🇧🇬 Erasmus+ Training Course in Bulgaria 🧠 Trauma-Informed Youth Work with the HEAL-SET Methodology 🌍

Youth workers today are increasingly asked to support young people carrying trauma — young migrants, refugees and other vulnerable groups — but few have a practical, ethical framework for doing it well. "Resilience in Action – HEAL-SET Methodology" is an Erasmus+ Training and Cooperation Activity built to close exactly that gap, giving youth workers a hands-on, trauma-informed toolkit and the chance to test it with a real target group under expert supervision. It runs in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, from 26 to 30 October 2026. At Youth Works Hub we track funded training for youth workers across Europe, and this is a rare one that pairs an innovative methodology with real supervised practice — so here is the full breakdown.

What This Training Is About

🧠 The course introduces participants to the HEAL-SET Methodology, an innovative trauma-informed framework developed by the Portuguese National Agency together with an international Steering Group of experts and practitioners.

🛡️ The methodology provides practical, ethical and adaptable tools for creating safe learning environments, strengthening resilience and promoting psychosocial wellbeing through non-formal education.

🔄 Participants explore it through experiential learning, practical workshops, peer learning and reflection — then apply selected methods in supervised practice sessions with young migrants and refugees. The activity combines professional development, intercultural exchange and European cooperation, encouraging participants to transfer the approaches into their own organisations and communities.

What Is HEAL-SET? The Seven Principles

The HEAL-SET Methodology is a structured framework for resilience-oriented youth work, built around seven interconnected principles that spell out its name:

🕊️ H — Hold Safety: creating emotionally and physically safe learning environments.

🌿 E — Engage Body & Senses: using grounding and body-based techniques.

💭 A — Anchor Emotions & Meaning: supporting emotional awareness and reflection.

🤝 L — Link Peers & Caregivers: strengthening supportive relationships.

🛠️ S — Skill Build: developing practical resilience competences.

⚡ E — Empower Action: encouraging meaningful individual action.

📊 T — Track Outcomes: using ethical, accessible monitoring tools to evaluate progress.

The methodology has been developed through international cooperation and successfully piloted with young people affected by forced displacement. During this activity, participants experience it both as learners and as facilitators.

The Objectives

During the activity, participants will:

🎯 Strengthen their competences in supporting psychosocial wellbeing and resilience among young migrants, refugees and other vulnerable young people.

🎯 Explore the principles of trauma-informed youth work within non-formal education.

🎯 Learn how to create safe, inclusive and culturally sensitive learning environments.

🎯 Experience and apply the HEAL-SET Methodology through practical exercises.

🎯 Develop facilitation skills for multicultural and multilingual groups.

🎯 Test selected resilience-building activities with a real target group under trainer supervision.

🎯 Exchange practices and experiences with professionals from different European countries.

🎯 Identify opportunities for future Erasmus+ cooperation and partnership development.

How the Week Works: Methods

The programme is grounded in non-formal education and experiential learning, and includes interactive workshops, practical simulations, body-based and creative learning activities, peer learning, facilitated reflection, intercultural dialogue and group work.

🌟 Its distinctive element is the chance to facilitate selected resilience-building activities with members of the target group in a real learning environment, followed by structured reflection together with the international trainers, plus feedback and evaluation sessions.

🎨 Prefer to stay in Bulgaria for something more creative and hands-on? This one's worth a look: ESC Volunteering in Creative Connections with Kids & Youth in 🇧🇬 Bulgaria → https://youthworkshub.org/22245

What You'll Be Able to Do Afterwards

By the end, participants will be able to:

✅ Understand the principles of trauma-informed youth work.

✅ Confidently apply the HEAL-SET Methodology in non-formal education settings.

✅ Facilitate safe and inclusive learning environments.

✅ Use practical resilience-building tools with diverse groups of young people.

✅ Adapt activities to different cultural contexts.

✅ Apply ethical safeguarding principles when working with vulnerable groups.

✅ Integrate the acquired methods into everyday professional practice and future Erasmus+ projects.

Who Should Apply

The activity is for professionals actively involved in youth work and inclusion, including youth workers, youth trainers, facilitators, educators, NGO staff, social workers, professionals supporting young migrants, refugees or other vulnerable groups, and representatives of Erasmus+ National Agencies working in the Youth field (subject to final confirmation).

Participants should:

👥 Have experience in youth work or non-formal education.

🔥 Be motivated to develop competences related to resilience, inclusion and psychosocial support.

🔁 Be willing to transfer the methodology into their own organisations and future Erasmus+ projects.

📌 Actively participate throughout the entire training programme.

The course is for 35 participants, and English is the working language.

🎓 New to this format and what it involves? Here's the essential guide: What Is an Erasmus+ Training Course? → https://youthworkshub.org/trainingcourse

Why Participate

🌍 This activity offers more than a traditional training course: access to an innovative methodology developed by international experts, practical field testing in authentic learning environments, and membership of a growing European community of practitioners committed to resilience, inclusion and psychosocial wellbeing. It is also an excellent opportunity to establish new international partnerships and explore future Erasmus+ cooperation.

Who Runs It

🏛️ The organiser is the Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC), the Bulgarian National Agency, which for 27 years has managed European educational programmes and become a platform for exchanging innovative educational methods and good practices. The activity is co-organised with the Portuguese National Agency (Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Juventude/Desporto e Corpo Europeu de Solidariedade).

Costs: What's Covered and What Isn't

This project is financed by the participating National Agencies of the Erasmus+ Youth in Action Programme, so the cost structure depends on your country:

🏠 Accommodation and food are organised and covered by the hosting National Agency.

💶 Participation fee: this varies from country to country — contact your National Agency or SALTO Resource Centre to learn the fee for participants from your country.

✈️ Travel reimbursement: whether your travel is supported depends on your National Agency or SALTO — check with them, and if supported, they explain the booking and reimbursement procedure after you are selected.

Certificate

📜 Participants are entitled to receive a Youthpass certificate from the organiser, recognising the competences they develop during the activity.

📗 Not sure what a Youthpass actually is or why it matters? This explains it: What Is Youthpass? The Official Erasmus+ and ESC Recognition Certificate → https://youthworkshub.org/what-is-youthpass

🏡 Also open to a hands-on training course in another country? Take a look at this one: Erasmus+ Training Course in Bioconstruction and Sustainable Building in 🇵🇹 Portugal → https://youthworkshub.org/20693

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ When and where is it? 26–30 October 2026, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

❓ Who can take part? Youth workers, trainers, youth project managers and coaches, and other youth-inclusion professionals from Erasmus+ Programme, Eastern Partnership and Western Balkan countries.

❓ Is it fully funded? Accommodation and food are covered by the hosting National Agency; there is a participation fee that varies by country, and travel support depends on your National Agency or SALTO — so check both with your NA.

❓ What will I actually do? Learn and then facilitate the HEAL-SET Methodology, including supervised practice with a real target group of young migrants and refugees.

❓ Do I get a certificate? Yes — a Youthpass certificate.

❓ What's the working language? English.

Deadline

⏳ 12 September 2026 (24:00 UTC), with selection on 26 September 2026.

With supervised real-world practice and only 35 places across many countries, this is a competitive one — Youth Works Hub gathers funded youth-worker training like this so you can apply through your National Agency before the deadline.

How to Apply

📝 Apply through the online application form for the activity, and contact your National Agency or SALTO Resource Centre about the participation fee and any travel support for your country.