EAPN award 2013 publication

The EAPN FUND presents

EAPN AWARD

FOR TRANSNATIONAL INSPIRATION AND LEARNING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION

2013

30 September 2013 KVS – Royal Flemish Theatre Rue de Laeken / Laekenstraat 146, 1000 Brussels

The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) is an independent network of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and groups involved in the fight against poverty and social exclusion in the Member States of the European Union, established in 1990.

EUROPEAN ANTI-POVERTY NETWORK RÉSEAU EUROPÉEN DE LUTTE CONTRE LA PAUVRETÉ ET L’EXCLUSION SOCIALE SQUARE DE MEEÛS, 18 – 1050 BRUSSELS Tel: +32 (0)2 226 58 50 - team@eapn.eu www.eapn.eu

Photo acknowledgements Cover page: @Sergio Aires.

All other photographs were provided by the winners of the 2013 EAPN Award.

EAPN AWARD

for Transnational Inspiration and Learning

in the Fight against Poverty and Social Exclusion In 2013, the EAPN Fund supports the first edition of the biennial Award for Transnational Inspiration and Learning in the Fight against Poverty and Social Exclusion, recognizing activities, policies, and approaches to fighting poverty and social exclusion in Europe.

EAPN is convinced that transnational exchange is a prominent source of inspiration, bringing great added value to local, regional and national efforts to fight poverty and social exclusion.

The EAPN AWARD seeks to make visible the positive impact from transnational inspiration and learning and to recognize NGOs and public-sector entities who have initiated new positive approaches to fighting poverty and social exclusion in Europe that foster direct participation of people living in poverty, resulting from such transnational work.

The Award recognizes: ÎÎboth the entity taking the new initiative and the entity that provided the source of the inspiration. The transnational inspiration and learning may have happened in the EU area or more globally, but the activity/policy/approach must be implemented in Europe; ÎÎthe impact on combating poverty and social exclusion; ÎÎthe extent to which it has fostered the participation of people with direct experience of poverty and social exclusion; ÎÎthe influence of the transnational inspiration and learning on the new activity/policy/approach adopted; ÎÎthe creativity the transnational learning has inspired.

An independent selection panel, appointed by the Fund Management Committee, selected the winners presented in this brochure. The members of the selection panel were Zsuzsa Ferge, from Hungary, Vera Hinterdorfer from Austria, Hugh Frazer, from Ireland and Chair of the Fund Management Committee.

“The main “moral” for me is twofold. On the one hand it is touching and amazing what a tremendous amount of goodwill, dedication, creativity exist around the world to alleviate suffering and to cover unmet needs. Civil society organisations are irreplaceable in finding good new answers to the increasing social ills. But the other side of the story is that unless much more state involvement and state funds are committed to these aims - and particularly their prevention - the results will remain partial, or unsustainable, or both. Of course state involvement in itself (without the spirit) is not enough. A difficult riddle.”

Zsuzsa Ferge, member of the Selection panel of the 2013 EAPN Award.

EAPN AWARD

FOR TRANSNATIONAL INSPIRATION AND LEARNING IN THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION

2013 The European Anti-Poverty Network and the EAPN Fund are proud to present the EAPN Award to Priority Areas Committee (Church of Scotland) and Don Bosco Development Society, India Obertament, Spain, See Me (Scotland) and Time to Change (UK), Stichting Barka, Netherlands and Barka Foundation Poland, Social Rights Department of the Mรกlaga City Council and EAPN Andalusia

In recognition of their work in the field of fighting poverty and social exclusion, fostering transnational learning and the direct participation of people experiencing poverty

Priority Areas Committee (Church of Scotland)

The activity the Priority Areas Committee implements in Scotland, was inspired by a visit to groups of self-reliant women in India (through the Passages to India project) made by 13 women from 7 communities experiencing deprivation in Glasgow. This visit led to the creation of the Passage from India (PfI) project, inspired by a model in India which has enabled some 40 million women in poverty to come together to help themselves and their families and communities. PfI enables women in Scotland to come together in Self-Reliant Groups based on the values of trust, mutual help, solidarity and collective enterprise.

