Project Name: Crossing the Bridge

Partners from five countries are working together to help learners from deprived areas get a better understanding of other cultures and increase their self-esteem and confidence.

Organisations from the UK, Poland, Germany, Greece and Spain and their learners have taken part in a programme of activities in each other's countries. The project began in 2007 and runs for 2 years.

Listen to Julie Staniforth talking about this Grundtvig project >> (2min 21secs)

"Our project set out to increase learners understanding of other cultures, their self-esteem and confidence" said Julie Staniforth from the Adult and Community Learning Service at Staffordshire County Council, the UK partner. 

The first meeting with all the partners and learners was hosted in Tenerife in January 2008. They visited Tenerife prison, met prisoners and did activities with them.

The partners have set up a website to communicate with each other and record their activities. Julie said: "One of the strengths of the project has been the PB Wiki website. Its very easy to get into and change the pages and all the countries have signed up to it. Learners can go on to the site and they can add their own comments, which they have been doing."

The website has enabled the learners to communicate with each other prior to visiting each others countries and to build up their connections.

So, what are the benefits of the project work so far?

"The biggest difference is on the actual learners themselves" said Julie. "When we go on the visits they gain so much from it. These are learners with enduring and serious mental health illnesses. They get so much self-confidence and self-esteem, it is beginning to change their lives."

The Crossing the Bridge project is funded through Grundtvig Partnerships. Find out how you can take part in a Grundtvig Partnerships project >>