MINDful – proMoting INclusivity in retail workspaces for People with Disabilities in rural EU areas
Summary of the project
MINDful is a 24-month project implemented under the Erasmus+ program. It is designed to enhance the workplace inclusion of people with disabilities in the retail sector. After extensive research, the project partners found that the retail sector has the highest employability rate in the EU. At the same time, people with disabilities face unemployment at an equally high rate as they are not able to integrate into working environments and the labour market cannot understand the difficulties they face. The situation deteriorates in the most remote areas for both people with disabilities and retailers. MINDfull is therefore designed to provide the appropriate professional training and tools to encourage freelancers, Chambers of Commerce, human resources departments of companies, and shop managers located in remote areas to integrate people with disabilities into their working environments.
TARGET GROUPS
The MINDful project has both direct and indirect target groups, focusing on those located in rural areas of the EU.
Direct Target Groups
- Retailers; namely, retail business owners, Human Resources managers, Store managers and supervisors
- VET providers/trainers, associated with training in the retail sector
- Staff of Chambers of Commerce/Business Associations
Indirect Target Groups
- People with hearing, visual, or physical disabilities (PwHVPD)
PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES:
The project’s main objectives are:
- to provide a training program to retailers in rural EU areas to become inclusive employers for PwHVPD
- to equip VET providers/trainers with a training program that helps close the employment gap of PwHVPD
- to raise awareness about retail workspaces’ inclusivity to Chambers of Commerce to promote it & make approaches & actions for supporting retailers in employing PwHVPD
- to help increase VET flexibility by developing a training program suitable for synergies’ creation & partners’ cooperation.
MINDful
Project Results
The MINDful Retail Inclusivity Report is a digital book containing the 3 national reports that include the research results on the current status of inclusivity in the retail sector, the present and future challenges for the hiring and employment of PwHVPD in the sector, and insights and suggestions for inclusivity improvements in retail workspaces.
The MINDful training program is a set of modules on the topics of General Introduction to disabilities, Inclusivity in the hiring process and in workspace arrangement and signalization, Proper Behavior, Crisis management, Policy and legislation at national and EU levels, and Best Practices/Case Studies in the retail sector.
The MINDful Storylines is a set of scenarios, needed to be resolved, related to inclusivity in retail workplaces, based on the topics of the MINDful training program.
The MINDful Space is a platform containing the MINDful training program along with (self-)assessment questions, the MINDful Storylines, and inspirational vidcasts to inspire and encourage retailers to employ PwHVPD.
The Partnership
Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de la Creuse – Coordinator partner, France
Created in 1899, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Creuse is a public body governed by business leaders elected by their peers to represent and advocate for the interests of 4,500 businesses. It employs 20 people. The CCI is a major player in the economic activity of the region, participating in all decisions concerning business and the planning of local economic development. Its management methods, skills and resources enable it to play an important role in advising and supporting businesses. It also offers a wide-ranging, constantly updated training programme in the field of apprenticeships and continuing education. One objective that CCI Creuse pursues is to support the integration of people with fewer opportunities (e.g. people living in rural areas, people with disabilities, etc.) to support their economic and social resilience in their communities. The sustainable inclusion of these people is realised through the strengthening of inclusion ecosystems.
To this end, CCI Creuse has the expertise to contribute effectively to the analysis of their socio-economic needs, as well as to the needs of the labour market in its region. CCI Creuse then has the capacity to organize training courses and workshops so that knowledge of the geographical environment can help people with fewer opportunities to feel at ease in their social environment. More generally, CCI Creuse wishes to contribute to improving knowledge on how to better support people with disabilities and, in general, people with fewer opportunities, especially in rural areas.
Solution: Solidarité & Inclusion – applicant partner, France
Solution: Solidarity & Inclusion is an NGO based in Paris developing innovative actions to promote social cohesion through non formal education. The objective of the association is to boost social inclusion among younger adults by proposing several kinds of activities allowing to foster mutual acceptance, stimulate human interests by offering cross-cutting activities, design educational programs to open minds and strengthen fair dynamics between cultures and generations. Solution operates in a multicultural and socially complex environment: in Paris and its suburbs there are more than 100 different ethnic communities whose younger adults may face economic difficulties, as well as social and labour exclusion. Such groups are often excluded from extra scholar offers, which may help them to acquire new skills enabling a better integration into society. Solution’s mission is to propose to these people non-formal education activities bringing together different publics and stimulate, this way, intercultural and intergenerational dialogue while promoting the acquisition of soft and hard skills useful for professional and social purposes.
KAINOTOMIA & SIA EE – partner, Greece
“KAINOTOMIA” is a level two Lifelong Learning Centre (K.DI.VI.M) in Greece, which is active in the field of Vocational Education and Training. KAINOTOMIA has implemented more than 60 continuing vocational training programmes for unemployed people, teachers of all levels of education, higher education students, employees/self-employed and vulnerable social groups, for the development of professional opportunities and their promotion and integration into the labour market and society in general, through innovative programmes. “KAINOTOMIA” provides consultancy services to enterprises and support and advisory services to trainees to facilitate their (re)entry into the labour market. “KAINOTOMIA” has participated in several national projects, offering a high degree of expertise in training in modern fields, combining them with those that are in high demand in the labour market in order to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes of trainees for their integration into the labour market. Furthermore, “KAINOTOMIA” participates in co-funded national programmes called “local development and entrepreneurship projects for unemployed people based on specific local needs and development potential”.
Association of Thessalian Enterprises and Industries – partner, Greece
The Association of Thessalian Industries & Enterprises (STHEV) is the heart of the economic activity and business world in Thessaly and it also represents an established social partner, that resolutely contributes to the creation of favourable conditions which are in favour of business activities and of all economic development in general. The Association was founded in 1957 in Larissa and it has members businesses and industries from various sectors. With its extensive experience, STHEV has developed trust and cooperation relationships with its members.
STHEV basically aims at development based on powerful production methods and the competitiveness of the economy, but with special respect to the environment. As far as STHEV is concerned the central medium for this development is private initiative. The company is the heart of what we call free market economy and private initiative. It is the Association’s obligation to defend private initiatives and to motivate the business world of Thessaly to correspond to society’s needs.
Asociación Valencia Inno Hub – partner, Spain
Valencia Inno Hub is a non-profit organization in Spain that aims to promote innovation and technology solutions for a better future. It focuses on supporting disadvantaged groups and their economic and social inclusion by providing mentoring and training to young people, entrepreneurs, and individuals facing exclusion. Innohub offers various activities such as workshops, seminars, and networking events on innovation, personal development, career guidance, entrepreneurship, and financing.
CAMARA OFICIAL DE COMERCIO E INDUSTRIA DE BADAJOZ – parter, Spain
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Badajoz (Cámara Badajoz) is a public body founded in 1886 with the aim of representing, promoting and defending the general interests of the economic structure in its region, representing all the companies located in its province. The Cámara Badajoz develops the various public-administrative functions and offers multiple services to companies of any geographical area that wish directly or indirectly to do business in Spain or to collaborate with Spanish companies.
MINDful Attachments
Outputs
Newsletters
MINDful Upcoming Events
MINDful News Feed
The 1st newsletter of the MINDful project is now available!
Transnational Partner Meeting for the European project MINDful in Paris!
Follow MINDful
Co-funded by the European Union