The Priority Areas Committee’s mission The Priority Areas Committee (PAC) is part of the Church of Scotland’s Ministries Council. The overall aim of PAC’s work is to provide support and resources for the local churches’ work to improve the quality of life for all people in the poorest 5% of neighbourhoods in Scotland. The core mission of the Committee is built around the belief that people in poverty are capable of taking control over their lives and destiny, and become the agents of change.

The Priority Areas Committee in action Significant parts of the Committee’s work

land Church of Scot Glasgow Office 8DS et, Glasgow G3 759a Argyle Stre rg a.o di in m ro ef eas ag noel@pass rve/priority_ar otland.org.uk/se sc of ch ur ch w. ww

are deeply influenced by transnational insights and learning in community organising and development models.

The Poverty Truth Commission (PTC) (www. povertytruthcommission.org): Taking its inspiration from the Truth Commission in South Africa, PTC has been a major piece of work over the last three years and has brought together civic leaders and people in poverty to inspire a new model of working,

where those affected by poverty are accepted to be the greatest experts in policy decisions that affect their lives.

The Don Bosco Development Society (DBDS) and the Indian Self-Reliant Groups (SRGs)

Together for a Change: An international exchange and partnership programme bringing together poor communities in Scotland and those abroad (Africa & Middle East) to learn from each other’s stories and wisdom in overcoming poverty.

Established in 2001 by the Salesians of Don Bosco, DBDS works with rural and urban communities in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan through partner organisations in these areas, who have varied expertise, ranging from education to watershed development.

An Option for the Young: Our endeavor to grow and support young leaders from within the deprived communities in collaboration with Rank Foundation and the George Williams College, London.

Passage from India, is a new initiative and is described below.

The Don Bosco Development Society and the Indian self-reliant women groups inspire the Priority Areas Committee the Passage from India (PfI) project Passage from India (PfI) (www.passagefromindia.org) was born out of a journey to India, in January 2011, by 13 women from 7 deprived communities from Glasgow. During their stay in India, the group interacted with women in poverty who had self-organised themselves through the Self-Help Group (SHG) movement and realised their aspirations of an improved quality of life for themselves, and through them their families and neighbourhoods. More information about their visit is available at www.apassagetoindia-pa.blogspot.com.

Society evelopment Don Bosco D e us Ho a. al ci ovin 400 019, Indi Don Bosco Pr ga, Mumbai un at M 37 .6 Post Bag 16 diffmail.com savioraj@re .org/ m do http://db

Following the trip in January 2011, the DBDC has helped facilitate a knowledge-exchange partnership with MYRADA (www.myrada. org). The SRG movement was pioneered

by MYRADA in the South of India and they currently assist around 12,000 women-led SRGs and run a Microfinance scheme called Sanghamitra.

SRGs are small groups of women (from 5 and to 10 members) who aspire to change their circumstances. Membership is voluntary and members have a similar social and financial background. Emphasis is on trust, mutual help, solidarity and collective enterprise.

Members agree on aims and purpose and meet regularly, save very small amounts of money, exercise collective leadership, share their concerns and solve their problems (including social & economic) together.

The outcome on poverty, social exclusion and participation ÎÎGrowing Scotland’s SRGs: The success of the pilot SRGs has led Passage from India – a symbol of aspirations and learning crossing geographical boundaries – to be established as a lead organisation for the model in Scotland. PfI is currently applying for a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Association (SCIO) status and has its own Steering Group which has a representation of the SRG members as ‘experts’ working alongside others from the wider society. PfI aims to have a further 50 SRGs across Scotland involving over 350 women from communities experiencing deprivation and is working to put appropriate support systems in place to enable at least 50% of this number to earn a living wage or a complimentary income from their microenterprises. ÎÎTraining and mentoring SRGs: Our SRGs have shown considerable resilience as members develop their self-worth and grow their economic aspirations collectively. We have sought to build upon these strong foundations by developing an SRG Training Handbook and have employed a part time SRG Facilitator to work alongside the SRGs as well as training key individuals to act as volunteer business mentors to the groups. ÎÎMicrofinance Scheme: In partnership with a Scottish Credit Union, PfI will enable SRGs to access microcredit as they self-generate capital but require small sums of money to grow their economic aspirations.

