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Thrive
Training Hope, wellbeing, and Resilience In Vulnerable Early school leavers

Programme
Erasmus+
Project number
2018-1-IE01-KA204-038808
Key Action
Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices
Action Type
Strategic Partnerships for adult education
Topics
Early School Leaving / combating failure in education
Duration
Start date 01-10-2018
End date 30-11-2020
EU Grant
EUR 254.117,50

About the project

The THRIVE project developed a trauma-informed, immersive and open-access training programme for educators working with vulnerable early school leavers (ESL). It combines positive psychology, trauma sensitivity and emotional literacy to help educators respond more sensitively to learners, particularly those who have experienced trauma. The programme aims to address key emotional and social learning needs of ESLs and to promote their personal, educational and employment wellbeing. THRIVE is available via an online learning platform, designed to grow over time as a shared resource for educators across Europe.

Objectives

THRIVE aimed to:

  • Increase educators’ competences in recognising and responding to trauma and emotional needs of vulnerable ESLs in second chance education.
  • Integrate best practice on trauma-informed education and positive psychology into a structured, practical training programme for educators.
  • Address core social and emotional learning needs of ESLs, strengthening safety, relationships, self-awareness, self-regulation and resilience.
  • Support educator wellbeing and self-care, recognising their central role in creating safe, supportive learning environments.
  • Provide freely accessible, evidence-based resources (literature reviews, needs analysis, consolidated report and online modules) that can be used and adapted by educators and organisations across Europe.

Activities

To achieve these goals, the project implemented a set of interlinked activities:

  • Evidence base & needs analysis
    • Conducted national literature reviews in partner countries on trauma, ESL wellbeing and best practice in educational settings.
    • Carried out a needs analysis with key stakeholders in second chance education:
      • Focus groups and online surveys with educators to understand their lived experience and practical needs.
      • Focus groups with ESLs to ensure their voices, perspectives and priorities were reflected.
    • Produced a consolidated European report summarising best practice and stakeholder needs as a reference for the training design.
  • Design of the THRIVE training programme
    • Co-developed a modular training programme with all partners, each leading on modules aligned with their expertise.
    • Structured the programme around five core areas for trauma-sensitive practice:
      • Establishing Safety and Attachment
      • Building Relationships
      • Nurturing Self-Awareness and Self-Regulation
      • Building Resilience and Psychological Wellbeing
      • Educator Self-Care
    • Integrated realistic case studies, interactive elements, self-reflection opportunities and practical activities, using a strengths-based approach.
  • Refinement, piloting and online platform
    • Held a train-the-trainers workshop where partners presented materials, reflected together and refined module content.
    • Piloted the draft programme with a diverse panel of educators working with ESLs; collected and consolidated feedback to finalise content and structure.
    • Launched the THRIVE online learning platform, hosting the final training programme and associated resources as open-access material.
    • Disseminated THRIVE through multiplier events, conferences, social and digital media and partner networks, and encouraged educators to act as THRIVE ambassadors to foster resilience, wellbeing and social-emotional competences among ESLs.

Project partners

  • Profexcel.net Ltd - 🇮🇪 Ireland
  • Compass - Beratung, Begleitung und Training gemeinnützige GmbH - 🇦🇹 Austria
  • Asociatia Pentru Educatie Si Dezvoltare Durabila - 🇷🇴 Romania 
  • Cesie - 🇮🇹 Italy 
  • Kildare And Wicklow Education And Training Board - 🇮🇪 Ireland 
  • Universita Ta Malta - 🇲🇹 Malta

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or German National Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.