New Frames: Digital Storytelling Labs for Inclusive Youth Work is an Erasmus+ Training Course for youth workers, taking place in Graus, Huesca (Spain), from 23 to 30 November 2026. Accommodation and meals are provided, and travel costs are reimbursed after the mandatory local follow-up activity. At Youth Works Hub, we read the full infopack so you know exactly what you are applying to.
New Frames: A Training Course on Digital Storytelling and LGTBIAQ+ Inclusion
New Frames is an Erasmus+ project that brings youth workers together with one aim: to equip them with digital storytelling and media literacy tools to support and empower LGTBIAQ+ youth. The residential part of the project runs for eight days in the Aragonese Pre-Pyrenees, and it gathers youth workers from different European countries in one small mountain town.
The course sits inside the Erasmus+ framework for professional development activities for youth workers, which means the learning is practical, non-formal and built around what participants already do in their own communities.
Why Digital Storytelling Matters in Queer Youth Work
The organisers frame the training around two questions: who gets to tell our stories, and how can we create more inclusive, ethical and empowering narratives? Photography, video and digital storytelling become tools to support LGTBIAQ+ young people, challenge stereotypes and amplify underrepresented voices.
The training is described as a space for learning, experimentation and collective creation, where participants both create digital stories and reflect on how those stories work.
The Four Goals Behind the Project
The infopack sets out four goals for the project.
๐ฌ Develop practical skills to design and facilitate digital storytelling activities with LGTBIAQ+ youngsters.
๐ก๏ธ Equip youth workers with inclusive tools and ethical strategies to support LGTBIAQ+ individuals in delicate situations.
๐งฉ Co-create a replicable and transferable methodology that participants can take back to their organisations.
๐ Build and consolidate a transnational community that continues after the training through a shared repository, mentoring and a toolkit package.
Inside the Programme: Representation, Consent and Narrative Power
The programme is centred on digital storytelling as a tool for youth workers who work with LGTBIAQ+ young people, with a particular focus on creating safer, more inclusive and empowering narratives. Across the week, participants explore how stories are created, framed and shared, and how digital storytelling can support self-expression, visibility, participation and community building.
Sessions combine practical exercises, creative experimentation, peer learning and reflection on a specific set of themes:
๐ช Representation.
โ๏ธ Consent.
๐ Privacy.
โ๏ธ Ethical storytelling.
๐ง Stereotypes.
๐ฃ Narrative power.
๐ผ๏ธ Responsible use of images and personal experiences.
What You Will Build During the Week
Beyond the discussions, the training asks participants to produce something they can actually use afterwards.
๐งช Develop and test your own storytelling approaches.
๐ง Adapt existing tools to your local contexts.
๐ Create practical methods and resources to use later in your youth work with LGTBIAQ+ communities.
The Three Phases: Preparation, Training, Follow-Up
New Frames is not limited to the residential week in Spain. The project runs in three phases, and participation in all of them is expected.
๐๏ธ Preparation: selection and purchase of travel tickets until the 30th of October, one online webinar at the end of October, and a pre-training self-assessment form.
๐๏ธ Training Course: the intensive residency in Graus, from the 23rd to the 30th of November 2026.
๐ค Follow-Up: an activity in your local community. This is mandatory to finish the project and to receive the travel reimbursement.
In the follow-up, participants share, adapt and put into practice some of the methods and knowledge gained during the project.
How a Working Day Looks in Graus
The schedule covers six full days plus two travel days. Each working day follows an intensive but balanced rhythm that combines focused learning, practical experimentation, collaborative creation, reflection, and time to rest and connect.
๐ Morning: 3.5 hours of activities.
๐ค๏ธ Afternoon: 3.5 hours of activities.
โฑ๏ธ Roughly seven working hours per day in total.
โ Regular breaks and space for informal exchange, reflection and community building.
Evenings and Optional Open Sessions
Evenings are generally free. They give participants time to rest, socialise, explore the surroundings or spend time together informally. On some days the team may offer optional open sessions, and taking part is completely voluntary.
๐ฅ Storytelling circles.
๐๏ธ Screenings.
๐จ Creative labs.
๐ฌ Discussions.
๐ Participant-led activities.
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๐ All opportunities in Spain โ
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Is This Training for You?
The course is designed for youth workers aged 20-35 who are actively involved in working with young people, especially those aged 13-30, or who design, facilitate or coordinate youth programmes and activities. The organisers describe the profile they are looking for in detail.
๐ซ People who work directly with young people in non-formal education settings, such as youth organisations, youth centres, community projects, cultural initiatives, educational programmes or grassroots organisations.
๐ People working as youth workers, educators, facilitators, youth leaders, inclusion officers, project coordinators or in similar roles.
โค๏ธ People with a strong interest in LGTBIAQ+ inclusion, digital storytelling, youth participation, human rights, representation and digital wellbeing.
