A recent independent evaluation of the programme concluded that The LID Programme was  ‘a significant contributing factor to enhanced cultural diversity, Interculturalism and good relations and is a good model for improving ‘good relations’ within local/home communities on 4 levels: personal, interpersonal, as well as role models, and as community leaders’. 

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The report identified the two foremost strengths of the programme as being ‘Enhanced Interculturalism’ and ‘Bringing People Together’.  The evaluation also found participants had acquired more than 35 soft or hard skills and all participants reported that they felt they had enhanced confidence and knowledge to assist in bringing about positive change at local level whilst more than 90% of participants felt more able to challenge stereotypes of their own and others’ communities.

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Our own analysis of feedback using the 'LID Self-Assessment Tool' which incorporates indicators of learning first identified at the LID Evaluation residential in 2014.  In total there were 63 indicators, grouped across three areas - Skills, Knowledge and Attitude.   Each participant is asked to rate each statement from 1 -10 - 1 being poor, 10 being ‘perfect’. 

 

Between May and June 2015, ten participants formed a Core Group that all completed the process.  Their profile was as follows: 4 male and 6 female ranging in ages from between 21 and 50; 2 living in England and 8 based Northern Ireland; 3 full-time youth workers, 1 freelance trainer, 1 teacher and 1 social worker both of whom work directly with young people in residential care, 1 young leader, 2 freelance community activists and 1 non-youth work practitioner who works in the music industry; some well experienced in Youth in Action/Erasmus+ and some relatively new or only participating for the first time.

 

It should be noted that they did not take part in the same programme and that their scores were taken from a rich and diverse range of training programmes.  In short, participants experienced an increase of 25.3% across Skills, Knowledge and Attitude.

 

The same exercise was carried out in 2016 and 2018 with two Youth Exchanges in order to build up a picture of impact upon young people rather than just practitioners but also to determine if findings from the practitioners might be merely a one-off. 

 

In November 2018, the self-assessment tool  was used at the ‘Humour is Serious Business’ Training Programme in Austria with practitioners from eleven countries. 

 

Findings from all programmes can be summarised below in percentage terms across all 3 areas, i.e., Skills, Knowledge and Attitude:

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• Core Group (10 participants) had an increase of 25.3% 

• Youth Exchange (28 participants) had an increase of 10.7% 

• Youth Exchange (29 participants) had an increase of 33% 

• Training Course (23 participants) had an increase of 18% 

 

The LID Self-Assessment Tool is not definitive but testimonials from participants lends some weight to evidence gathered.  For example, one youth worker of more than 40 years experience said of LID:

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'LID provides an essential platform that supports the sharing of ideas and information on youth work practice across Europe and a platform for developing longer term strategic and practical links. Many of our more radical developments in practice models have come from an idea or practice encountered through the LID programmes that provided the essential stimulus in practice development. For us in Ireland, the professional link to practice development seminars has a great impact in overcoming our physical isolation from other European countries. Money well spent!'

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Another LID participant had this to say:

 

‘I would argue that the impact of the first international training course can be immense in terms of overcoming barriers, opening hearts and minds and helping people to see the connections with other countries, This kind of experience makes the world seem smaller and more connected and improves confidence of participants so they feel much more ready to run projects of their own where before they just saw barriers and problems. People return from projects really believing that, if they can communicate with people from a different country and in a different language, then problems at home are nowhere near as big as they first.

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