Advisory Services Without Barriers

Project facts

Project promoter:
Association Ovum
Project Number:
PL05-0033
Target groups
Disabled
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€66,102
Final project cost:
€62,903
From EEA Grants:
€ 53,518
The project is carried out in:
Pomorskie

More information

Description

The project involves free-of-charge legal, psychological and educational assistance provided at the premises of ill/disabled persons and their carers (2000 consultations, 1000 beneficiaries). The project area is Trójmiasto and Małe Trójmiasto Kaszubskie, with particular emphasis on adjacent suburban and rural areas. The project is innovative in that it offers comprehensive assistance available without the need to leave home/hospital. An offer of mobile assistance for the ill and the disabled, as well as their carers, is a response to a large social need shown by previously implemented projects. Beneficiaries will also be able to use the services by mail, e-mail, phone, and via Web videoconference. The project will be implemented between March 2014 and December 2015. As a result of the project, the recipients will get involved in solving their own problems, they will feel less isolated, while local communities will be activated and encouraged to help this group of beneficiaries.

Summary of project results

"People with disabilities constitute 13,8% of the total population in the Pomerania Province (Census 2013). This indicator is on the rise. An illness limits the ability to fulfill social roles, or makes it impossible. It might also lead to breaking off of contacts with other people. Carers of people with disabilities usually suffer from burnout syndrome and very often neglect their own everyday tasks, as their lives are concentrated around the ill or the disabled. The life of many dependent people and their caregivers is complicated by a difficult financial situation, which stops them from using professional help. The objective of the project was to counteract exclusions by offering legal, psychological and educational help also in places where ill or disabled people and their carers were residing. The project helped in supporting people who have been deprived of specialist help until now. It has allowed them to undertake steps aimed at improving their standard of living and diminish their level of burnout. Legal advice (1809), psychological advice (481) and educational advice (487) were given, amounting to 2,777 in total. They were provided both in the premises of the organization, as well as at the clients' place of residence. With the support of the experts, 300 people developed individual action plans. Apart from information leaflets (2,000 copies), 2 brochures were published: “Ill people in the family"" and “Patient's rights"" (4,000 copies in total), which have reached mainly senior centres and the Third Age Universities, hospitals, NGOs working for people with diseases, incapacities and seniors. Among persons supported by the project, there were ill and disabled with their carers from Gdynia (732 people) and from other towns and villages (363 people) - 1,095 people in total."

Summary of bilateral results