๐ People interested in exploring how storytelling and digital tools can be used in a safer, more ethical and empowering way when working with queer young people.
๐ก People who have a real opportunity to apply, adapt or share the methods and tools learned during the training in their future work.
If you are new to this field, our guide to the role of youth workers in European projects explains what the term covers in practice.
The Age Range Is a Priority, Not a Barrier
The infopack is explicit on this point: the indicated age range is a selection priority, not a strict eligibility requirement. Applicants outside 20-35 are welcome to apply and may also be selected, depending on available places, motivation and relevance to the project.
Other selection criteria mentioned in the call are equally clear. The organisers look for people actively working or collaborating with young people in educational, cultural or community projects, people interested in LGTBIAQ+ inclusion, storytelling and non-formal education, and participants motivated to apply and share what they learn in their local communities.
No Advanced Filmmaking Skills Required
You do not need advanced audiovisual or digital storytelling skills. The programme is aimed primarily at people at an early or intermediate level who want to strengthen their practice and develop new tools for working with queer young people. No advanced audiovisual or filmmaking experience is required: the team is looking for curiosity, creativity and a willingness to learn and share.
The infopack adds one note on this point. If you are an advanced facilitator or have extensive professional experience in digital storytelling, the training may not fully match your current learning needs. New Frames is primarily aimed at professionals at an early or intermediate stage of their journey, as well as those who want to strengthen, rethink or expand their existing methods, particularly in relation to working with queer young people.
What the Organisers Expect From Participants
Participants are expected to take an active and responsible role throughout the whole project process. The infopack lists six concrete commitments.
๐ Reading all the information carefully, including the infopack and any emails or additional instructions sent by the organisers before and during the project.
๐ Participating fully in the entire process: not only the residential training course, but also the online meetings, preparation activities, dissemination of results and any mandatory follow-up activities.
๐งน Contributing to community life, taking responsibility for group dynamics, respecting shared spaces and supporting simple daily tasks such as cleaning, tidying up common areas or setting the tables for meals.
๐งพ Providing travel documents on time in order to receive the travel reimbursement: invoices, boarding passes, tickets, receipts or any other documents requested by the organisers.
๐ข Taking part in follow-up activities after returning home, sharing the knowledge and tools gained with colleagues or local communities, organising workshops, creating publications or other dissemination activities.
๐ Organising your own travel to and from the training venue, following the travel guidelines, deadlines and instructions provided by the organisers.
What You Take Home: Skills, Tools and a Network
The infopack groups the expected outcomes into five areas.
๐ฅ Digital storytelling skills: tools and methods and how to apply them in youth work with LGTBIAQ+ individuals, practical skills to plan, shoot and edit short documentaries and photostories, how to share personal stories through different formats, and concrete tools to guide young people through a full creative process adapted to their needs and expectations.
๐ค Inclusive tools and safer spaces: an ethical framework for working with LGTBIAQ+ youth on personal and sensitive stories, plus concrete accessibility strategies to create more inclusive digital stories.
๐บ Media literacy and critical thinking: tools to identify stereotypes and harmful narratives in mainstream LGTBIAQ+ media representation, and critical thinking skills to analyse online content and reflect on our own biases when creating digital stories.
๐ญ Creativity methods: experimenting with storytelling through different artistic methods such as objects, writing and recording, and the creation of an artistic project in small groups that applies every tool and method learned during the week.
๐ฅ International community: connections with youth workers from different countries, backgrounds and experiences.
Where You Will Stay and Eat
Participants are hosted in a youth hostel in the Aragonese Pre-Pyrenees, located around a 10-minute walk from the town of Graus (Huesca). Graus is a small historic town in the Ribagorza area, surrounded by mountains and nature, which gives the training a peaceful setting for community living, learning and group activities.
๐๏ธ Shared rooms, bathrooms and common areas, in a comfortable and welcoming environment designed for group stays.
๐ฝ๏ธ Every day: breakfast, lunch, dinner and two coffee breaks.
๐ฅ A vegetarian menu, with vegan options.
๐ Food allergies, intolerances or specific dietary needs are taken into account when they are communicated in advance.
The organisers encourage participants to see the accommodation not only as a place to sleep, but as part of the learning experience: a shared space to connect, exchange, relax and build a temporary community together.
Accessibility of the Venue: What to Know Before Applying
The infopack is explicit about the limits of the venue. It is a rural youth hostel in the Pre-Pyrenees, around a 10-minute walk from Graus. Participants stay in shared rooms of a maximum of 8 people and use common bathrooms, and shared working, dining and common areas are used throughout the course.
