The Council of Europe Youth Department has launched a rich collection of Promising Practices and Additional Resources on a dedicated webpage to support Young Refugees in Transition to Adulthood and bring concrete demonstrations of ways to implement Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)4 on Supporting Young Refugees in Transition to Adulthood.
Adopted by the Committee of Ministers in 2019, the Recommendation calls on member States to ensure that young refugees continue to receive temporary support after the age of 18 so they can effectively access their rights and opportunities as they move into adulthood. It also recognises the important contribution of youth work and non-formal learning in fostering inclusion, active citizenship and democratic participation.
The Recommendation is an important policy and advocacy tool for governments, civil society organisations, youth workers and other stakeholders working to improve the lives of young people in vulnerable situations.
First published in 2023, the Guide “Turning 18 with Confidence” was developed as a practical guide to help implement the Recommendation. The promising practices and additional resources just published further strengthen this work by transforming the guide into a more dynamic and accessible online resource. It now includes newly collected “promising practices” from across Europe, showcasing practical responses and innovative approaches to supporting young people during their transition to adulthood.
Although centred on young refugees, the guide also addresses the needs of other young people in situations of displacement or insecurity, including asylum seekers, migrants, exiled and undocumented persons.
The promising practices and additional resources webpage is organised around 13 key themes:
- Developing legal frameworks
- Non-discrimination and protection
- Social services, accommodation and welfare benefits
- Access to education
- Access to health care and psychological support
- Access to information and legal advice
- Employment
- Life projects
- Promotion of inclusion and integration
- Mental well-being support
- Leisure and recreation
- Young refugees’ participation and decision-making
- Raising awareness
The online resource also includes a dedicated section with additional references and tools for policymakers, practitioners and organisations working in this field.
Stakeholders, organisations and practitioners are invited to contribute with further examples of relevant initiatives and approaches. Promising practices can be shared through the Council of Europe online submission form.
By gathering practical examples and making them widely accessible, the Council of Europe continues to support member States and other partners in ensuring that no young person in need faces adulthood alone.
Consult the Guide “Turning 18 with Confidence 
Consult the Promising Practices and Additional Resources webpage 