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Interreg 2 Seas – VRAC

From 2019 to 2023 ESCV delivered the cross-border It takes a village to raise a child (VRAC) project.

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The VRAC project existed to support young people and their families to improve their well-being and overcome the barriers they faced in engaging in education.

Eight organisations and local governments from Belgium, the UK, France, and the Netherlands, collaborated to co-construct integrated community-based education.

The project piloted innovative ways to tackle the numerous and complex challenges vulnerable young people and their families face with remaining in education and fulfilling their potential.

In November 2022 the final project report was published, read it here.

The project successfully provided accessible front-line support to young people not doing so well at school in two pilot areas, Newhaven and Hailsham.

The project built an integrated response to young people’s needs, with our delivery partners: Sussex Community Development Association, Sussex Clubs for Young People, Changing Chances, and Priority 154.

We provided a fully co-designed extended learning time activity programme, in school and in the community, transition support from primary to secondary school, delivered counselling, and a single point of access to a wellbeing and listening service.

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Our partners work

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Whilst delivering VRAC ESCV commissioned partner organisation Priority 1-54 to deliver transition support to 30 young people as part of the VRAC project via the Smooth Moves to Secondary School programme.

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We also commissioned SCDA to deliver our extended learning time programme, a 12 week co-designed activity programme know locally as PACE (Partnership, Activity, Community, Education) which gives young people the opportunity to learn new skills, build confidence and engage informal learning in their community.


It takes a village to raise a child (VRAC) – Final Event

On the 16th of November, VRAC presented the results at the final event in Mechelen.

It was a day full of thought-provoking workshops, hands-on sessions, encounters and exchanges, with international experiences from the UK, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. 

Want to see what happened in the different countries? 

Watch the VRAC films on the VRAC Youtube Channel here. 
 

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Work with ESCV

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If you have a project in mind, or are interested in one of our existing projects – please get in touch.