1. TOOLKIT PROJECT

2. introduction “A Positive Journey” (APJ), through European cooperation addressed the Stigma that disadvantaged groups face in their life’s journey – it more than demonstrated that there is life beyond disadvantage. Partners from UK, Greece, Lithuania and Italy exchanged best practice in terms of engaging with and empowering their service users to be able to tell an account of their positive journey. In doing so, partners created tools with which disadvantaged groups and participants could help tackle stigma. APJ enabled their target groups to have a voice in recording their recovery from whatever challenges they have faced in their life’s journey. The project provided an online platform to engage those who are, or at risk of, social exclusion to give them the opportunity to highlight their achievements in overcoming their personal challenges. Each partner also engaged 12 disadvantage learners who created the positive journey stories using positive images: – this included poetry, art, music, articles, videos and all means that they wish to learn to use to promote their positive journey. Participants developed a variety of skills and gained confidence in promoting their achievements to help inspire others to follow in their footsteps. The project also looked to help participants willing to re-engage in informal and formal learning in the future as a consequence of their increased levels of confidence.

3. During the project we used the Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Well Being Scale (WEMWBS) to evaluate impact of the project on the participants. The final result showed a significant improvement in well being for those that took part in the project. The project: Has led to increase levels of confidence and self esteem (WEMWBS Evidence) Continues to directly address stigma with positive images posted on the web site Increased media and communication skills for target group Addressed social anxiety and provided a platform where participants could celebrate their successes Shared best practice from EU partners in working with all media and communication platforms Also the project was based to volunteers who really encouraged the team work.

4. Toolkit description This toolkit is divided into three parts: a. Planning (it describes step by step what action plan we agreed as a team to follow in order to achieve our goals to the project). b. Implementation (in this part we describe all the activities we worked with adopted to each partner needs in order to have the best degree of implementation). c. Evaluation (we used the Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Well Being Scale (WEMWBS) to evaluate impact of the project on the participants)

5. PLANNING We have worked as a TEAM and agreed on our basic proposals and aims, what is really important and necessary in order to help destigmatization through our ‘’ A POSSITIVE JOURNEY’’ (APJ) project.

6. We decided to create a network of experienced professionals who are going to invite participants. PLANNING PUBLIC SERVICES MUNICI- PALITY WELFARE SERVICES INDIVI- DUALS N.G.O.

7. We have decided to ‘’open up circles’’ inviting participants not only with a mental disorder but with a physical disorder who are positive to overcome their trauma or stigma. PLANNING POSSITIVE JOURNEYS AUTISM LEARNING DISABILITIES DOWN SYNDROME SCHIZOFRENIA BIPOLAR DEPRESSION PHYSICAL DISORDER NEUROLOGI -CAL DISORDERS anxiety BLINDNESS CANCER multiple sclerosis

8. Our priority is to obtain 12 authentic stories and work with these people on teams, enabling them to communicate on their own way of positive action and their own way of destigmatization. PLANNING CAROLINE IOANNIS XARALAMPOS ALEXANDROS RINA Neringa Audrius Ramūnas Audriaus, Sigitos i Almos, Reginos BARBARA EMANUELE TERESSA LINDA ANTONY ADRIAN EDDIE KYLE NICKY PANAGIOTIS MARRINA GIANNIS A. DALES XARALABIA ELENI GIANNIS DALESSAM MAT JANE RORY DIANNA

9. We have agreed to use a specific scale in order to evaluate their self-confidence and self-esteem through the project. PLANNING

10. We have chosen specific methods, tools of expression of their positive journey in order to help them to express their feelings, their stories, their goals.

11. PLANNING We finally agreed to help them to communicate their own projects on an online platform, in order to share this hope with other affected people.

12. IMPLEMENTATION In cooperation with organizations of mental health and social care, we present clearly our proposals and aims and invite participants that are interested in APJ project making posters and brochures.

13. IMPLEMENTATION

14. We have chosen the people in our team that are specialized to take the initial interview and work with the 12 participants on teams Personal contacts

15. IMPLEMENTATION We clearly communicate our request of finding participants, to experienced people in our cooperating organizations making a network of ambassadors of our idea. MEETINGS VIDEO, FASHION, PHOTOGRAPH, MUSIC STUDIOS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES DAY CARE CENTERCAFE, RESTAURANTS HOMES OUTDOOR SPACES, PARKS, PARTIES CLINICSOUR OFFICES

16. We found 12 people among of whom a LOCAL CELEBRITY and took an initial interview of their history and a formal consent in order to publish their story on our own online platform IMPLEMENTATION BLOGGER PERSONS WITH AUTISM AND SPECIAL ABILITIES BLIND PEOPLE BUSINESSMAN POLITICIAN MINISTER OF HEALTH

17. We finally helped them to use the online platform in order to publish their work and their stories. IMPLEMENTATION

18. As a project we have agreed to use a specific scale, the Warwick Edinburgh WENWEB scale, to evaluate across a number of criteria that included their self-confidence and self-esteem through the project. EVALUATION STATEMENTS None of the time Rarely Some of the time Often All of the time I’ve been feeling optimistic about the future12345 I’ve been feeling useful12345 I’ve been feeling relaxed12345 I’ve been feeling interested in other people12345 I’ve had energy to spare12345 I’ve been dealing with problems well12345 I’ve been thinking clearly12345 I’ve been feeling good about myself12345 I’ve been feeling close to other people12345 I’ve been feeling confident12345 I’ve been able to make up my own mind about things 12345 I’ve been feeling loved12345 I’ve been interested in new things12345 I’ve been feeling cheerful12345

19. A Grundtvig Project Thank You a grundtvig project CREATED BY M.H.C.A.