Support for new approaches to the provision of community-based social services
TITLE: The Path to Understanding
NUMBER: 4.4.1.1./012
PROJECT PARTNERS: The State Probation Service and Bauska District Council
FUNDING: Co-financed by
the European Union (European Social Fund Plus) and the state budget
RESEARCH PAPER: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fVtDVi_gNf_ktiVqIFqtFrGYEXUq1gIE/view?usp=sharing
RESEARCH PRESENTATION: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mSKwyfwwReA-9rEI3meD6H6aYelV8BmU/view?usp=sharing
Project Objective
The aim of the project is to improve communication and understanding between young people, their parents and other stakeholders through a modern and interactive approach, thereby reducing social isolation and promoting healthy relationships.
Target Group
- Adults and children with mental health conditions, including those with multiple conditions;
- Street children and young people who need a safe environment and support in developing social skills.
- People who are dependent on addictive substances and behaviours and who require emotional and psychological support.
- People released from prison who are facing difficulties in reintegrating into society.
Main Activities
- Development and testing of the interactive app ‘Do You Understand?’.
- Establishment of a mentoring network, individual and group sessions.
- Workshops for young people and parents to improve their relationships.
Results and the social service developed/enhanced
- At least 80% of young people and their parents report improvements in their relationships after using the app. The app will help young people develop conflict resolution skills and promote open dialogue within families.
- We anticipate that at least 70% of participants will receive positive emotional support from mentors, which will enhance their ability to cope with everyday challenges. These results will be measured through surveys conducted before and after the project activities.
- During the project, it is anticipated that 60 per cent of participants will demonstrate improvements in the social skills acquired during mentoring and group sessions. This will enhance their ability to participate more actively in community life and the labour market.
The target group’s challenges will be addressed through the use of innovations such as an interactive app and personalised mentoring sessions. Young people will be identified, selected and engaged through collaboration with social services, youth centres and educational institutions to identify their needs. We plan to hold discussions and information sessions involving young people and their families, giving them the opportunity to express their views and participate in developing solutions.
The project’s approach has been developed taking into account our previous experience of working with young people at social risk. We have analysed examples of good practice from previous projects and organisations working in a similar field to ensure an effective and proven approach. Involving the potential target group during the project preparation phase has been crucial, enabling us to gain valuable insights that will help us develop specific solutions to meet their current needs.
The implementation of this project will not only provide immediate support to young people and their families, but will also promote the development of sustainable social innovation by creating modern, people-centred services that will improve public health and well-being. We are committed to providing support services that genuinely address social problems and promote positive change in our society.
The initiative is being implemented on the basis of the specific support objective 4.4.1 of the European Union’s Cohesion Policy Programme for 2021–2027: ‘Promoting the social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion through social innovation’, under Measure 4.4.1.1, Project No. 4.4.1.1/1/24/I/001 “Support for new approaches to the provision of community-based social services”
Further information: https://www.sif.gov.lv/lv/socialas-inovacijas-socialo-pakalpojumu-joma
PROJECT UPDATES (monthly reports):
1 September 2025 (for August): The first month of the project has come to an end; between 15 August 2025 and 31 August 2025, very significant preparatory work was carried out to ensure the project runs smoothly and to a high standard. The first team meetings have taken place, and our partners have been involved in driving the day-to-day operational processes – the first steps have been taken effectively to ensure high-quality project management.
1 October 2025 (for September): Discussions have begun with Bauska District Social Services and the State Probation Service regarding potential clients who require support within the framework of the project – the services will discuss this internally with their colleagues and provide information on the next joint steps. Shortly afterwards, the services provided information on potential clients, as well as confirmation from their responsible representatives regarding their willingness or need to receive the service. In the second half of September, individual discussions took place with several of them, and following observations by the Head of Social Services and discussions with all parties involved, the service was granted to five people. The service was granted with effect from 1 October. One child with a mental health condition, two street children and young people, and two individuals with addictions to substances and behaviours. Initial meetings took place in late September, and all the documents required to receive the service were signed. Eligibility for the service has been recorded in the client’s file. It has been a very successful month for both the project team and the three mentors, who will begin working with clients from 1 October 2025. The mentors possess the relevant experience, understanding and the ability to adapt to complex individual situations.
