The inclusion of visually impaired persons in the bakery sector

The partnership’s mission is based on the assumption that persons with disabilities deserve equal opportunities as other European citizens, yet they still face discrimination in their private and professional life that limits their independence and dignity (Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030). Offering them new opportunities to work in inclusive environments enhances both their independence and quality of life. About 87 million people in the EU have some form of disability, of which the European Blind Union estimates that 30 million are blind and visually impaired. European Commission research states that only half of persons with disabilities have a job compared to 3 out of 4 of people without disabilities. 28.4% of people with disabilities are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared to 17.8% of people without disabilities. Only 29.4% of people with disabilities have a tertiary education qualification, compared to 43.8% of people without disabilities. On this basis, ASSOC and the project partners addressed the need to offer inclusive and innovative opportunities to promote lifelong learning and employment of persons with disabilities.

The project targeted VIPs (Visually Impaired Persons) and aimed at promoting their integration in the labour market, especially in the bakery sector, through a triple approach: _INCREASE EMPLOYABILITY AND CREATE NEW PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR VIPS, by providing VIPs with new skills to be employed in the labour market as bakery assistants, fighting discrimination and fostering inclusivity in bakeries. For VIPs, making bread is therapeutic (sensory and motor benefits, but also emotional and psychological ones), but it is also a job opportunity _CREATE THE FIGURE OF THE BAKERY MENTOR, capable of making the bakery sector more inclusive for VIP employees and able to absorb this new workforce in bakeries. The Bakery Mentor is indeed able to better understand the needs of VIPs employees and to adapt the bakery workplace accordingly _PROMOTE STRUCTURAL INCLUSIVITY IN BAKERIES. Although there are examples of inclusive bakeries, these are rather local and isolated realities. At the EU level there are no common and standardised guidelines for bakeries on how to effectively include VIPs in their working environment. The VIPs Vibes project wanted to create an ad-hoc pathway in the EU to make the bakery an inclusive workplace for VIPs

WP2 focused on the creation of the METHODOLOGICAL HANDBOOK. Partners first focused on the content development, creating the contents of the 2 sections of the Handbook. This latter was then validated through an internal piloting, fine-tuned, translated in all partner languages and published WP3 focused on the creation of the DIGITAL TRAINING TOOLKIT. Partner developed the Toolkit sections, which was then validated through an external piloting, fine-tuned, translated in all partner languages and published. WP4 focused on the creation of the TRAINING CURRICULUM. Partners developed and translated the training units, which were published on the VIPs Vibes Academy (training platform), tested through an external piloting and fine-tuned. The WP5 activities included: Dissemination, exploitation and sustainability plan; Social media strategy; Periodic dissemination reports; Project visual identity containing logo, Word and PPT templates; Project brochure; 4 newsletters; 3 infographics; 4 articles; Project webpage, Facebook page and LinkedIn page; posts on external platforms; continuous dissemination activities through partners’ organisational channels; organisation of final conferences, participation in complementary events, signing of MoUs

Within WP2, the project Consortium delivered a METHODOLOGICAL HANDBOOK composed of: _Section 1, to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to VIPs who want to work in the bakery sector _Section 2, for employers and employees in the bakery sector willing to create an inclusive work space in their bakery and promote inclusivity for VIPs Within WP3, the project Consortium delivered the DIGITAL COMPETENCE TOOLKIT, providing guidelines and tools (including digital ones) to make bakeries more inclusive for VIPs. The WP4 focused on the creation of the VIPsVIBES CURRICULUM, a training course delivered through the project training platform (the VIPs Vibes Academy), composed of 12 competence packages (micro-credentials) and validated by the Open Badges system that is aimed at establishing 2 new professional figures: VIP BAKERY ASSISTANTS and BAKERY MENTORS The WP5 dealt with the conduction of dissemination, impact and sustainability activities, among which: posting on the project and on partner’organisational social media and external platforms, creation and update of the project website, 1 project brochure, 4 newsletters, 3 infographics, 4 articles, in-presence events and 6 final conferences, signing 30+ Memoranda of Understanding