Young people today lead varied and active digital lives, using the internet -and especially social media- to explore, connect, create and learn in ways never before imagined. However, social media is a double-edged sword and our young people are increasingly exposed to online behaviours that erode their confidence, interpersonal relations: online peer pressure and abuse, the search for aesthetic perfection, the over-sharing of personal information, the “echo chamber” effect and risks of radicalization all pose serious risks to the development of positive, confident, active young citizens. In addition, research shows that the complex social situations presented by social media require young people to have not only basic technical competences but also more highly developed critical thinking skills, as found in a media literacy approach. For these reasons, the aim of the Healthy Social Media project is clear: improve the ability of young people to critically assess and engage with digital and social media they are consuming and creating to become responsible, confident, digital citizens. In order to achieve this, we believe that suppliers of nonformal education to the youth sector have a key role to play. However, today’s adult youth leaders and trainers are at a disadvantage having grown up in a pre-digital world. Healthy Social Media projects has successfully completed as of 30.04.19. During the project timeframe all required targets have been completed as follows:IO1 Needs Analysis Study This Intellectual Output is complete, available on Dropbox and project website. All translations for IO1 have been completed and are all live online - http://www.healthysocialmedia.eu/social-media-study/IO2 HOME Open Educational Resources. All partners have agreed that Intellectual Output 2 is complete, fit for the purpose and no adjustments are required. Final Open Educational Resources in all partner languages are now available on Dropbox, Nearpod and project website. All translations for IO2 have been completed and are all live online - http://www.healthysocialmedia.eu/social-media-study/IO3 Phone APP All partners have agreed that the Intellectual Output 3 is complete, fit for the purpose and no adjustments are required. All translations for IO3 have been completed. According to partners‘ comments the quality of HOME App is very good and should be fit for the purpose, additionally MMS has created excellent resource.Project Management managed by NLDCHP via its participation in all project meetings and its robust financial management expertise.Quality Management & Evaluation managed by Drustvo SPES quarterly reports for the 8 quarters were produced on basis of survey monkey results- results show consistently that all partners(8) are fully familiar with their roles and responsibilities. Project communication has been handled efficiently and effectively in disseminating information and directives. Partners (8) have been able to complete all planned activities in accordance with the timetable. “This has been a fantastic opportunity for us to be involved in some international work that is both rewarding and provides tangible outputs-learning resources and phone app to share with young people and educators alike - this is a luxury not often enjoyed by the CVS sector.“Dissemination & Sustainability activities managed by EfVET through a partner dissemination template top capture all dissemination activites. 4 Ezines produced during project timeframe and the production of 2 project videos, one for multiplier events and one for continued promotion of HSM objectives. To check unique visitors to websitesDownloads of app from itunes/playstore/project websiteContact form enquiries5 Mulitplier events have taken place as per project targets- in total 217 stakeholders from key youth organisations, VET, NGO's and public bodies in social development policy & practice- exceeding our target by 11%. 82% of respondents to muliplier evaluation were satisfied with events. Over 50% of respondents felt their expectations had been exceeded. Over 65 % of respondents stated that they were informed and learned about the goals of the project HOME at the conferences that were held. 52 out of a total 62 respondents stated that they will continue to use the resources and tools in the future. In the light of the foregoing, it can be concluded that multiplier events have been carried out with a very high level, being especially significant the impact they have had.As will be clear from the above the impact of this project has been seismic both in the partners regions but cumulatively as a whole. The project was timely and relevant at a time when even expert opinions are often contradictory, providing some much needed tools that can guide educators and young people alike through the social media maze.

Digital technologies have been shown to have great potential as drivers of improvements in all types of education, but they have a particularly important role to play in non-formal education for disadvantaged adult learners among many other benefits they:i.Empower individuals to take charge of their own learning and collaborate with others;ii.Offer flexible learning and interactive activities for different learning styles;iii.Increase access; free, online resources combined with smartphones widen participation, engage “hard to reach” learners and enable personalized support;v.Enrich assessment, evaluation and achievement recognition.There are enormous opportunities to increase the scale and impact of adult education, but many organizations struggle to integrate digital tools. A paradox occurs: we have generations of Europeans leading active digital lives on phones and tablets, expecting to use them to explore, create and learn; and a generation of community leaders and educators unsure of how to use the manifold technological resources at their fingertips.The overall goal of DISCOVER, therefore, is to provide community-based adult educators with high quality training on effective digital teaching techniques so that they may increase their use of digital learning tools in their everyday work and drive improvements in the quality and outcomes of their education programmes. In order to do this, we will:a)Develop and disseminate a Guide to Digital and Mobile Teaching (IO1) to educate the educators on the strategic importance of digital pedagogy and the competences required of them as 21st century educators.b)Create and share a practical, interactive Toolkit (IO2), presenting the most valuable digital and mobile tools and the innovative ways in which they overcome learning barriers among low-skilled adults. c)Develop and promote an online platform (IO3) to consolidate educators’ new digital competences, enabling them to practice in a supportive environment and receive peer support.The project involves the direct participation of 120 educators as part of the development and testing of the outputs. The immediate result of the project will be to improve access to high quality digital pedagogy training Adult Education teachers and trainers in community-based organisations. - 300 leaders from adult education stakeholders and community organizations will understand the value of digital pedagogic strategies in non-formal education, especially for disadvantaged groups. - 300 adult education teachers and trainers will embark on a personal learning path using the Toolkit and OERs & Online Course. 100+ will go on to deliver a DISCOVER course to and with their colleagues in their own organization.- Thousands of people, NEETs and those facing disadvantage will benefit from higher quality education services via community based organizations, specifically education that is more effective in producing learning outcomes and deepening transversal skills, as well as more flexible and attractive.- Project partners will deepen their knowledge of the real life obstacles regarding the integration of effective and innovative digital teaching into their education delivery, building their capacity to continue to innovate in this field and benefit more from European knowledge sharing.In terms of long term impact, DISCOVER will create change at local level, national and European level. Community-based education is, by definition, a local service. When delivered effectively the impact is felt not only by participants, but in the community as a whole; for example, increased levels of employment and inclusion lead to improved social cohesion, security, community pride and lower levels of deprivation, radicalization and/or violence. DISCOVER will contribute to this since teachers and trainers will have better tools to develop both the professional and personal skills of the people they work with. We also expect the project to contribute to national level policy and EU work in the fields of the New Skills Agenda for Europe and, in particular, the European Framework for Digitally Competent Educational Organisations. Specifically, the project will focus attention on the need for adult education to be prioritized or at least given equal status to other sectors in relation to investment in digital capacities. There must be greater awareness that digital pedagogies are not only important in schools and higher education, but have arguably an even more important role to play in the community and NGO sector given the need to achieve higher work place integration and breach the skills’ gap.

