CONTEXT Almost 60% of Europe’s 74 million low-skilled citizens are over 45 years old and are the most hard to reach to participate in training, even though they need lifelong learning most. Efforts to reach out particularly to low-skilled adults over 45 years old, who need special motivation to participate in training are essential to reduce risk of social exclusion. CSOs that already work with low-skilled people living in poverty, have to play an important role in engaging them in training, and thus need methodologies and tailor-made strategies to involve the various stakeholders required. On the other side employers’ involvement in training programs for unemployed low-skilled older adults is essential to increase perception of benefits of upskilling and connection to employment. OBJECTIVES 1 Establish effective local ecosystems that encourage participation of unemployed low-skilled adults over 45 years old in training opportunities. 2 Increase collaboration among CSOs, employers and trainers. 3 Produce recommendations for employers to increase their involvement in training initiatives for low-skilled older adults. 4 Improve socio-labour inclusion of unemployed low-skilled adults over 45 years old. THE PARTNERSHIP The Ac+45 project comprises 5 organisations from 4 EU countries representing the worlds of civil society, adult education, labour, policy and regional development. ActionAid Hellas is an affiliate of ActionAid International experienced in empowering vulnerable groups of people, provision of personalised guidance and delivering training on basic skills. The Labour Institute of Greek Confederation of Labour provides scientific justification about interventions related to labour, and training to socially vulnerable groups. Action Against Hunger is a large CSO in Spain working on the empowerment, training and employability of 10000 vulnerable people in 10 regions. RETE NGO in Italy works on social and labour inclusion of disadvantaged and delivers digital skills courses adjusted to low-skilled older adults. Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency in Bulgaria works with businesses, authorities and civil society towards the regional economic development. The Confederation of Danish Employers (associated partner) represents 14 employers’ organisations and has 28,000 private companies as members. ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY 1 Desk research, interviews with low-skilled older adults and focus groups with employers to define the requirements for engaging unemployed low-skilled adults over 45 years old in training. 2 Development of a collaboration framework among CSOs, employers and trainers in adult education, an implementation guide and experiential training material to establish effective local ecosystems/learning and employability centres. 3 Collection of successful practices to produce knowledge resources for employers and encourage their involvement in training initiatives for low-skilled older adults. 4 Training of the partnership on the use of Ac+45 collaboration framework and tools. 5 Pilot testing and impact assessment of Ac+45 outputs through establishment of local collaboration schemes. 6 Creation of a network of Ac+45 adopters to facilitate stakeholders’ collaboration and sustainability of results. 7 Promotion of the Ac+45 outputs through multiplier events. RESULTS & IMPACT 1 Requirements and influential factors for engaging unemployed low-skilled older adults in training to provide CSOs and trainers with greater understanding on the needs of this group, and support them in designing more attractive training and empowerment programmes (400 CSOs, 200 Training providers to be reached). 2 An integrated collaboration framework and tools to empower CSOs staff to establish effective collaborations with employers and training providers, and motivate potential learners (4000 professionals, 1500 learners to be reached). 3 Guidelines for employers to support their involvement in training initiatives for unemployed low-skilled older adults (500 employers to be reached). 4 A network of Ac+45 adopters and repository of impact assessment results to promote adoption of project outputs, and support policy makers in the design of employability and upskilling measures for unemployed low-skilled older adults (40 adopters during project, 35 key policy makers to be reached). 5 A European conference and four national infodays to reach and involve target groups (285 participants). LONG TERM BENEFITS 1 Integration of the Ac+45 collaboration framework, tools and knowledge resources by CSOs, training providers, employers and chambers of commerce in EU, adjusting them in their contexts. 2 Uptake and adaptation of the Ac+45 collaboration framework from policy makers in EU, with the aim to improve the impact of current policy measures. 3 Participation of a growing number of unemployed low-skilled adults over 45 years old in training programmes on basic and soft skills, promoting their socio-labour inclusion.
To investigate barriers and motivation factors of the target group for participating in training opportunities, test motivation strategies in engaging unemployed low-skilled adults in training opportunities, and create collaboration schemes among CSO’s, employers, training providers. To establish effective local ecosystems that encourage participation of unemployed low-skilled adults in trainings on basic and soft skills and intensify collaboration among CSO’s working on social and labour integration, trainers, and employers. To develop engagement strategies tailored to the needs of the people concerned. To increase involvement of employers and economic actors in the design and delivery of trainings and to motivate them to participate in them. To provide a wider knowledge of people over 45 years old’s employability needs, expectations, and limitations and to obtain tools to accompany them in their way to employment. To raise awareness and build a strong collaborative network of stakeholders who can effectively contribute to the social and work integration of the unemployed adults. Lastly and through the abovementioned collaboration schemes to motivate low skilled adults over 45 to actively participate in training opportunities.
In EU the highest long-term unemployment rates are found in adults over 45 without upper secondary education, who show low levels of proficiency in basic skills, low participation in training, and a higher representation in poverty and social exclusion Efforts to reach out to this group, who needs special motivation to participate in training are essential to reduce risk of social exclusion. CSOs that already work with low-skilled people living in poverty have to play an important role in engaging them in training, and thus need methodologies and tailor-made strategies to involve the various stakeholders. On the other side employers’ involvement in training programs for unemployed low-skilled older adults is essential to increase perception of benefits of upskilling and connection to employment. Act45 project was designed as a response to this need aiming to provide a tested framework establishing effective local ecosystems to engage the target group in training ultimately improving their socio-labour inclusion. The Act45 partnership has significant experience in working with vulnerable populations. Development of research and finding new tools and strategies to support this populations were significant factors for applying.