CP BIG SPORT HRIC

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CP BIG SPORT HRIC

CP BIG SPORT HRIC

Holistic sport-based Rehabilitation programmes to support youth Impacted by Covid-19 – HRIC

HRIC took advantage of and enhanced the therapeutic potential of sports to support the mental well-being of vulnerable youth groups by developing specific training methodologies and policy recommendations to foster participation in sport activities by these vulnerable youth groups and contribute to the improvement of their mental well-being, especially for those particularly affected by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. HRIC adopted a holistic approach grounded on the concepts of psycho-physical and mental health to support the inclusion of vulnerable young people (16-30) who suffered from anxiety, depression, psychological breakdown, and PTSD and who had been particularly affected by the period of COVID isolation and experienced repercussions on their mental health. The methodological combination and synergy between Education Through Sport (ETS) and practical/theoretical elements of psychology were embodied and multiplied through the creation of innovative profiles of Sport Coaches and social operators in supporting persons who were already suffering from depression, anxiety, and stress management, and for whom the pandemic period had increased and worsened their state, toward the achievement of psychophysical well-being and integration within Sport practice and, by extension, society.

Project Duration & Funding

  • Start: 01.12.2022 End: 31.05.2025
  • Project Reference: 101090110
  • EU Grant: 400,000 EUR
  • Programme: Erasmus+
  • Key Action: ERASMUS-LS
  • Action Type: ERASMUS-LS

Project Partners

  • FEDERAZIONE ITALIANA PALLAVOLO (Italy)
  • ZAJEDNICA SPORTSKIH UDRUGA GRADA RIJEKE RIJECKI SPORTSKI SAVEZ (Croatia)
  • Mine Vaganti NGO (Italy)
  • SPORT EVOLUTION ALLIANCE CRL (Portugal)
  • UNIVERZITETNI REHABILITACIJSKI INSTITUT REPUBLIKE SLOVENIJE-SOCA (Slovenia)

Project Topics

  • Psycho-physical and mental health
  • Vulnerable young people
  • Education through sport

Target Groups

Vulnerable youth between 16 and 30 years old.

Project’s Objectives

a) Encouraged the participation of this vulnerable target group in practicing sports activities.
b) Created synergy between sports and social services sectors.
c) Elaborated policy recommendations for decision-makers and stakeholders.

Approach / Methodology

The HRIC methodology was embedded in a coherent flow of four work packages, each of which was supported by clear objectives and provided inputs for the implementation of the other work packages and the achievement of the overall HRIC aim.

Project Activities

The Transnational Project Meetings were as follows:

  • Kick-off Meeting: November 2022 (2 days), Rome (Italy) – Lead: FIPAV
  • Mid-term Evaluation Meeting: December 2023 (2 days), Rijeka (Croatia) – Lead: RSDA
  • Final Evaluation Meeting: April 2025 (2 days), Porto Salvo (Portugal) – Lead: SEA

Local training courses were carried out by each partner organization. The final results achieved developed the competencies linked with the format in participating Coaches and social operators, as well as gathered their feedback in daily debriefing sessions and in a final session of evaluation of the training courses.

The Sport Program co-designed activities were tested at the local level, involving young people while respecting gender balance criteria. The Sport Coaches and Social Operators led the event, administered evaluation questionnaires, and gathered feedback regarding the appeal and usefulness of the activities.

Dissemination Conferences were thoroughly prepared and promoted to gather a representation of the audience of users and beneficiaries of project results. The conferences also served as a setting for national participants in the activities (local trainings and programmes) to present and describe their experiences and perceived learning outcomes.

Deliverables

  • European Research Report: This report described, assessed, compared, and explained existing practices in ETS and psychological support, detailing opportunities for synergy and improvement. The report was translated into all partner languages and also provided general guidelines for the design of the training format, including its baseline structure in terms of methodology, topics, and sessions.

  • Training Format: This methodological framework, complete with sessions and content, detailed a model course for Sport Coaches and social operators to acquire the necessary mix of competencies in ETS and psychological principles/methods. This training aimed to help them work with young people suffering from anxiety, depression, and psychological breakdown in a perspective of supporting their social inclusion both in and through Sport.

  • Handbook: This handbook contained mental health and sport programmes directly targeted at young people (16-30) suffering from anxiety, depression, stress management, and PTSD.

  • Policy Paper Recommendations: These recommendations aimed to promote HRIC programmes and methods to create synergy between sports and social services sectors.