As Europe isolates due to Covid19, the wellbeing cost on our population is yet to be determined. Huge and overwhelming worries envelop our communities, sudden unemployment, weakened social institutions and eroded social capital. Mental health support services are preparing for an unprecedented spike in demand. A study in The Lancet confirms that the loss of liberty, fear of infection and length of separation creates an environment conducive to post-traumatic stress, detachment, insomnia and anger - “the psychological impact of quarantine is wide-ranging, substantial, and can be long-lasting.”Social Prescribing is a powerful, proven community mechanism to improve the physical, emotional, mental wellbeing of adults by connecting them to non-medical community-based sources of supports. While the benefits of social prescribing are vast and the process relatively simple, social prescribing is still a relatively unknown community approach to embedding life-long learning as a resource for living. Using a cross sectoral, transnational approach, Activate Social Prescribing for Community Learning (ASPALE) promotes the principle of social prescribing to key adult education groups across the EU. A key impact of APSALE is the introduction and uptake of the social prescribing approach in 3 countries where it is currently just a concept - Greece, Spain & France and widening its practice in UK/Northern Ireland and Ireland.ASPALE PROJECT OBJECTIVES are directly linked to the needs of our target groups. ASPALE will:1) Introduce the powerful health and wellbeing concept of Social Prescribing as a lifelong learning tool in Europe 2) Empower at risk adults to improve their health literacy & take responsibility for their own health (IO2). Effective social prescribing is about providing the building blocks for personal learning & knowledge application in a wellbeing context. 3) Create tailored guides & supports (IO1, IO3, IO4) for social prescribing implementers to help them understand &embed social prescribing in their work4) Facilitate sustainable links between key local & regional social prescribing organisations via creating 5 ASPALE PARTICIPANT FORUMSEach ASPALE IO is designed to be used as an independent resource, but collectively, they are a 360 degree adult education initiative to empower and equip vulnerable adults, community care providers, health and care practices and social/cultural educators to understand and embed social prescribing in their work/offering. IO1: Health Literacy Empowerment Guide for Adults. A self-care guide to empower adults (particularly those suffering from poor mental health) to make sound health and wellbeing decisions and improve their personal responsibility and independence in everyday life - at home, in the community, at the workplace. It will improve the health literacy of at least 1,000 adults in vulnerable positions (those suffering from loneliness, depression or other issues such as social isolation). They will download or receive our ASPALE Adult Health Literacy Guide, a practical action orientated learning resource that will enable them to start making positive and pro-active decisions about their wellbeing and health.IO2: Compendium of Social Prescribing Community Care Projects. A Compendium and Implementation Guide of European Social Prescribing Best Practices and Inventions e.g Men’s Sheds, Social Farming, Community Gardening. At least 500 Community Care Organisations will download and use IO2 and begin the process of embedding social prescribing in their work with adults IO3: Social Prescribing Training Programme/OERs for Health and Care Practices. An Open Education Resource Pack for to upskill Health and Care practitioners with applied knowledge to embed social prescribing in their work with vulnerable adults. At least 500 practitioners will download and use IO3 and begin the process of embedding social prescribing in their work with adults IO4: Introduction to Social Prescribing Course for Social/Cultural Service educators. A training course on how to create new or tailored social /cultural adult education offerings e.g. art/creative wellbeing workshops, drama therapy, which uses storytelling, acting, and improvisation to encourage self-discovery and expression, music therapy, that deliver socially prescribed health and wellbeing benefits. At least 500 Social, Arts and Cultural Educators will download and use IO4 and begin the process of embedding social prescribing in their work with adults Activate Social Prescribing for Community Learning (ASPALE) provide a dynamic multi-resource adult education community learning programme to raise awareness, engagement and adoption of Social Prescribing across Europe. COVID19 is certain to cause long-term isolation, anxiety, depression and loneliness. We do not know when this crisis will end but we do know that new and varied social solutions are going to be required to help Europe and its citizens heal.