โ ๏ธ The venue has significant physical accessibility limitations. The accommodation buildings and common areas do not have step-free or wheelchair-accessible entrances, and there are no adapted bathrooms or wheelchair-accessible showers. The venue may not be suitable for participants who use a wheelchair or who require fully step-free access.
๐คฒ Verbena states a commitment to making the project as inclusive and accessible as possible within the limitations of the venue, and the facilitators can adapt activities, methodologies, communication and the learning environment whenever possible.
๐ฃ๏ธ Any physical, sensory, communication or other accessibility needs can be described in the application form. The organisers confirm that this will not negatively affect selection: it helps them discuss what support is possible and be transparent about what the venue can offer.
๐ฑ Accessibility is not only about physical infrastructure. The team aims to create a space based on respectful communication, inclusive language, flexibility, care and collective responsibility.
Health, Insurance and Safety in Graus
The organisers set out four points on health and security, with the stated aim of creating a safe, respectful and caring environment where everyone can participate comfortably.
๐ฅ You must have the European Health Insurance Card or an equivalent insurance for your stay in Spain.
๐ Obtaining full insurance covering travel risks, medical costs and injuries is your own responsibility.
๐ Graus has a pharmacy and a local health centre, both within easy reach of the accommodation.
๐ค Youth workers are expected to act responsibly at all times, towards themselves and others. Disruptive or harmful behaviour towards participants, staff or the environment will not be tolerated.
What to Pack for a November Week in the Pre-Pyrenees
The organisers list what to bring, including a note on November weather in the area.
๐งฅ Layered clothing for all weather. It can be cold in November, but also sunny and warm during the day, so bring both warm layers and lighter clothes, and check the forecast in the days before arriving.
๐ฅพ A reusable water bottle and hiking shoes or sturdy footwear for anyone who wants to explore the surroundings.
๐ธ A camera, or a smartphone with a good camera if you have one.
๐ป A laptop or tablet, optional but needed for editing.
๐งด Personal care items: towel, toiletries, personal hygiene products and any personal medication you need.
โจ Willingness to share and learn.
Travel Funding by Country of Residence
In accordance with Erasmus+ guidelines, a fixed amount of travel funding is available to participants who engage in all phases and activities of the project. Reimbursement for travel expenses is provided upon presentation of travel tickets after the training and the implementation of the follow-up activities. The amount varies based on the participant's country of residence. The travel days are 23 and 30 November.
๐ช๐ธ Spain: 180โฌ, only by bus, train or ferry. Partner: Verbena.
๐ฎ๐น Italy: 309โฌ. Partner: Gruppo Trans APS.
๐ฌ๐ท Greece: 395โฌ. Partner: emphilo.
๐ซ๐ท France: 309โฌ. Partner: Rakonto.
๐ต๐น Portugal: 309โฌ. Partner: XX Element Project.
Accommodation and meals are provided by the project, and travel expenses are reimbursed after the mandatory local follow-up activity is completed. If you want the wider picture of how this works across the programme, our guide to what Erasmus+ actually covers breaks the budget categories down.
How to Reach Graus From Barcelona, Madrid or Zaragoza
Participants book their own flights to Barcelona, Madrid or Zaragoza Airport. From any of these airports, the route continues by train or bus to Huesca, and from Huesca a bus goes to Graus, the town where the project takes place.
โ๏ธ Fly to Barcelona, Madrid or Zaragoza Airport.
๐ Travel by train or bus from the airport to Huesca.
๐ Take the bus from Huesca to Graus.
๐ก Important: the last bus from Huesca to Graus departs at 18:30. Plan your journey carefully so that you arrive in Huesca in time to catch it.
๐ฌ Selected participants receive all the necessary information and guidance to help them plan the journey properly.
Non-Formal Education and the Facilitation Team
The training is based on non-formal education, using participatory, inclusive and experiential methods designed to engage both the mind and the body. There is also plenty of open space for participants to facilitate and share good practices, methodologies, tools or anything else others might find useful.
The team is made up of youth workers with strong experience in video-making, digital storytelling, queer and LGTBIAQ+ community-based projects and international youth mobilities, with contributions from professionals in communication and youth work.
๐๏ธ Mariana (she/her): youth worker, facilitator and audiovisual production specialist. With an educational background in Audiovisual Communication and LGTBIAQ+ Studies (Cultural Aspects major), her work focuses on using audiovisual media as a tool to explore diversity and social issues from an intersectional queer perspective.
๐ท Ari (he/him): youth worker, facilitator and a creative focused on audiovisual work. His educational path comes from photography and cinema, focusing on participative art projects, documentary cinema and photography. His work focuses on gender identity, transgender lives, sexuality, gender roles and territory, combining different mediums to create safe spaces for queer narratives.
๐บ๏ธ Anna (she/her): youth worker, facilitator and project designer. She co-founded Verbena, a social cooperative that promotes creativity, cultural events and learning programmes for youth. She focuses on creating safe and empowering spaces for young people, especially LGTBIAQ+ youth from rural areas.