1 November 2025 (for October): The month marked the first month of mentoring, during which five people received support; each of them assessed the experience over the course of the month as a positive collaboration and expressed a desire to continue. The first month served largely as a ‘month for finding a common language’, and the first steps were taken to provide support to each young person in accordance with the plan drawn up. This month also saw the first joint remote meeting between the project partners to discuss current issues, the first updates within the project, and to actively continue collaborating on the implementation of upcoming activities. The month passed without any unnecessary misunderstandings or oversights; everything is proceeding as planned. A busy end to the year is planned, with preparations underway for focus group visits to ensure they are meaningful and that the questions are as high-quality and precise as possible.
1 December 2025 (for November): An expert was brought on board this month to begin drafting the FOCUS GROUP questions, which we have now received; we have reviewed them together with our partners, refining and discussing them further with the expert. An internal team meeting was held to provide guidance on the focus group process, the planned sequence of events and specific scenarios. This is crucial, as the quality of the focus groups depends on the interviewers; it is therefore essential to maintain a high level of understanding of each planned step and activity throughout the process. The focus groups are scheduled for the second half of December or early January in a very compact timeframe, visiting various educational institutions to obtain as wide a range of responses as possible.
1 January 2026 (for December): This month, work continued on the ‘Path to Understanding’ project to prepare and organise the main activities. Together with the workshop leader, we developed the workshop content, refining the structure, objectives and methods to ensure the sessions were practical and tailored to the participants’ needs. At the same time, we began contacting and coordinating with focus groups, and drew up a schedule for their sessions to ensure a smooth process and wider participation. In addition, we held discussions with a researcher regarding the data collection approach and the next steps. At the same time, we maintained regular communication with the app developer, discussing functionality and upcoming tasks to ensure the solution was user-friendly and aligned with the project’s objectives.
31 January 2026 (for January): This month, the ‘Path to Understanding’ project focused primarily on conducting focus groups in educational institutions and systematically compiling the information gathered. We visited several educational institutions, where, through discussions with pupils and stakeholders, we gained a diverse range of perspectives and personal accounts that help us better understand current needs and circumstances. Following the focus groups in January, the material was collated and organised to ensure data transparency and a consistent structure for further analysis. The compiled results were forwarded to a specialist for further evaluation, so that the conclusions drawn could serve as a basis for refining the project’s activities and planning the next steps.
1 March 2026 (for February): In February, as part of the project, we continued to actively organise the workshops ‘Workshops for young people and their parents’ and ‘Social skills workshops for a specific target group’. During these sessions, young people were given support, various topical issues were discussed, and communication skills were developed both in their relationships with parents and amongst friends. The workshops promoted the young people’s personal growth, mutual understanding and the ability to communicate more confidently in various everyday situations. At the same time, mentoring sessions for young people in need of support were actively carried out throughout February. The mentors held several one-to-one meetings with the young people, providing emotional support, encouragement and practical help in resolving various issues. This work was a significant part of the project, helping young people to feel heard, strengthening their self-confidence and promoting positive development.
1 April 2026 (for March): In March, as part of the project, we continued to run the workshops ‘Workshops for young people and their parents’ and ‘Social skills workshops for a specific target group’. During these sessions, young people were given support, topical issues were discussed, and communication skills were strengthened both within the family and amongst peers. At the same time, mentoring continued, providing individual support to young people who needed it. Work on developing the app also continued actively in March. The team from the association “Laiks Jauniešiem” met with the developers in person to discuss the app’s content, functionality and visual design. A research report was also received from the developer, prepared on the basis of data obtained during the focus group sessions. This is a significant contribution to the project’s development, helping to create a solution that is engaging and useful for young people.
21 April 2026 (for April): In April, regular work with young people and families continued as part of the project, with the implementation of the workshops “Workshops for young people and their parents” and ‘Social Skills Workshops for a Specific Target Group’. During these sessions, support was provided, various issues relevant to everyday life were discussed, and communication skills were strengthened both within families and amongst peers. At the same time, mentoring continued, providing individual support to young people and organising several mentoring sessions. In April, work also continued on the development of the app, refining its content, functionality and overall design in line with the project’s vision. At the same time, preparations were made to present the research findings to the project partners, Bauska District Council and the Probation Service, to present the research findings and discuss the key insights relevant to the project’s future development.