Supported Apprenticeship Scheme (SAS) Transnational Project Meeting in Brussels & 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities meeting

Supported Apprenticeship Scheme (SAS) Transnational Project Meeting in Brussels & 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities meeting

EPR welcomed the project partners to Brussels for a Transnational Project Meeting in Brussels on 23rd May. The TPM was planned to coincide with the 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities (EPPD) which was attended by 700 people with disabilities, their professional supporters, MEPs, Commission officers and all key stakeholders working in the disabilities’ sector, including EPR, LADAPT and DIVALENCA. The aim was to build stronger links between the project and political members of the Intergroup to increase impact on European policy related to apprenticeships for people with disabilities.

For project partners that could not get access to the EPPD, EPR organised a study visit to Greop Intro, a Flemish organisation supporting vulnerable people into education, training and work. There was a fruitful exchange on good practices, funding and political frameworks in supporting people with disabilities into apprenticeships and work using holistic and person-centred approaches. Future exchanges of information and potentially, staff and student exchanges, are in the pipeline. All participants in the study visit appreciated the connection.

The TPM enabled partners to come together to share progress made by European Vocational Integration Counsellors in Bulgaria, France, Norway, Spain and Greece, who have been trained by the project, in supporting potential apprentices with disabilities to access apprenticeships. Discussions also took place on quality apprenticeships and lessons learnt so far from the project that will feed into the policy recommendations being considered by EPR.

Plans are underway to organise a Transnational Project Meeting in Greece on 13th and 14th September. EPR has started to develop policy recommendations for quality apprenticeships for people with disabilities and will present the draft recommendations at the TPM in Greece.