WP2 – DEVELOPING SPORTS ACTIVITIES WITHIN TRAINING PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THE INTEGRATION OF VULNERABLE ADULTS
The report presents findings of the work package 2 from the POP-UP project, which aims to integrate sports and physical activities into training programs supporting the social and professional inclusion of vulnerable adults, particularly unemployed individuals and people with disabilities. Conducted across six European countries, the study involved interviews and sporting activities to assess how structured physical engagement can contribute to personal growth, skill development, and mental well-being in these groups.
The research revealed that while both target groups recognize the benefits of physical activity, participation is often limited by barriers such as health issues, low motivation, financial constraints, or lack of access and infrastructure. For people with disabilities, logistical support and inclusive facilities are especially critical. Despite these obstacles, participants who engaged in sports reported improvements in physical health, self-esteem, and social connectedness. They also developed transferable skills like teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Professionals working with these groups emphasized the transformative potential of sport not just for fitness, but also for building resilience, discipline, and confidence. The report concludes with recommendations to adapt sporting activities to individual needs, improve access and resources, create inclusive and supportive environments, and offer multisectoral and professional support, ensuring long-term, meaningful impact.
WP3 – METHODOLOGICAL GUIDE AND TOOLS FOR SELF-ASSESSMENT AND THE EVALUATION OF SOFT SKILLS
In an ever-changing professional environment, soft skills — such as teamwork, resilience, time management and leadership — are increasingly crucial and in demand. It is precisely these skills that often represent an obstacle to inclusion and integration into the labour market. This obstacle is even more significant for vulnerable people such as those with disabilities and the long-term unemployed, the two target groups referred to in the project.
This methodological guide aims to present the concrete tools designed and developed by the partnership for the self-assessment and evaluation of soft skills acquired through physical and sporting activities and to support users in their use.
Sport & Health Positioning Tool
The purpose of the Sports & Health Positioning tool is to offer participants a quick and visual way to assess their current level of engagement in physical activity. It focuses on key aspects such as frequency, intensity and personal experience with sports or physical activities. Intended for use at the beginning of a training or integration program, as well as at several points in the support process, the tool helps participants track progress, set goals and reflect on their development, promoting regular activity and sustained motivation to take on personal challenges. It can be used as a self-assessment tool conducted independently by the participant, or with the support of tutors, educators, or coaches, who can facilitate a more guided process of reflection and growth.
Passport of Transversal Skills Developed through Physical and Sports Activities
The purpose of this tool is to facilitate the identification and assessment of cross-disciplinary skills acquired or potentially developable through sport and physical activity. The tool allows the beneficiary’s strengths and weaknesses to be identified, providing valuable information for use in educational and training contexts. This information makes it possible to define the specific needs of the individual and to design targeted interventions with the aim of promoting social inclusion and integration into the labour market. The formalisation of skills can also be used as a documentation tool, which is useful during the orientation phase or as an attachment to a curriculum vitae. It is a practical and operational tool, designed to be easy to use, but at the same time sufficiently broad and flexible to adapt to a variety of training contexts and learning situations. The goal is to enhance the skills developed through sport, with particular attention to their integration and transferability to other areas of life, including professional ones.
WP4 – PRACTICAL GUIDE TO ACTIVITIES FOR EDUCATIONAL COORDINATORS, TRAINERS, COACHES
Each sheet will include: a presentation of the activity, its level of difficulty, the equipment/infrastructure required, points of attention for its implementation, contacts for finding specific resources, the collective and individual objectives pursued by this activity, examples of fun activities to be carried out with groups to discover this sport, and any other information you may require. groups to discover this sport, and any other other relevant information.