Toolkit and Handbook for Supporting Civil Society
A new handbook is published to support civil society in building strong communities of practice and the first ‘Caring to Include’ toolkit can be accessed that is developed to strengthen the well-being of staff and volunteers who support refugees and people seeking protection.
New Handbook Supports Civil Society in Building Strong Communities of Practice
The Handbook for Setting Up a Community of Practice is now available. It was developed within the Erasmus+ project Caring to Include and gives civil society organisations supporting refugees across Europe a clear, practical roadmap, guiding them through all phases of establishing and sustaining a Community of Practice (CoP). The handbook explains how to define a shared purpose, create inclusive structures, facilitate peer learning, and ensure long-term sustainability.
This guide is based on real experience within the Caring to Include CoP. It emphasises collaboration, mental well-being, trauma-informed approaches, in addition to the importance of creating supportive spaces for staff and volunteers working under high pressure. It also includes ready-to-use examples such as a framework, inclusion plan, and sustainability plan that organisations can adapt to their own context. The publication aims to help organisations across Europe strengthen peer learning, deepen solidarity, and build resilient support systems for refugees.
Download the handbook here.
First Caring to Include Toolkit Published: A Co-Creative Milestone for Staff and Volunteer Well-Being
We are proud to announce the publication of the first Caring to Include toolkit, developed to strengthen the well-being of staff and volunteers who support refugees and people seeking protection. This toolkit marks an important milestone in the project and provides practical guidance, tools, and strategies to promote resilience, team cohesion, and sustainable well-being in organisations working in the refugee-support sector.
The new toolkit is the result of a truly co-creative process carried out with project partners across seven countries. Drawing on extensive research, interviews, facilitated discussions, and a mapping of best practices, the partnership collaboratively identified priority needs and gaps and developed resources tailored to the realities of frontline organisations.
The first Caring to Include toolkit consists of three components, that can be downloaded here:
• A manual for the training “Work and Wellbeing – How Can I Take Good Care of Myself?”
• A manual for Team-Building, Diversity & Resilience
• A template for Developing a Well-being Strategy and Policies
These tools are designed for practical use and will be piloted in 2026 in collaboration with partner organisations.
The project is part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening the well-being and resilience of those who work tirelessly to support others.
The Caring to Include project is implemented by seven refugee-assisting organisations in Europe, funded by Erasmus+.