior Development Officer of the Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF) blogs about his Dutch experiences: ‘The themes of treatment, autonomy and work were discussed. The latter theme, it soon became apparent, is a critical indeed absolute, necessary and integral part of treatment with Bouman and throughout the Netherlands

A must read: A Blog from Chris Messenger – Erasmus Study Visit to Rotterdam 2017

Author Chris Messenger (on the left)

Carla de Vreij , Chairman of the Dutch Foundation of Innovation Welfare 2 Work (DFW2W) was the host during the Elevate Study Visit in Holland last week. Delegates from the Scottish Drugs Forum, Phoenix Futures, and the Scottish Recovery Consortium had a full programme of  quality visits in the Rotterdam region. The DFW2W introduced themselves as an organisation and told about their scope of work and areas of expertise, in The Netherlands and Europe. Several companies and organisations were visited, with support from Welfare to Work expert and consultant Pieter van Schie MA. Below a few highlights:

Van Dalen Veilingkisten

Papendrecht – Van Dalen Veilingkisten is a young and specialized company in the Rotterdam region (Papendrecht) and focuses mainly on crafted wooden products. Three years ago, Niels van Dalen, a young entrepreneur decided to begin a start up. First, very carefully from home. The company produces crafty boxing machines.

Soon the boxes were stacked throughout the house and he had to look for a bigger production, and warehouse location. This was found in Papendrecht at the industrial site and soon this property became operational and thousands of chests found their way home and abroad. In order to meet the high demand for boxes, a machine has been developed and purchased that can automatically make headlamps.

Van Dalen Veilingkisten as a company is a good example of a young entrepreneur who had to overcome a lot of difficulties and along the way giving opportunities to young people with fewer opportunities, and young people with disabilities.

Niels director Veilingkisten, young entrepreneur, giving opportunities to young people with fewer opportunities and young disabled people

Website: http://www.veilingkisten.com/Veilingkisten.html

Opnieuw & Co

Dordrecht – Opnieuw & Co (Again & Co) is a social enterprise, a not for profit recruitment organization. That is, they do not have a profit target but they do need to work professionally and financially profitable to achieve their social goals & objectives.

The objectives and goals of Opnieuw & Co are:

Employment opportunities

Realizing social employment and offering students work places to learn and develop. We do that in cooperation with reintegration companies and service providers, such as; Social Service Drechtsteden (department of social affairs and employment of the municipalities of the Drechtsteden – they have to provide benefits to unemployed people) and BAR municipalities, Bouman GGZ / Antes Group, Da Vinci College, Department of Justice and various other relationships.

More than 450 employees work at Opnieuw & Co, of which 150 are employed and the other are temporarily in trajectories. There are also over 90 people working through Drechtwerk at Opnieuw & Co. There are also over 60 volunteers at Opnieuw & Co.

Environment

To stimulate and realize reuse, which reduces waste. We do this in cooperation with HVC / Network and the various municipalities in which we work. On an annual basis, we process over 4000 K of goods, of which more than 91% is recycled.

Poverty reduction

Although the circular warehouses are for a broad audience, we also provide a need by offering an affordable alternative for more expensive new items. On an annual basis, we have 450,000 paying customers in our circuit stores. Customers of foundation fees receive 20% extra discount. In severe cases, we make items available for free through referral agencies such as the social service, health care providers, food bank, and so on.

Mission

Again & Co wants to be an innovative, professional, customer-friendly and financially profitable cycle company, aiming at creating employment and developing skills for people, stimulating and realizing reuse and improving people’s purchasing power by providing an affordable alternative for new products.

Website: http://www.opnieuwenco.nl/

Hotspot Hutspot

Rotterdam – Hotspot Hutspot is an initiative where volunteers form a core element. Children work here in the kitchen and learn about food and cooking. Not because they need to do it, but because they want to do it. They are pleased to find it fun and also get a healthy meal in return. So, creator Bob Richters (recovered) creates a beautiful and safe place for children to come together to grow and grow.” He also gives opportunities to people in recovery.

Website: http://www.hotspothutspot.nl/ 

Elevate PSP working in Partnership with Light on the Path has been successful in gaining funding to enable staff and volunteers to visit the Netherlands to learn how employability for disadvantaged  groups is delivered  there and how employers and service providers engage with people in recovery.

The project Elevate is co-funded by the European Union. The Dutch Foundation of Innovation Welfare 2 Work is the host organisation in Holland and supports staff and volunteers on apprenticeship and study visit in the Netherlands

Our HORIZON 2020 & ERASMUS+ Initiatives

Previously we have informed you on this page about the new initiatives we are involved in…

In 2017 we are involved in the following innovative European schemes and projects regarding Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+: We already explained Starting Fresh. But Flying Fish, An Entrepreneurial Journey, Cycle Tourism, Journey to Work IV and Crossing Borders are started up. This week we can top it up with the following projects: Elevate, The JobsFather, DIVET, DIRADET, ESL Heroes, Ecopreneurs and Crossing Borders… Each week we will give an update around these amazing projects!

Joblessness lasting more than 6 months is a major factor preventing young people from getting (re)hired, with potentially grave consequences. In any given month, a newly jobless young worker has about 20 to 30 % chance of finding a new job. By the time s/he has been out of work for 6 months, though, the chance drops to 1 in 10. Many of these young people are not only early-school leavers, lacking qualifications, relevant skills and work experience but more and more it affects third-level graduates who cannot find a first job.

Target Group

By request of several Dutch municipalities we will do anything in our power to support recent graduates from VET-schools Staring Fresh in the World of Work. That’s why DFW2W has submitted an Erasmus+ application for a KA1 Mobility Project, called: Starting Fresh (SF).

SF is for 10 recent graduates up to 30 years old, who are in unemployment (benefit). We will target the 2 groups of 5 recent graduates from VET-schools pre-dominantly when they (about to) enter the social benefits system.

Young and Working

Upon returning to the Netherlands, DFW2W expects (partly based on experience with previous mobility pojects) several results. We have highlighted the most important: 75% of the ‘Starting Fresh Students’ who have successfully completed the project will still be at work 1 year after completion of the project.