🇪🇸 Erasmus+ Training Course in Spain 🧠 Stronger Minds, Stronger Communities: Holistic Mental Health for Youth Workers 💪

Mental health in youth work is still too often left unaddressed — both for the young people being supported and for the youth workers doing the supporting. Stronger Minds, Stronger Communities is an Erasmus+ training course in Astudillo, Palencia, Spain that takes a 360° holistic approach to mental health — equipping youth workers with practical tools in cognitive therapy, stress management, and emotional regulation, while building a more resilient and united European youth sector.

🎯 About the Project

Organised by Asociación Cultural y Cívica Fuentevieja (Spain), this training brings together 12 youth workers from Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Jordan, North Macedonia, and Spain. The project is structured around three pillars: Mind and Emotions, Body and Nature, and Community and Europe — connecting personal wellbeing with professional development and broader social impact.

📋 Three Pillars

🧠 Mind and Emotions — Understanding your own emotional patterns, identifying strengths and areas for growth, and applying CBT-based tools to support yourself and others

🌿 Body and Nature — Transforming sedentary habits into healthy practices, using nature as a resource for wellbeing and resilience

🌍 Community and Europe — Combating mental health stigma, building inclusive communities, and connecting local youth work to a broader European vision

🎯 Objectives

💡 Empower youth workers through a 360° holistic health approach

🏃 Transform sedentary lifestyles and isolation into healthy habits

🗣️ Combat mental health stigma through both theoretical and practical training

🌍 Build a more inclusive, resilient, and united Europe

🧩 What You’ll Gain

🔍 Understand your own emotions and identify personal strengths and weaknesses

🛠️ Acquire practical tools in cognitive therapy (CBT), stress management, and emotional regulation

💬 Enhance assertive communication for professional growth and leadership

🤝 Contribute to an Open Space session — sharing your own tools and best practices with peers

📋 Participant Responsibilities

During the training:

✅ Engage fully in all non-formal sessions, workshops, and group dynamics

💡 Contribute to the Open Space session with your own tools and practices

🌱 Commit to sustainable practices, zero tolerance, and safe space values

After the training:

🏘️ Facilitate at least 1 face-to-face workshop in your community

📖 Help create and distribute the project’s best practices guide

📱 Contribute to social media posts, podcasts, reels, and local dissemination activities

🏡 Venue and Accommodation

Participants stay at Hospedaje Don Bosco in Astudillo, Palencia — rooms for 1–2 people with private bathrooms.

🍽️ 3 meals per day and 2 coffee breaks — all covered by the Erasmus+ programme

✅ No participation fee

✈️ Getting There

Closest airports: Madrid or Santander. From either airport, take a train or bus to Palencia, then a local bus to Astudillo — the venue is less than 5 minutes on foot from the bus stop.

Maximum travel reimbursement:

💶 Jordan — €580

💶 Bulgaria, Greece, North Macedonia — €395

💶 Italy — €309

💶 Spain — €56 (green travel required)

⚠️ Green travel is required wherever eligible. Reimbursement will be made by bank transfer in September 2026 at the latest. Keep all tickets and boarding passes in original and/or PDF format.

⚠️ Do not purchase tickets until you have confirmation from your sending organisation.

Participants may travel 1–2 days before or after the project dates only if travel on the official days is not possible. Accommodation is not covered on those extra days.

🎒 What to Bring

🪪 Passport or ID and travel tickets

🏥 European Health Insurance Card or other travel/health insurance

👟 Comfortable clothes and shoes appropriate to the weather

🍽️ Typical food from your country for the intercultural night

💧 Reusable water bottle, sunscreen, and cap

😊 Openness, motivation, and at least an intermediate level of English

⚠️ Failure to participate in at least 80% of sessions, or inappropriate behaviour, will result in removal from the project and non-reimbursement of travel costs.

👤 Who Should Apply

This training is for youth workers, educators, non-profit professionals, teachers, and volunteers aged 18+ who work in the youth field and are interested in mental health. Each partner selects approximately 2 participants per country, with priority given to those with fewer opportunities and with attention to gender balance.

Active, proactive professionals and volunteers specialised in supporting rural youth are especially encouraged.

🌍 Eligible Countries

🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇬🇷 Greece 🇮🇹 Italy 🇯🇴 Jordan 🇲🇰 North Macedonia 🇪🇸 Spain

📅 Activity Dates

🗓️ 22 — 28 May 2026

📍 Astudillo, Palencia, Spain

⏰ Deadline

7 May 2026

📬 How to Apply

📝 Application Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScE6SeqFWrCfv_9_WkTOXcihjtLJ5F0BubjiBE2wkK2n6huSA/viewform

📎 Infopack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Q4vJpEzeSHuuYrKx5iJtONONXOFVn9Fw/view?usp=drivesdk

📧 fuenteviejaasociacion@gmail.com

✋Important Notice

Youth Works Hub does not represent or act on behalf of any organization listed on this platform. All project details are sourced directly from official ESC and Erasmus+ databases. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official project page or contact the hosting organization directly. Youth Works Hub is not responsible for any changes made to project details after publication.