ÎÎWelfare System Support: PfI is working alongside the Scottish Government – through one of their civil servants who serves on the Steering Group - to find a creative solution to reduce the risks of benefit withdrawal while the women in SRGs create their own jobs or find the confidence to reenter the workplace. ÎÎPh.D. Research: The Glasgow Caledonian University has commissioned a student to do her Ph.D. on the SRG model as pioneered

by PfI and its impact on health of the women and communities in Scotland. ÎÎA growth in self-confidence has been the clearest and most visible impact seen in women involved in SRGS. Learning new skills in the company of each other and using them to start income-generating activities has made women feel more valued and useful after long periods of unemployment which had left many with low levels of self-esteem and a sense of helplessness. ÎÎThe strong bonds of mutual trust fostered by the practice of the SRG ethos have enabled the women to look at the SRG as a safe, non-judgmental and aspirational space to share their struggles and hopes. ÎÎThere has been an increased recognition of the potential and capacity of individuals living in communities that are often written off as ‘problem areas’ filled with ‘lazy scroungers’.

Obertament

Catalan organisation fighting discrimination around mental health issues The organisation Obertament got inspiration from an anti-stigma campaign in New Zealand called Like Minds – Like Mine, and 2 UK-based organisations which have carried out a similar campaign: See me Scotland and Time to Change UK. The initiative in Spain focuses on empowering people experiencing mental health issues to become the actors of behavioral and attitudinal change in society, against discrimination and stigma of people with mental health issues.

Obertament’s mission Obertament’s mission is to fight the stigma and discrimination that people experiencing mental health issues suffer, by empowering them to be the main agent in the behavioral and attitudinal change needed.

Obertament elona ent. 08029 Barc c/Berguedà, 9-11 rg t.o ertamen obertament@ob rg ent.o m ta er ob :// tp ht

Obertament in action Obertament’s line of action is based on the following activities: ÎÎRaising awareness of specific targets (journalists, families, social and health workers, high-school students, students in Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work and Social Education) on stigma, on how people with mental health issues are affected; Detecting and answering messages

and situations that maintain or encourage discrimination and stigma against mental health problems; Promoting community projects that encourage social contact between people with and without mental health diagnosis; Developing an annual communicational campaign in mass media; Empowering people with mental health issues to help them become the actors of change.

Obertament’s campaign directly inspired from “See me” in Scotland and “Time to change” UK In a world where 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health issue during his or her life (according to WHO), talking about mental health is still rare, and discrimination against people experiencing these issues, sadly common. This discrimination generates social exclusion, makes it more difficult to recover their previous lives and increases significantly the risk of impoverishment and dependence.

That’s the reason why, in 2002, “See me” was born in Scotland, as an alliance of five Scottish mental health organisations, funded by the Scottish Government. This campaign combines: annual communications campaigns in mass media, social contact activities and trainings. The objective is to approach the problem with a multi-level vision and achieve a comprehensive solution. This still on-going campaign has so far brought awareness of mental health and wellbeing issues into education, policies and social services and reduced the perception of discriminative situations and attitudes (See survey taken between people with mental illness, published on their website).

See Me (Sco tland) 1/3 Great Mic hael Links Place, Ed House, inburgh EH6 7EZ suzie.vestri@ seemscotland .org http://www.s eemescotland .org/

In 2007, two big mental health charities from England decided to work together, creating “Time to Change”, based on direct dialogue between people, events and work with children and young people to change attitudes. This campaign has seen a 3% increase in the number of people reporting no discrimination in their lives, and a significant 11.5% reduction in the average levels of discrimination reported in 2011 compared to 2008.

Obertament was created in 2010, from the cooperation of five associations and entities dealing with mental health in Catalonia: people affected directly, their families and mental health workers. Involving all agents, empowering people to make the change, and working with a multi-level and multi-target strategy, it seeks a comprehensive solution to stigma that can be extended to other areas of Spain. Obertament’s approach in fighting discrimination and social exclusion is based on the empowerment of people experiencing mental health issues so that they become the main agent of change.

