The European Solidarity Corps is an EU initiative, similar to Erasmus+ but for volunteering and community solidarity projects rather than study, thereby broadening the scope of opportunities on offer to reach a wider range of people, and building skills and experience that could be particularly valuable for young people currently not in education, employment or training (NEET). 

It provides young people aged 18 - 30 (and up to 35 for certain humanitarian projects) with access to exciting funded opportunities to either volunteer abroad, OR to receive funding and support to team up with friends and set up their own solidarity projects responding to societal challenges at home in their local community. 

The international volunteering strand of the European Solidarity Corps programme offers the structure and support of a full-time overseas placement of 2 weeks to 12 months, with funding to cover the participant’s visa, travel, insurance, accommodation and basic living costs - making participation in the scheme - and discovering Europe - accessible to those who would not be able to afford to self fund such a trip themselves. 

It could also help lower the barriers to participation in any UK-EU Youth Experience scheme. Moving abroad can be a big step, particularly for the first time, and especially if you don’t have a job lined up before you go. Many employers in the EU will not consider applications for entry level positions until the right to work has already been secured, the person is already in the country and a residence permit has already been obtained from the local authorities. This means that, in practice, many of the young people hoping to take advantage of the proposed UK-EU Youth Experience Scheme may need to take a leap in the dark and move to their destination country first - a brave and expensive gamble in this difficult economy, and one that could prove a barrier to participation for those from more disadvantaged backgrounds. Offering young people the option to apply for a European Solidarity Corps placement for the first few months of their time on the Youth Experience visa would enable them to hit the ground running whilst settling into the destination country, making friends and scoping out opportunities for the rest of the trip - setting them up to make the most of the period abroad, whilst having a fantastic time and building valuable skills that will help them to stand out in their future careers. 

Meanwhile, the community and solidarity projects strand of the European Solidarity Corps programme offers young people the opportunity to design, set up and lead projects to benefit their own local community - for UK participants that would be right here in the UK - with funding and support provided to help them bring their ideas to life and make their projects a success. What's not to like?

But right now, young UK nationals are missing out. The UK Government and EU have already committed to the UK rejoining Erasmus+ for 2027, which is fantastic news for those hoping to undertake study exchanges abroad. However, the UK and EU are yet to make a similar agreement on the UK rejoining the European Solidarity Corps programme, despite the fact that: 

•  Rejoining the European Solidarity Corps programme is well within the scope of the Government's current red lines.
• The new Prime Minister's commitment to go further in rebuilding the UK's relationship with the European Union; 
• Opportunities offered by UK participation in the European Solidarity Corps programme could open opportunities for mobility and skills development to a far wider range of people, as anyone between the age range of 18-30 can participate. 

This issue does not yet seem to be on the agenda for the next UK-EU summit, currently forecasted to take place in November. We think it should be a priority. Please sign and share to show your support, and let's help put it there!!

Image credit: Proyecto Asis