How did this project idea come about?The basis of the 'Building Sustainable Communities with VET' project brings together B3st’s ambitions in training young VET learners of Community Development and its links to relevant employers in Andalusia, Spain. It recognises the need for participants to gain work experience that is increasingly difficult to obtain in order to develop their career. The placements in Spain will add great value by offering a supportive environment for participants to gain new industry insights, become proficient in a language other than English and appreciate another European culture. Who is this project aimed at?The project duration is one year and will accommodate 30 participants, with 10 per flow accompanied by a VET tutor from B3st. Its participants will typically be learners working towards vocational qualifications in the field of community development. We anticipate they will be between the ages of 18 and 25 and come from various backgrounds, often with limited opportunities to gain necessary work experience. The three month mobility will be formally recognised with participants completing a City & Guilds VET qualification in ‘Community Development’ (Level 3) administered by B3st and 3Si in Seville. What are the objectives?Our main aim is to provide VET learners of Community Development with relevant work experience to develop their careers. We hope to give participants:• A practical understanding of community development at a trusted organisation that values sustainability• Enhanced employability skills that demonstrate workplace experience and adaptability • Personal and professional development with intercultural and linguistic skills• The opportunity to network and build up contacts in the relevant field• The platform to progress in their chosen career or embark upon further education in their sectorWhat activities will the participants do?The main activity involves a work placement of three months at either CEPES-A, EcoEduca, Ecologistas en Acción, Save the Children or Third Sector International. This will be complemented by linguistic support from qualified tutors and a programme of cultural and social activities, including organised language exchanges. The participants will be supported throughout the lifetime of the project with clearly defined stages, from mobility preparation to evaluation. Our mentoring and monitoring processes will aim to address the development and well-being of participants during their placement while informing project evaluation. What is your project methodology?The project’s methodology provides a framework to support VET learners in developing skills acquired in the workplace as they work alongside experienced professionals in their chosen sector. Through our experience with past European mobility projects and our employer partnerships, we have developed and applied appropriate processes and instruments to ensure the project can be effectively managed and evaluated while providing support to participants for their personal and professional progression. What are the anticipated impacts of the project?We anticipate that the project will make a positive impact on its 30 participants by giving them the opportunity to develop professional and personal skills at a work placement in the community development field. Based on past projects, the experience should increase the participants’ employment prospects while also giving them confidence to apply for work across Europe. It is expected that at least two thirds of participants (20-30) will move into suitable employment upon completion of the placement, with a further one fifth (five out of the 30) progressing into continued related training. The three month placement in Seville, together with linguistic support, should increase the participants’ Spanish language proficiency by one CEFR level. The project will also impact on our partners by building their capacity to participate in further Erasmus+ programmes and European projects. The focus on sustainable communities should encourage participants and partners to consider and continue building a sustainable future for European society, reflecting Europe 2020 objectives. How do you expect project partners will benefit in the long term?Project outcomes will feed back into our own work as a VET college, our established partner relationships and employer networks, such as the Brighton Sustainable Business Network. It will benefit our development of European-centred vocational training and planned KA1 and KA2 projects in the field. Our relationship with partners, such as CEPES, that have wider networks will facilitate dissemination activities with the intention of building sustainability into professional approaches and organisation operations; closing the gap between VET provision and the world of work; and fostering a more informed understanding of the needs of jobseekers and employers in community development.