Group Initiatives

Group Initiatives

What is a Group Initiative?

A Group Initiative is a project created and run by a group of young people. Such projects can represent innovative examples of the contributions that young people want to make to their local community, in addition to having a European dimension.

A Group Initiative may include mobility activities at local, regional or national level and relevant travel costs may be funded.

The duration of such projects is between three months and one year.

Note - what a Group Initiative is NOT!
A Group Initiative does NOT involve young people’s transnational mobility. Therefore, international travel expenses cannot, in principle, be included in the project budget.

Where can projects take place?

Group Initiatives may take place in any of the Program countries (see section B.2), but not in third countries.

Who can apply?

Groups of young people who are legally resident in one of the Program countries and are, in principle, aged between 15 and 25.

A group should consist of at least four individuals, one of whom takes responsibility for submitting the application and signing the contract. In some cases a mentor/youth worker may act as a legal representative.

Young people with fewer opportunities are the main target group.

What help is available for preparing and implementing a project?

The National Agencies, which receive the applications, have advisers who can help or act as mediators to other contact persons or support organizations able to provide assistance with Group Initiative projects. A group may also be assisted by a youth worker, provided the young people themselves remain in charge of, and directly responsible for, the management and implementation of the project.

The National Agencies may arrange training for young people wishing to set up a Group Initiative, to help them manage the project effectively and advise them on how to go about finding resources to supplement the Community grant. Please contact your National Agency for detailed information.

What are the general selection criteria?

The following criteria should be taken into consideration when planning a Group Initiative:

Duration
A Group Initiative should last between three months and one year.

What is to be achieved?
A well-defined description of what the group intends to achieve should be presented in the application form, making sure it reflects and corresponds to the interests and expectations of the young people involved.

European dimension
The group should indicate by what means the planned project will make the young people involved more aware of their common European culture and heritage.

The European dimension of a project may be reflected by the following characteristics:

its theme is of a European interest

it can be carried out jointly by young Europeans from different countries

it is transferable to other groups of young people in other countries

it provides young people with an opportunity for intercultural non-formal learning and cooperation

it provides young people with an opportunity to develop their feeling that they are European citizens, etc.

What is the local impact?
The project should have links with the local community.
The involvement and support (financial or in any other form) of local authorities or other local organizations are particularly encouraged.

Innovation
The project should be about something new as far as the local community is concerned. It should provide a new learning experience for the group of young people carrying out the project.

Program/timetable
The presentation of a well-structured program/timetable for the project is important.

Good practice
The idea behind the project could act as a model for other groups around Europe to follow.

Project content

Non-formal learning experience
The project must contribute to the educational process of young people and raise their awareness of the European reality

Preparation and follow-up
Before submitting a grant application, the group members should agree on a program of activities. For the preparation of these activities, they can be assisted by a mentor/youth worker. However, it is essential that the project is devised and implemented by the young people themselves.
Right from the beginning of the project, the group should think carefully about the follow-up to the Group Initiative. For example, how to capitalize on the project’s impact? What would the next steps be? What are the possibilities of setting up a Networking project?

Which support activities are related to a Group Initiative?

Action 5 of the YOUTH program – Support Measures – is intended to help people involved in youth activities to find partners and to prepare, develop and improve the quality of group initiative projects.

During the preparation phase of a Group Initiative, it might be necessary for a mentor/youth worker to follow training to acquire new skills and/or share experiences with colleagues from other countries. Action 5 also facilitates support for activities leading to the creation of new networks or to improving the quality and innovative aspects of projects.

For more information regarding other Support Measures, see chapter G and/or contact your National Agency.

How is a project financed?

Funding from the YOUTH program for a Group Initiative project is based on a fixed amount.

The amount awarded will depend on the priority status of the project, which will be determined in accordance with the criteria below. Projects classified as priority 1 will be awarded a maximum amount of € 10 000. For the other priorities, the maximum amounts are € 7 500 (priority 2) and € 5 000 (priority 3). The maximum grant awarded might vary depending on the country in which the activity will take place. However, it can never exceed the amount applied for.

The priority status will be determined according to the following:

Priority 1
Projects which are run by young people with less opportunities (from a less-privileged cultural, geographical or socio-economic background) and which benefit the local community where they take place.

Priority 2
Projects which are run by any young people and which benefit young people with less opportunities (from a less-privileged cultural, geographical or socio-economic background).

Priority 3
Initiatives which are run by groups of young people and which benefit mainly the members of the group.

How to apply?

When the idea has been discussed within the group and a consensus has been reached, it is then time to submit the application to the National Agency in the country where the project will take place. The National Agencies have advisers who can help in planning the project or refer the applicant to other persons with whom they cooperate in providing assistance for young people. Please contact the National Agency in your country for assistance with filling in the forms.
Application forms can be requested from the National Agencies or downloaded from the Commission's and other websites (see the download page of Eurotool). Applications should be submitted by the deadlines indicated in section B.5.
What are the contractual obligations?

In signing the contract, the group undertakes to carry out the project as presented and to communicate to the National Agency any changes or difficulties encountered. If the project is not implemented as originally agreed, or is not actually carried out at all, the National Agency will cancel the agreement and may require full or partial reimbursement of the sum paid out.
The European Commission or the National Agency may carry out on-site visits to check that all contractual obligations are being properly fulfilled.
Group Initiatives Projects - Requirements - Organizations - Applications - Project Requests - Feedback

Action 5.1 activity 9 “Support for quality and innovation of the Program Youth.” Project no: 5.1/R1/2003/06 Made by Hienet working Teams in cooperation with T.E.S.