Who Is Verbena?
Verbena is the social cooperative organising New Frames. It promotes creativity, cultural events and learning programmes for youth, and its work centres on safe and empowering spaces for young people, with a particular focus on LGTBIAQ+ youth from rural areas. The project is funded by Erasmus+ and run together with partner organisations in Italy, Greece, France and Portugal. You can browse more Erasmus+ training courses and youth exchanges on Youth Works Hub.
How to Apply
Applications go through the project's own online form. The organisers ask you to complete it carefully and to tell them about your experience, your motivation and how you could use the learning from New Frames in your own context.
โ๏ธ Write honest and genuine answers. The team states directly that using AI is not recommended if you want to be selected, and that they want to get to know the real person behind the application.
๐งญ Describe your experience of working with young people and the context you would bring the methods back to.
โฟ Mention any physical, sensory, communication or other accessibility needs in the form. It does not count against you in selection.
๐ Keep the preparation timeline in mind: selection and travel ticket purchase run until 30 October, with an online webinar at the end of October and a pre-training self-assessment form before the course.
If you want help putting the motivation part together, our guide on writing a motivation letter for Erasmus+ projects covers the structure selectors look for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to New Frames?
The training is for youth workers aged 20-35 who work with young people in non-formal education, youth organisations, community or cultural projects, educational programmes or grassroots initiatives. The age range is a selection priority rather than a strict requirement, so applicants outside it may still be selected depending on places, motivation and relevance.
Which countries can take part?
Participants come from Spain, Italy, Greece, France and Portugal, the five countries behind the project's partnership. Each country has its own partner organisation and its own fixed travel amount.
Do I need experience with video or photography?
No. Advanced audiovisual or digital storytelling skills are not required, and the programme is built for people at an early or intermediate level. The organisers are looking for curiosity, creativity and a willingness to learn and share.
Are accommodation and meals covered?
Yes. Participants stay in a youth hostel near Graus with shared rooms and common areas, and the project provides breakfast, lunch, dinner and two coffee breaks every day, with a vegetarian menu and vegan options.
How does the travel reimbursement work?
A fixed amount is set for each country of residence: 180โฌ for Spain (only by bus, train or ferry), 309โฌ for Italy, 395โฌ for Greece, 309โฌ for France and 309โฌ for Portugal. You organise and pay for your own travel, then receive the reimbursement after presenting your travel tickets and completing the follow-up activity.
What is the mandatory follow-up activity?
After returning home, each participant runs an activity in their local community to share, adapt and put into practice the methods learned during the training. It is required both to complete the project and to receive the travel reimbursement.
How long is the training and how intensive is it?
The residency covers six full working days plus two travel days, with 3.5 hours of activities in the morning and 3.5 in the afternoon, about seven working hours per day. Evenings are generally free, with occasional optional sessions.
Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
No. The infopack states that the accommodation buildings and common areas have no step-free or wheelchair-accessible entrances, and there are no adapted bathrooms or wheelchair-accessible showers, so the venue may not be suitable for participants who use a wheelchair or need fully step-free access.
Do I need insurance?
Yes. You must hold the European Health Insurance Card or an equivalent insurance for your stay in Spain, and arranging full insurance for travel risks, medical costs and injuries is your own responsibility.
How do I get from the airport to Graus?
Fly to Barcelona, Madrid or Zaragoza, continue by train or bus to Huesca, then take a bus from Huesca to Graus. The last bus from Huesca to Graus leaves at 18:30, so plan your arrival accordingly.
Who can I contact with questions?
The organising team answers questions at proyectos@verbenacoop.com. Each partner country also has its own contact address, listed with the travel amounts.
Project Snapshot
๐ Type: Training Course
๐ Location: Youth hostel near Graus, Huesca (Aragรณn), Spain
๐๏ธ Activity Dates: 23 to 30 November 2026 (travel days 23 and 30 November, six full working days in between)
๐ Countries: Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Portugal
๐ Age: 20-35 as a selection priority, not a strict eligibility requirement
Deadline
โณ As soon as possible!
Links
๐ Application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6_6VTqE4PlwxXmuJnbp6INdlQByudNavO6BS72YSTDo-WvQ/viewform
๐ Infopack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A3LFu6JxxuCf0FMRXOI0h5JGjq0cV9p8/view
๐ง General questions (Verbena, Spain): proyectos@verbenacoop.com
๐ฎ๐น Italy (Gruppo Trans APS): andrearuggeri07@gmail.com
๐ฌ๐ท Greece (emphilo): emphilo.et@gmail.com
๐ซ๐ท France (Rakonto): info@rakonto.org
๐ต๐น Portugal (XX Element Project): xxelementproject@gmail.com