The impact on poverty, social exclusion and participation 30 people with mental health issues have already been trained, who in turn can start training other 150 people (“spokespersons in first person”, “educators” and “stigma alert”).

to help change prejudices by speaking as spokespersons to mass media. A similar program is implemented by See me (“First Person Voice”) and Time to Change (“Media Volunteers”).

ÎΓMedia volunteers” teams: In 2012, Obertament trained 10 people to coordinate the “media volunteers” teams. In 2013-2014, these coordinators will train and coordinate 25 other people in different places

ÎΓAwareness” Teams: In 2012, Obertament trained 15 people with mental health issues, to coordinate the “Awareness” teams. In 2013-2014, this group will train and coordinate other 25 people, in different places, to

increase awareness about stigma and social exclusion. ÎΓStigma Alert”: The two campaigns have a group to monitor national and local media, and coordinate responses by acknowledging enlightened coverage and complaining about inaccurate and stigmatizing reporting. ÎÎSocial Contact Activities: In 2012, Obertament ran a competition addressed to groups and associations developing social contact activities that get together people with and without mental health issues. From the four winning experiences, and based on See Me’s and Time to Change’s toolkits, Obertament is developing “Social Contact Kits”, to help other people and associations to implement Social Contact Activities. ÎÎCommunications Campaigns: ¬¬Annual mass media campaign: in 2012, Obertament launched its first Mass Media Annual Campaign with the slogan “What makes us fall apart is not the diagnosis, but your prejudices”, widely covered by the media. A Spot Competition called “Concurs ESPOT 2013” is being held, inspired by the “Creative Writing Competition” and “Photography Competition” hosted by See me. ¬¬Massive Events: in 2013, four massive sports events that will take place in 4 different areas of Catalonia, to raise awareness on mental health issues.

Similar events are being developed by Time to Change with its “Stereohype Festival 2013”.

Obertament is a new project that needs more time to stake stock of measurable results, but here are a very promising figures from its inspirers:

ÎÎIn the UK, Time to Change, asked 1,000 people with mental health issues, about the discrimination they face in their day to day lives, and compared this every year. They’ve seen a 3% increase in the numbers of people reporting no discrimination in their lives, and a significant 11.5% reduction in the average levels of discrimination reported in 2011 compared to 2008, when campaign started. ÎÎIn New Zealand, a survey was made by Like Minds, Like Mine during 2010, among mental health services’ users and showed the following result: ¬¬54% reported that there had been some improvement over the last five years when considering all ways of being treated unfairly because of their mental illness. ¬¬There were 48% who thought the Like Minds Like Mine programme, had assisted in reducing discrimination against people with mental illness ‘a lot’ or ‘moderately’. ÎÎIn Scotland, See Me took a survey using a random sample of about 1200 people from the Scottish population, during 3 different years. Some of the results show: ¬¬49% less people agreed with the sentence “People with mental health problems are often dangerous” in 2009 compared to 2002. ¬¬A 10% decrease in people that agree with the sentence “If I were suffering from a mental health problem I wouldn’t want anyone knowing about it” in 2009 compared to 2002.

Time to Chan ge (United Ki ngdom) 15-19 Broadw ay LONDON, E15 4BQ v.boon@tim e-to-change. org.uk http://www.t ime-to-chang e.org.uk/

Stichting Barka

Social integration centre in Poznan for homeless and unemployed persons, Barka Foundation Poland

Based on the work of Barka Foundation in Poland, Stichting Barka along with their counterparts Barka UK and Barka Ireland, support migrants in the Netherlands coming from Central and Eastern European countries through a reconnection programme (opportunities to return home for people facing homelessness or difficult social and economic situations), and they run a Social Economy Centre, supporting migrants on their way to economic and social rehabilitation and integration in the Netherlands. Some of the people who were supported through Barka’s Leaders Approach Programme have become leaders, are employed in projects run by Barka foundations across several countries, or have initiated their own associations and are supporting others.

