Staff Exchange

Description

Victim Support Europe’s staff exchange programme is an outstanding opportunity for employees of our member organisations to network, exchange good practices and knowledge, and encourage peer-learning and the development of professional and intercultural skills and competences.

By bringing our members together we encourage victim support partnerships and improve understanding of how victim support services function in different parts of Europe.

In 2024, along with CAW, the Staff Exchange took place in Antwerp, Belgium. The staff exchange focused on exploring the support systems in place for victims of familial violence at CAW. Over the course of two days, participants gained insight into the organisation’s structure, the methods used to support victims, and the challenges faced in delivering consistent care.

The idea is to enable employees of our member organisations to visit the host organisation for several days, thereby having an opportunity to experience their host’s activities, to enable people to learn from each other and to deepen cooperation and develop relationships.

The 2025 Staff Exchange will be hosted by The Social Insurance Board in Estonia from 12-14 November 2025.

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the Social Insurance Board, the national authority administering victim support services throughout Estonia. This year’s program will focus on four main themes:

Crisis response & helplines – how psychosocial support is delivered during major crises, including outreach and the 24/7 national helpline.
Cooperation & digital tools – working with police and using tools like the victim support database for efficient case management.
Victim’s perspective in restorative justice – ensuring victims’ voices and needs stay at the centre of justice processes.
Tailored services – adapting support to meet the needs of different victim groups, including the most vulnerable.

Expenses

VSE has a budget to grant bursaries towards travel and/or accommodation expenses for the participants, according to the following order of priority: Full members; Associate members from eligible countries; Associate members from non-eligible countries.

Eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and Ukraine.