Twenty support workers, youth workers, social workers, prevention executives and psychologists from the Foundation for Social Welfare Services' Sedqa, Appogg and Sapport agencies recently took part in two EU-funded mobility projects to enhance their professional knowledge and skills.

The project that the Sedqa and Appogg professionals took part in focused on services for young people with substance misuse problems, behavioural or emotional difficulties. They were presented with best practices adopted and implemented by services that support young people in other EU countries.

In the second project, Sapport professionals observed the practices and procedures used by foreign agencies to improve the independent living and employment opportunities of disabled people.

The participants in both projects undertook placements in host organisations in the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Lithuania, and came back with ideas that could be implemented locally.

The projects were funded by the EU Programmes Agency under the EU Leonardo da Vinci Mobility programme.