SAFE LINKS - European Youth Safer Spaces, Inclusion and Civic Participation Lab

SAFE LINKS is a small-scale European cooperation project focused on strengthening the capacity of community-based youth organisations to create safer, more inclusive and participatory spaces for young people, with a specific focus on LGBTQIA+ youth, trans youth, young people experiencing isolation, and young people facing discrimination or multiple barriers.
The project combines transnational cooperation, staff and peer-leader training, local pilot cycles, and practical outputs that can be reused by organisations working in youth, inclusion and community settings. The partnership will co-design, test and validate a shared methodological model for inclusive youth work and safer spaces, while adapting it to different local contexts.

Programme / Action
Erasmus+ Youth
KA210-YOU – Small-scale Partnerships in Youth

Coordinator
Arcigay Pegaso Catania (Arcigay Catania)

Project duration
12 months

Total budget
60,000 EUR (KA210 lump sum)

Main objectives
To strengthen the capacity of partner organisations to design and run inclusive youth work and safer space models.
To train youth workers, volunteers and young peer leaders on inclusive facilitation, peer support, anti-stigma approaches, group management and community outreach.
To test a shared SAFE LINKS methodology through local pilot cycles in all partner territories.
To produce practical and transferable tools for youth organisations, volunteers and peer leaders.
To improve transnational cooperation and create a solid basis for future Erasmus+ cooperation.

Main themes
Inclusion and diversity
Youth participation and active citizenship
Anti-discrimination and equal opportunities
Community-based youth work
Well-being and peer support

Planned activities
Project coordination, quality management, monitoring and evaluation (throughout the 12 months)
Needs analysis and co-design phase (common framework, baseline, indicators)
4 transnational meetings (in person)
2 local pilot cycles in each partner territory
Local micro-actions and community outreach initiatives
Final transfer, evaluation and dissemination phase

Transnational activities (planned mobilities)
The project includes 4 in-person transnational meetings for the 4 organisations (coordinator + 3 partners), with the following structure:
Kick-off and Co-Design Lab
Duration: 3 days
Participants: 12 total (3 per organisation)
Profile: 2 staff/youth workers + 1 young peer leader per organisation
Training Lab on Safer Spaces, Peer Support and Well-being
Duration: 4 days
Participants: 20 total (5 per organisation)
Profile: 3 young/peer leaders + 2 youth workers per organisation
Exchange Lab on Participation, Community Outreach and Anti-discrimination
Duration: 4 days
Participants: 20 total (5 per organisation)
Profile: 3 young/peer leaders + 2 youth workers per organisation
Final Transfer and Evaluation Lab
Duration: 2 days
Participants: 16 total (4 per organisation)
Profile: 2 staff/youth workers + 2 young ambassadors per organisation
Total transnational participations: 68

Local activities (per organisation)
Each organisation will implement 2 local pilot cycles.
Cycle 1:
2 thematic youth workshops
1 peer-to-peer lab
1 local micro-action/community activity
Cycle 2:
1 advanced workshop
1 activity with local stakeholders (school, sport, services, associations, community actors)
1 local micro-campaign (digital and/or offline) co-created with young participants
Estimated local participation:
Around 60 young people per organisation across the 2 cycles (around 240 total across the partnership)

Expected project results
SAFE LINKS Toolkit for youth workers and volunteers (safer spaces, inclusion, peer support, participation, outreach)
SAFE LINKS Peer Leader Pack (practical materials for young facilitators)
Light operational protocol for safe community spaces and referral pathways
4 local pilot plans and implementation reports (one per organisation)
Final comparative report with impact indicators and lessons learned
Dissemination package for local stakeholders and youth/community networks

Partner profile sought
We are looking for organisations that work with young people and can actively contribute to at least one of the following areas:
LGBTQIA+ youth support and inclusion
Youth participation and active citizenship
Community-based youth work and non-formal education
Well-being, peer support, safer spaces
Anti-discrimination work in school, sport or community settings
We welcome grassroots organisations and newcomer organisations in Erasmus+ KA2, provided they have direct access to young people and the capacity to implement local activities.

Expected role of partners
Contribute to co-design and adaptation of the SAFE LINKS methodology
Participate in all 4 transnational meetings
Implement 2 local pilot cycles in their territory
Involve young people (including young people with fewer opportunities) and local stakeholders
Contribute to monitoring, evaluation and dissemination
Contribute to the development of project outputs (toolkit, peer leader pack, protocol, reports)

Application procedure
To apply as partner, please send one email with:
PIF (Partner Identification Form)
Partner Application Form (including organisation profile, relevant experience, target groups, motivation, proposed contribution, and contact person)
Email subject:
SAFE LINKS – Partner Application – [Organisation Name]
Send applications to:
arcigay.catania.erasmus@gmail.com