The project’s aim is to improve quality of life for people from different age groups (children, young people, people with disabilities, seniors) who are subjected to social exclusion risks, and to introduce new forms of social services in the Vidzeme region.
The project will ensure availability of social services (psychologist, speech therapist, physiotherapist, etc.) as close as possible to the residence of the people who have had limited accessibility such services so far and ensure that all the target groups learn new knowledge and skills, thus reducing their social exclusion and improving quality of life. Experience with developing voluntary social work will be adopted from the Norwegian Red Cross.
Voluntary work by young people will be promoted within the project and the local community will be motivated to get involved in NGO work and in informal teams to improve the quality of life and tackle social problems.

Project results: Youth unemployment, aging population and poverty are some of the challenges Latvia is currently facing. The unemployment index rose in 2012, and one third of the Latvian population is now exposed to risk of poverty and social exclusion.
The aim of the project "Voluntary Social Work as a Basis for a Better Quality of Life" was to improve the quality of life for people from different age groups at risk of social exclusion.
We have introduced new forms of social services in Vidzeme region which is situated in the Northern part of Latvia. Within the project the accessibility of social services has been improved and social exclusion has been reduced. The project promoted youth volunteering and community involvement in order to improve the quality of life of the target group and address social problems. The participants of the project took part in volunteer trainings and workshops in practical skills, as well as in lectures on healthy lifestyle for seniors. A health club for seniors which included Nordic walking lessons for seniors and people with disabilities has been organized.
The target group (children, youth, seniors, persons with disabilities) of the project was reached through project's opening events and individual invitations in collaboration with Cēsis Municipality and Valka Municipality. The target group acquired new knowledge and information across different cultures and social groups, learned about communication, active citizenship, healthy lifestyle and voluntary work, have been provided the accessibility of social services (such as a psychologist, speech therapist, physiotherapist and specialist consultations). They have been involved in social activities in order to promote voluntary social work and active citizenship.

The Norwegian Red Cross was a project partner. The main benefit of having a project partner is to learn from an experienced organization which allows to implement activities in Latvia more effectively. During the project "Voluntary Social Work as a Basis for a Better Quality of Life", the Norwegian partner organized a visit to Latvia for volunteer coordinators to advise on voluntary social work in each county and to introduce the Norwegian experience in Latvia. Representatives of the Norwegian Red Cross from the Norwegian city Halden where senior volunteers are actively involved in Red Cross activities shared examples of best practice. The essential part of the cooperation with the Norwegian partner was the chance to implement activities in fields that have not been sufficiently emphasized in Latvia before. Furthermore, it was a great opportunity to work on a continuous collaboration between partners that are united by a positive past experience and willing to achieve more in the future.
The results of the project are the following:
- the accessibility of social services (such as psychologist, speech therapist, physiotherapist and specialist consultations) as close as possible to the place of residence of the persons who so far have had limited opportunities to use them;
- 87 persons have received psychological consultations, 67persons have received nutrition consultations, 129 persons have used speech therapist consultations, 136 children have received psychotherapist consultations.
- 82 young people have acquired new knowledge and skills in voluntary social work, reducing their social exclusion and improving their quality of life;
- promotion of development of youth volunteering in order to improve the situation of the beneficiaries of the services (72 seniors and people with disabilities) by the volunteers;
- the community has been motivated to address social problems and engage in LSK and other NGOs, as well as in informal groups working together for the improvement of the quality of life of people at risk of social exclusion;
- 218 children and young people across different cultures and social groups have acquired new knowledge and information through communication, active citizenship, healthy lifestyle and voluntary work;
- the project has made a significant contribution to the attainment of the aim of the Program "NGO Fund" - to strengthen civil society and the support for social justice, democracy and sustainable development;
- the social exclusion of the target group - children, youth and seniors - has been reduced;
- children, youth and seniors have been encouraged to participate in diverse activities favoring their involvement in the life of local communities, as well as in LSK as members or volunteers;
- new knowledge and skills have been provided for all target groups.