Let's Leap Ahead (LLA) aimed to provide new learning and knowledge exchange opportunities for youth workers who support Looked After Children (children living in residential care) and those in transition or leaving care in Europe. The project provided opportunities for youth worker professionals from the UK and Germany to learn from each other to improve our support for this most vulnerable group. The European Social Pedagogy model was the studied approach (both academically and in practice), which has been proven to improve young people's outcomes, particularly living in the care system. The project offered: - new professional opportunities to understand, learn and share best European Social Pedagogy working practices, across a range of European settings; - improved working practices in youth work settings across the UK and Germany; - networking and job shadowing opportunities for youth workers; and - opportunities for young people in the UK and German care systems, to share their experiences with the visiting professionals. The project impact was that all participants improved their theoretical and practical skills in Social Pedagogy. This enabled the sharing of best practice, has contributed to the transformation of the way children and young people living in care are supported, providing them with a much brighter future with vastly improved life outcomes. This project formed part of a wider strategic development in European Social Pedagogy practice in relation to supporting children, young people in the care system, and young adults transitioning out of care. The longer term benefits relate to the transformation of national policy and the provision of care and support, for vulnerable young people and their families. This has wider positive implications for the whole of society as our most vulnerable citizens are supported to take advantage of all the opportunities that Europe has to offer. The project consisted of 3 phrases: 1. UK youth workers and senior managers travelled to Schleswig-Holstein, Germany to experience Social Pedagogy in practice and to gain a greater understanding of the theoretical perspective, speak to, and shadow practitioners, and liaise with young people: ? 10 youth workers travelled from Norfolk for a 3 day exchange ? The participants were chosen for their likelihood of professional benefit and their ability to impact service developments on project completion. The participants were from diverse backgrounds and many from rural locations. Some participants were leading on projects in rural or deeply disadvantaged areas. ? The impact was measured through questionnaires before and after the exchange; informal feedback during the exchange, and summary feedback before leaving Germany; and 3 follow up meetings. 2. German youth workers and senior managers travelled to Norfolk to understand the context of the UK system, the outcomes achieved and the reasons why our system is seeking to improve, speak to, and shadow practitioners, and liaise with young people. ? 6 youth workers travelled from Germany for a 3 day exchange. This was less than the anticipated number due to late changes in the operational needs with our German partners. ? The participants were chosen for their likelihood of professional benefit, their inexperience in international work and their keen interest to understand the systems of another European country. They were from diverse backgrounds and all worked in rural or deprived areas. ? The impact was measured through informal feedback whilst on the exchange, and summary feedback before leaving UK, and 2 follow up meetings to plan any future partnership projects. 3. A series of 4 workshops delivered by German experts in their fields. The days considered the theoretical context, the relationship between social pedagogy and social work, the issues of participation when working with children, and how to engage adolescence in alternative learning. ? The project had outlined the expectation that there would be 30 participants involved. In reality the workshops were attended by a total of 146. Many participants travelled significant distances - from Newcastle, Hampshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire; the reach of the project surpassed our expectations. This created additional challenges with numbers, but we adjusted our venue to respond to the interest. ? The participants were targeted and self selected from a range of interested organisations. All participants were working within youth work with many working with disadvantaged groups in rural settings. ? This type of series of workshops is an innovative approach to sharing European knowledge in an intense series of events. ? The impact was measured by delegate feedback on the day, and a subsequent following up 6 months after the Workshops to ascertain the medium to long term impact on the individual?s work practice or young person?s experience.