European Projects based in Eathorpe - Eathorpe, Warwickshire
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  • European Projects based in Eathorpe - Eathorpe, Warwickshire
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  • A micro-business based in the tiny village of Eathorpe is leading two major European projects concerned with improving the training opportunities for disabled people.  ‘Many other European countries see Britain as a leader in this work,’ says Sue Burt, a director of the company. ‘We know that there is still a lot to do in the UK, but they are keen to learn from what has been achieved here.’ ‘Countries all over Europe are coming to realise the importance of getting more disabled people into mainstream training and of recognising their genuine achievements’ says David French, the other director.  ‘We are helping all involved to learn from each other and we’re confident that our projects will make a real difference to people who often have very limited opportunities in life.’ French and Burt Ltd work with partners from 6 different European countries, from Poland to Greece and extending eastwards to Slovenia and Bulgaria, as well as with the University of Worcester in the UK.  As Sue points out: ‘Although they may be starting from a low base-level, the countries of Eastern Europe see providing better opportunities for disabled people as part of being properly European.  And working with people from different countries stimulates new ideas that can be applied back in the UK’. The projects are funded by the European Union’s Leonardo da Vinci programme which is designed to improve training across Europe.  One is about helping trainers to anticipate the needs of their disabled students.  ‘Too often disabled people either don’t get on courses, or if they do aren’t given the full range of choices’ says David French.  ‘ With the team at Worcester and our partners in the rest of Europe, we are developing an online package that will help trainers anticipate potential problems and sort them out beforehand’. The other project is about mentoring.  ‘We’ve worked in mentoring long enough to know the benefits it brings to people who face difficulties in the job market, by building their self-confidence and enhancing their social skills’ says Sue.  ‘If it’s effective in the UK, you can imagine how valuable it is in Eastern Europe, where unemployment rates are so much higher.’ The Marie-Curie Association in Bulgaria piloted a mentoring scheme two years ago as part of an earlier European project with French & Burt Ltd.  Maria Valkova, a director of the Association, says, ‘This was the first time we had ever heard of the idea of mentoring.  Working with French & Burt was so successful we thought we had to continue to help spread the practice around Europe’. Both projects are developing websites where you can find out more. They are: www.scips.worc.ac.uk/qatrain (soon to be www.qatrain.org and www.qatrain.uk)www.mentoring-validation.org
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