Project objectives

Laurea University of Applied Sciences is implementing the UNIK project in collaboration with Silta-valmennusyhdistys ry, operating in both Vantaa and Helsinki.

UNIK (New ways to support youth in desisting from crime through expert-by-experience) project aims to develop an operating model based on expertise by experience to support young people at risk of social exclusion and those exhibiting criminal behavior. The model consists of creating a professional– expert by experience partnership for outreach work in streets and public spaces. In addition, the model includes establishing a low-threshold reception point where targeted youth can anonymously discuss issues related to substance use and criminal behavior.

The project activities promote the inclusion and agency of the target group by helping them find meaningful employment and educational pathways as well as recreational activities. The project also creates employment opportunities for trained experts by experience to support young people in collaboration with professionals from various fields. The role of experts by experience will be strengthened as part of a multidisciplinary service network.

Good practices developed in the project to support experiential expertise and multidisciplinary networking will be compiled into the Center for Experiential Knowledge. Special attention will be paid to multi-voiced and participatory evaluation to enhance youth inclusion and agency. Applying participatory Bikva-evaluation method we create knowledge about the effectiveness from the different stakeholder viewpoints: the young people, experts by experience, professionals, organizations and policymakers.