Recovery College - educational approach to socio-economic rehabilitation and integration of vulnerable groups of population

The project proposal aims to explore, adapt and approbate an innovative social practice from the UK, called "Recovery College" (RC), which is essentially an educational approach to socio-economic rehabilitation and integration of vulnerable groups of people and whose implementation, according to a pilot study, improves autonomy, personal responsibility and motivation to overcome adverse life circumstances, encourages engagement in education and employment, significantly reduces the use of community social services. Unlike traditional support within the social and health care systems, the admission to RC is open to everyone, without limitation criteria, burdensome procedures, referrals, assessments. RC students will be people normally excluded from education and employment due to their illness, disabilities or social background (single mothers, young people from institutions, etc.). The approach is a change of perspective with a strong innovating power: the characteristics which have been a lack, an obstacle so far, will be a chance, expertise and resource, which shall contribute to inclusion, participation in education and in labour market, equal rights and chances for people with vulnerabilities. The latter will develop attitudes and competences in self-managing, dealing and coping with their special problems, developing a realistic and resource-orientated future and life plan. The launch of a RC does not require significant expenditure, but rather a paradigm shift, coordination and organisation of the available public resources and, thereby, its sustainability does not depend on major financial investment. The project activities envisage: exchange of experience, study and description of the innovative practice; establishing a RC and curriculum development; increasing the capacity of stakeholders in the implementation of RC; piloting a two-semester course for recovery; evaluation of the outcomes; creating a network of partners and disseminating the model.

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