Stichting Barka’s mission Stichting Barka’s mission is to provide severely excluded (homeless, unemployed) Central and Eastern European migrants in the Netherlands with the opportunity for reconnection to their home country, and also social and vocational reintegration in their country of origin or in the Netherlands. The aim is to support vulnerable migrants who come to Western European countries and find it difficult there. Stichting Barka is linked to Barka UK, which operates since 2007 in London, and to Barka Ireland in Dublin.

Stichting Barka van Brammendr eef 163, 3561 XJ Utrecht,T he Netherlands office@barkan l.org www.bark anl.org

Stichting Barka in action Stichting Barka currently runs two types of programmes for the benefit of Central and Eastern European migrants in the Netherlands: A reconnection programme which offers the opportunity of returning home to those who are homeless or facing

difficult social and economic situations in Holland. Those persons who have nowhere to go in their home country are guided into reintegration programmes/ addiction rehabilitation centres in that country.

Stichting Barka also runs a Social Economy Centre, which is an innovative support programme for migrants on their way to economical, social rehabilitation and integration in the Netherlands. Barka UK in London and Barka IE in Dublin also run reconnection programmes as well as Social Economy Centres.

The Leaders Approach inspires Stichting Barka Stichting Barka was inspired by the Leaders Approach, developed by the Barka Foundation Poland: yy using the expertise and invaluable experience of persons who used to be severely excluded, addicted, homeless and in dramatic life situations and who have overcome them. These persons are referred to as ‘leaders’. yy creating conditions - reintegration programmes - based on mutuality, engagement and taking responsibility, which help people rebuild their lives from the very rock bottom.

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Help

Barka Foundation Poland Barka Foundation is a non-governmental organisation. Its mission is to offer support for social development of excluded groups, and build conditions to enable them to rebuild their lives by creating a system of mutual help, education and entrepreneurship, in line with a citizens’ society.

The objective is to create a system of support for the process of integration of excluded groups. This system includes about 5000 persons annually (gathering persons in life crises, informal groups of citizens, non-governmental organisations, representatives of the government at national and local levels).

The Leaders Approach programme The leaders, who have a personal experience of homelessness, addictions and other difficult and dramatic situations are the best experts on the topics of overcoming such problems. Since 1989, Barka Foundation has been creating conditions and programmes (community homes programmes, educational, creating workplaces, accessible housing programmes) in which people were supported to rebuild their lives. Those who are successful in that, are called ‘leaders’ and are running various programmes helping other people now.

Stichting Barka, Barka UK and Barka IE directly patterned their way of working on those experiences of Barka Foundation. The self-help leaders, who used to be homeless and addicted themselves, were employed to reach out to the most vulnerable and entrenched rough-sleepers in Holland, London and Dublin. Experienced leaders managed to appeal to homeless people, who were living in a state of the most dramatic exclusion and addiction. The Leaders Approach showed that overcoming homelessness and addictions is possible and had a huge result in numbers of people truly overcoming homelessness and addiction.

Another very important experience, apart from the Leaders Approach which Stichting Barka, Barka UK and Barka IE took from Barka Foundation is creating support programmes, which enable excluded individuals to return to society: socially and vocationally.

Outcome on poverty, social exclusion and participation Since 2007 more than 4000 vulnerable, homeless and unemployed migrants from Central and Eastern European countries (mainly Poland) have been helped out of their homelessness and social exclusion in Western European countries (the Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Denmark)

by Stichting Barka, Barka UK and Barka IE. Several persons out of those 4000 became leaders and are employed in various projects run by Stichting Barka, Barka UK, Barka IE, Barka Foundation and other organisations.

Many leaders created their own associations and are now helping others. Others rebuilt contacts with their families and returned to society.

Social Rights Department, Malaga City Council In the Public Entity category, Malaga City Council will be recognized for their commitment to building direct participation of people experiencing poverty in policy-making, through their Reflection Forum on Social Exclusion. Their initiative was inspired through their cooperation with EAPN Andalusia’s engagement with the regional, national and European Meetings of People Experiencing Poverty and Social Exclusion and through the PEPA project on direct participation implemented in partnership with anti-poverty networks in several other countries.

