Storymakers: Many Voices Many Lives, is an ERASMUS+ Project with the purpose of creating and developing materials outlining good practice and understanding on how to engage with socially excluded young people; setting the foundation for career guidance and counselling and materials that enable effective measurement and evaluation practices. ‘How to’ modules are included and offer clear structure that will enable professionals to work with young people through creative and engaging mediums.

The project was coordinated by the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (LBHF) United Kingdom involving as partners, Bielski Stowarzyszneie Artystyczne (Teatr Grodzki) Poland, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Lisbon University, Portugal and Synthesis Center for Research and Education Limited (Synthesis), Cyprus.

Storymakers: Many Voices Many Lives, developed creative and innovative materials that enable youth workers to use the power of story-making to engage and work with socially excluded young people, equipping them with resilience, confidence, self-esteem and life skills.

A key aim was to foster the inclusion and employability of young people with fewer opportunities, through the promotion of quality youth work. The project was designed in the context of increasing concern about the growing gap between young people who engage in social, civic and cultural life and are confident about finding a job, and those with little hope of leading a fulfilling life, and risk exclusion and marginalisation.

13.7m young people aged 15-29 are neither in employment, education or training (NEET), and close to 27m are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Young people with a migrant background, low educational achievement and health issues are most likely to become NEET and are least likely to participate in social and civic activities. Number and profile of beneficiaries:

Longer-term benefits are a reduction in youth social exclusion and a positive impact on the partners’ reputation, which can be expected to bring further financial support. At wider level: we are feeding the lessons of the project into policy development at national and European levels. Future funding is expected to be acquired through mainstreaming and multiplying the project both at national and European levels.

a) Youth workers increased their skills to engage socially excluded young people

b) Young people’s creativity and initiative is stimulated, motivating them about their future

c) Young people have become aware of services, support networks, and means of accessing qualifications for further education and/or employment

d) Participating organisations have gained skills and a wider European network, supporting internationalisation strategies.