LOCAL PILOT SLOVENIA “Active after 50” Danijela Zimšek Kralj Natalija Žunko & Dušanka Lužar Šajt

1. LOCAL PILOT SLOVENIA “Active after 50” Danijela Zimšek Kralj Natalija Žunko & Dušanka Lužar Šajt Edinburgh, 10 & 11 December 2010

2. Local Action Research Group • Employment Service of Slovenia, Regional Office Maribor ( 2 members) • Municipality of Maribor (1 member) • Regional Labour Foundation of Podravje (1 member) • Association of Societies for Social gerontology of Slovenia (1 member) • Eim, Human Resource Development Centre (2 members) • External evaluator (1 member)

3. Implementation of the pilot Podravje Region Some demographic facts • Population in Podravje region 2007: 321.781 • Share of people at age 50+: • Slovenia: 35.8% (2007) • Podravje: 37% (2007) • Projections: in 2050 the share of people in the group 65+ in Slovenia will be 31.1 %

4. Programme Background- key results of base line study • In Slovenia every third person older than 55 is employed; • Rate of registered unemployed people at 50 + is 26,5 % in the area of the Regional Office Maribor (ESS);

5. Programme Background- key results of base line study None of existent measures of Active Employment Policy in the area of carieer planning and job searching is aimed at people over 50 considering their special characteristics and needs for actively integrating to the labour market.

6. Actions to meet the needs of older people (in relation to pilot) Most of the direct activities to promote employment of older people: • measures that raise employability of unemployed, • measures to stimulate employers to create new jobs • measures to stimulate employers to employ disadvantaged groups, • training and education for employment Support involves mostly the various financial measures for employers that are rather non-stimulative. Activities are financed by national and European sources

7. Aim of the Programme • Tostrengthen participants' competences needed for reintegration to the labour market • To prolong their active role on the labour market • Offer them help and support at social inclusion to the wider society

8. Expected Results • strengthened social inclusion of the participants • increased adaptability and competitiveness of the individual • increased working activity and employability of the participants • verified effectiveness of 1 experimental training programme

9. Novelties of the pilot programme • working methods adapted to the target group (collaborative learning, discussion, self-help, problem-solving in groups, case studies, brainstorming, self-reflection, visits to the institutions and the events on the ground, individual coaching)

10. Novelties of the pilot programme • content adapted to the target group (concern for health, active ageing, how to cope with losses, roles to fill in this part of life, stereotypes about older people, preparing for retirement, the benefits of old age) • dynamics of work adapted to the target group

11. Feature comparison

12. Taken steps • production and distribution of promotion brochure • preparation of materials for the participants – a folder for worksheets which contains a manual on achievements and challenges • Selection of the participants – presentation of the program at the Employment Service of Slovenia, Regional Office Maribor 16th September 2010 • begin of implementation 4th October 2010

13. Taken steps • orientational phase: October 2010 12 days/48 hrs. - 3 times / 4 hrs weekly in the morning • 1st modular phase: November 2010 7 days / 28 hrs. - 2 times / 4 hrs. weekly in the morning The topic of this phase was: „Employment“ • 2nd modular phase is taking place inDecember 2010 The topic of this phase is „Communication“

14. Course theorientational phase: During this phase the aim was: • on establishing group dynamics, • building of mutual trust (self help method application), • active cooperationa (the participants were asked to make a poster about self and group expectations, rules of conduct in the group, placing chairs in a circle, work in smaller groups, „the talking circle“)

15. finding and strengthening ones potentials and improving the self esteem (filling out a questionnaire to determine and evaluate competence, making a poster of ones successful achievements and placing of personal objectives).

16. Course of the first modular phase: • analysis of work ads, writing applications, offers, Cvs, networking, visit employment agencies, produce and present a personal presentation folder-portfolio, view a video about the informational interview and job interview, working with computers- research of different sources of information about employment • Visiting the local employment service and find out about recent actions to promote emloyment of the 50+ group, understanding viewpoints of employers about employing members of the 50+ group

17. overcoming stereotypes – visit the foundry Mariborska livarna Maribor as an example of good practice how to include older workers in activities, • consolidation of search employment skills by active role play (a telephonic job interview) • in the framework of individual work – activejob search which is recorded in an individual job finding diary.

18. Social experiment – LESSONS LEARNED • By participants At the end on the first - orientation phase (12 meetings) each person has written an interview for a newspaper and equipped it with attractive photos which remind each person of a specific item. The newspaper was used as means for intermediate qualitative evaluation.

19. Impressions and observations of participants – social experiment •The friendly companionship • The opportunity to exchange views/perspectives / • Increased/empowered social network • Mutual assistance in establishing contacts with potential employers;• A relaxing and active way of working • The possibility of equal participation• Well-prepared training materials• Many new, useful and interesting content

20. Impressions and observations of participants– job club Participant improved: • self-esteem, • job seeking skills; • writing applications, CV’s; • job interview competences; • communication skills; • telephone conversation. Participants missed: • more information about potential employers; • more work with computer; • practical methods of jobseeking.

21. Social experiment – LESSONS LEARNED • By mentors  After each meeting mentors prepared a brief note about impressions and observations which could be summarized in: • A group of 15 people is appropriate for an interactive participation as a method of self-help group work. • By above mentioned method, self-help group work, we were able to ensure the involvement of each participant, mutual listening, respect what the group members have said, acceptance of differences, rich and frank exchange of experiences of group members, which reinforces the sense of security and confidence.

22. After the first two months of the program we have observed notable changes  in the participants of the program, which are visible in the way of thinking about themselves, their problems, obstacles. • The group members  have strengthened  their skills for successful performance in the labor market and increased the intensity of job search (writing a job application/ a job offers, better performance at personal interviews, inclusion in the database of employment agencies, networking etc. ). • It is obvious   from daily individual activities that the participants started to use modern approaches to job searching (application form, curriculum vitae, improved communication for employers, personal presentation folder ,..),  which contribute that they have more confidence in making contacts with employers and thus a more positive attitude.

23. FUTURE STEPS • December  2010 - 2nd  Module: COMMUNICATIONforms of communication, methods of networking, conflict resolution, increase human relations • January 2011 – 3rd Module: HEALTHhealth promotion, coping with loss, coping with stress, the type of drug •  February 2011  - 4th Module: ACTIVE LIFE sense of active life, co-creation of society, social networks in the environment, strengthening employment activities • March 2011 –  5th Module: LIFELONG LEARNINGwealth of knowledge and working experiences, older people learn differently, the time of creativity, acquireing/getting new knowledge)

24. “Active after 50” – The future In the case of favourable results of the evaluation programme “Active after 50” will be proposed as one of the Active labour market policy programmes which would ensure its regular implementation and systematic provision of funding.