The Social Rights Department’s mission

The Social Rights Department in action

The Social Rights Department is an organisation integrated into the structure of Malaga City Council, and depends on the Government Delegation of Social Rights.

This department develops the basic social services foreseen in the Social Services Law of Andalusia and other functions and services delegated by the Mayor’s office, in concordance with the V Municipal Social Services Plan of the City Council.

All activities carried out by the department are described in the Activities Annual Report published in the following web-site: http://www.malaga.eu/recursos/sociales/ bsocial/memoria_2011/index.html

Social Rights De partment, Málaga City Co uncil van Brammendr eef 163, C/ Concejal Muñ oz Cervan nº 3 módulo 3 ·ª plan ta 29003 Málaga

The Social Rights Department of the Malaga City Council inspired by the Meetings of people experiencing poverty, at local, national and European levels Directly inspired by its participation in EAPN Andalusia and EAPN Spain’s meetings, the Social Rights Department of the Malaga City Council organised the Reflection Forum on Social Exclusion on 29 May 2012, as an moment of participatory analysis, aiming to 1) collect the opinions of community social services users regarding social protection systems, on how they feel about social exclusion and how they would overcome this uncomfortable situation, and on whether the protection systems in place really meet their needs; 2) develop useful tools to combat poverty and social exclusion. It involved the direct participation of 20 families supported by the Community Social Services Centres of Malaga.

Social exclusion is understood to be a multidimensional concept that refers to the loss of integration or participation by an individual in the society, either in their economical, political, legal or social relations. The model applied in this project includes 6 different areas (social protection, employment, health, education, economic rent, social services) for which social needs and alternatives were identified.

EAPN Andalusia and the European Meetings of People experiencing poverty

Network, through the participation in working groups and Meetings of People experiencing poverty at regional, national and European levels. Participants from Andalusia also covered positions of coordination and representation within the EAPN-ES groups participating in the National and European Meetings.

Barka The European Anti-Poverty Network Andalusia (EAPN-A), is made of 46 first and second level social entities offering services to over 655.000 persons. The network has a relevant economic impact in the region since its economic activity represents more than 0.38% of the GDP of Andalusia, giving employment to over 32.800 persons, and representing more than the 1.3% of the employed population in Andalusia. Moreover the Network counts 15.000 volunteers actively working and collaborating in their activities.

The main scope of EAPN-A is to fight poverty and social exclusion, empowering people to exercise their rights and obligations and with their direct participation. EAPN-A is also actively involved in the Spanish Anti-Poverty Network and the European Anti-Poverty

The Social Rights Department of the Malaga City Council was inspired by several of these meetings The Third Participatory Meeting of Persons in Situation of Poverty and Social Exclusion, took place in Malaga on 26-27 June 2009 organised by EAPN-A under the slogan: “Representatives of ourselves, protagonists of our lives”. “Social Responsible Neighborhoods: social participation and volunteering of persons in poverty and social exclusion” organised by EAPN Spain, EAPN-A and the Minister of Health and

Social Welfare on the 29 November 2009 in Malaga, with the collaboration and participation of the technical personnel of the Social Welfare Department of Malaga City Council. Again in Malaga, EAPN Spain, with the collaboration of EAPN-A and Malaga City Council, held the 8th National Meeting on Participation of Persons in situation of Poverty and Social Exclusion – “Contribute To Development” (14, 15 and 16 June, 2012).

This meeting was also attended by the members of the European project and transnational initiative “European Partnership of Active Participation (PEPA)”, EAPN Spain, FNARS (National Federation of Association of Protection and Social Reintegration, member of EAPN France) and the French Salvation Army (member of EAPN France), EAPN Portugal and EAPN Belgium.

The impact on poverty, social exclusion and participation The analysis carried out during the Reflection Forum on Social Exclusion focused on two main ideas, and the one hand analyzing the social needs and the different options in relation to employment, income, housing, education, health and social services; and on the other analyzing the effectiveness of services in relation to employment, health, education and social services. In order to facilitate such analysis, different templates containing several items with a prioritization system were developed.

