Supporting Young Volunteers Before They Burn Out: The CO-A-CH-IN-G Training in Poland
If you work with young volunteers, you’ve probably seen it: the initial enthusiasm fades as stress and personal challenges build up. Too many drop out early, leaving both them and your organisation worse off. That’s why the CO-A-CH-IN-G (Coaching Crisis Aid) training was created. This 5-day Erasmus+ course, taking place 11–15 September 2026 in Busko-Zdrój, Poland, equips coaches, mentors, and youth workers with practical tools to handle crises and build real resilience. The training brings together participants from Austria, Germany, Poland, Italy, and several other countries including Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia, Slovenia, Romania and the Baltic states. It is organised by Fundacja Understanding in partnership with organisations from Austria, Germany, and Italy.
Janevski
7/1/20262 min read
Who is it for?
This one is aimed at people who are already active in the field - volunteer coordinators, youth project managers, team leaders, and educators who work directly with at least a small group of young people or volunteers. You need to be 18+, comfortable communicating in English, and ready to take what you learn back to your organisation.
What actually happens during the training
Instead of dry theory, the programme mixes neuroscience, psychology, and hands-on coaching practice in a relaxed, non-formal way. You’ll work with approaches like:
The RAPID model and Psychological First Aid for spotting and handling crises
Polyvagal Theory and the autonomic nervous system to understand stress responses
Tools based on Self-Determination Theory to keep volunteers genuinely motivated
Practical de-escalation and conflict resolution methods that are inclusive and empathetic
The goal is simple: move from just managing volunteers to actually empowering them so they can stay engaged longer and handle difficulties better.
Practical information:
No participation fee
Accommodation and all meals covered (comfortable double or triple rooms divided by gender, in a spa hotel in Busko)
Travel costs together with the overnight/s and meals in Krakow reimbursed according to Erasmus+ rules
You’ll get a Youthpass at the end
Deadline to apply is 21 July 2026. You can find the full info and application link here: https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/european-training-calendar/training/training-course.15056/
Selected participants will be required to go through 2 of the chapters of our Crisis aid Handbook for Coaches, and the participants from AT, PL, IT and DE are expected to contribute to the piloting actions back home after the training.
This training is part of the wider CrisisAid project, which we’re running to develop better support systems for youth workers and volunteers across Europe. If you’ve been feeling the pressure of supporting young people through tough times without enough tools yourself, this could be a really valuable week.
Have you been thinking about strengthening your coaching or mentoring approach? Drop a comment or reach out if you have questions - happy to help point you in the right direction.
Looking forward to seeing some of you in Busko-Zdrój in September!
Contact
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