EAPN Andalu sia Edificio TIXE , C/. Fortuna, 1, 1ª planta, ofici na 17, P.I. Carretera de la Isla 41703 Dos He rmanas

ÎÎImpact on policy making During this event, participants collaborated altruistically, giving their personal opinions and their own points of view of the social protection systems. At the end of the Forum, the final conclusions and priorities were presented, highlighting the issues and presenting concrete and detailed alternative solutions for each area. These solutions, designed with the service users - their opinions regarding the needs families in experiencing social exclusion have -, will be the basis of all future action plans in all the areas tackled. ÎÎImpact on people The chance to participate in this type of Forum, people said was a real participative experience within the social services centres; an important motivation and positive self-esteem boost, as they felt active agents of social policies. Participants showed their satisfaction with this opportunity to be protagonists, and they offered their availability to collaborate in future similar initiatives.

They also pointed out the importance for the local authorities to promote and realize such type of experiences.

European M eetings of Pe ople experiencing poverty EAPN Square de M eeûs, 18 1050 Brussels

The EAPN Fund supports the fight for a social Europe free of poverty through: ÎÎ Ensuring the development of EAPN and its National Networks as a strong alliance of anti-poverty NGOs contributing to the participation of people experiencing poverty ÎÎIncrease the impact of participation of people experiencing poverty in all matters and policies that affect them and the communities in which they live ÎÎSponsoring the biennal EAPN Award for Transnational Inspiration and Learning in the Fight against Poverty and Social Exclusion in Europe.

The EAPN Fund was established as a legacy from the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion and on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN). It is managed by the King Baudouin Foundation.

DONATE TO THE EAPN FUND The EAPN Fund seeks the support of persons, companies, foundations, public authorities and people who believe in a social Europe free of poverty to contribute financial support to build the Fund.

Donations to the EAPN Fund Donations can be made to the account of the King Baudouin Foundation, Rue Brederodestraat 21, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Reference: S20750-EAPN Fund Account no: 000-0000004-04, Iban BE10 0000 0000 0404 BIC : BPTOTBEB1 (Banque de La Poste Rue des Colonies (P28), 1000 Bruxelles) Donors have the possibility to use the Transnational Giving Europe (TGE) network or the King Baudouin Foundation United States for cross-border donations to support the Fund, if they are resident in one of the TGE countries or taxpayers in the USA.

This publication is supported under the European Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity—PROGRESS (2007–2013).

This programme is managed by the Directorate-General for Employment, social affairs and equal opportunities of the European Commission. It was established to financially support the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in the employment and social affairs area, as set out in the Social Agenda, and thereby contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy goals in these fields.

The seven-year Programme targets all stakeholders who can help shape the development of appropriate and effective employment and social legislation and policies, across the EU-27, EFTA-EEA and EU candidate and pre-candidate countries.

PROGRESS mission is to strengthen the EU contribution in support of Member States’ commitment. PROGRESS will be instrumental in: yy providing analysis and policy advice on PROGRESS policy areas; yy monitoring and reporting on the implementation of EU legislation and policies in PROGRESS policy areas; yy promoting policy transfer, learning and support among Member States on EU objectives and priorities; and yy relaying the views of the stakeholders and society at large.

For more information see: ec.europa.eu/progress The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission.

ISBN 978-2-930252-76-6

For a Social Europe free of Poverty

By donating to the EAPN Fund, you Support projects and activities to fight poverty and social exclusion in Europe Support people experiencing poverty to have a voice on the policies that impact their lives

“I think that responsible philanthropy now recognizes that just putting sticking plasters on problems without trying to change the causes is actually reinforcing the problem.”

“I have always admired the important role that EAPN plays at both European and national levels in campaigning for an end to poverty and social exclusion. If we are to make progress towards a more just and equal society, it is vital to empower those experiencing poverty and social exclusion and to ensure that their voices are heard and listened to when policies affecting them are being developed and implemented.

EAPN plays a vital role in ensuring that that is the case and the more resources that it can raise to support that work the better.”

Hugh Frazer, Chair of the EAPN Fund Management Committee