Basic information
We are implementing the project "Caregiving Leave. A Model of Respite Tourism" under Priority Axis FERS.01 Skills, within Measure 01.01 Transnational Cooperation of the European Funds for Social Development Programme for 2021-2027.
The Managing Authority of the project is the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy.
The Intermediate Body in the project is the Centre for European Projects.
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Target groups
- organizations providing recreation tourism services (non-governmental organizations and social economy entities);
- staff/representatives of organizations providing respite tourism services;
- people with disabilities and their caregivers – the final recipients of the solutions developed in the model.
Project goal
The project aims to develop and implement a new comprehensive model of relaxation tourism in cooperation with a transnational partner.
The model we will create will be aimed at organizations providing tourism services to people with disabilities and their caregivers. We want the model to address the needs and capabilities of:
- people with various types of disabilities and
- their caregivers of various ages, health conditions and life situations.
We want to include in the model proposals for activities carried out in various types of terrain (urban, mountain, water, forest areas, etc.)
Project implementation period
From November 1, 2024 to July 31, 2028.
Project Value
In fact 26,812,000.00 PLN, including:
- from European funds – 22,125,262.40 PLN (82,52%),
- from the state budget – 4,656,737.60 PLN (17,48%),
Project partners
- Leader – State Fund for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons.
- National partner – Ładne Historie Foundation – the foundation is a pioneer of respite tourism in Poland and one of the leaders of the National Respite Tourism Network.
- Transnational Partner – Fundación También – Our Spanish partner's mission is to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities and their families. They organize a range of integration activities that utilize sport and recreation as tools for personal development for people with disabilities.
Main tasks in the project
Task 1: Developing a preliminary version of the respite tourism model
November 2024 – October 2025
- Working with project partners, we will create a preliminary version of the Respite Tourism Model.
Task 2 Testing the initial version of the model
September 2025 – November 2027
- We will prepare documentation for an open call for grantees. They will test the model and, after project completion, implement it into their operations during the sustainability period.
- Grant recipients will be non-governmental organizations and social economy entities whose statutes provide for activities for people with disabilities.
- We plan to provide 24 grants ranging from PLN 400,000 to PLN 800,000.
- We want one grantee to test the model with the participation of an average of 50 caregivers and 50 people with disabilities.
Task 3: Preparation of the final version of the model and its implementation by grantees
October 2027 – July 2028
- We will develop the final version of the model.
- We will create an electronic publication about the Model. The publication will consist of two parts:
- description of the model assumptions, the model and all the tools developed in it,
- instructions and recommendations for entities that will later use the solutions developed in the project in practice.
- Project partners will prepare educational materials regarding the model:
- brochures showing individual parts of the model,
- podcasts,
- short videos,
- infographics,
- webinar about what the model is and how to use it in practice.
- We will prepare information about the model in the ETR (Easy to Read) form.
- We want to prepare materials in a variety of formats and in an attractive manner. This will help us reach a wide audience of interested people.
Information on suspected non-compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
CRPD – Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, signed in New York on 13 December 2006 (Journal of Laws of 2012, item 1169, as amended)
Who can report a project’s non-compliance with the CRPD?
- natural persons (project participants or their proxies and representatives)
- institutions participating in the implementation of European Union funds,
- social side (associations, foundations).
How to report a project’s non-compliance with the CRPD?
- by post to the following address: Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, ul. Wspólna 2/4, 00-926 Warsaw or the Centre for European Projects, ul. Puławska 180, 02-670 Warsaw,
- via e-PUAP of the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy or the Centre for European Projects.
Research reports
We share two comprehensive reports on research conducted in 2025 as part of the project "Leave from care. A model of respite tourism", co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (FERS 2021-2027), led by PFRON.
The research was carried out by the INDEKS Social Research Centre on behalf of the Ładne Historie Foundation, in cooperation with organisations forming the National Respite Tourism Network.
The social research report presents a quantitative picture of the situation of caregivers of people with disabilities and people with disabilities themselves – their needs, barriers and willingness to participate in respite trips.
The report from in-depth qualitative research (UX) shows the emotions, motivations and experiences of caregivers, organizers and assistants – in the form of user path maps and recommendations for the design of respite services.
We would like to thank the INDEKS team of the Social Research Centre for the highest level of commitment and all the organisations that supported the research – in particular the Children’s Help on Time Foundation, as well as the We Are Important Foundation, the Czas Foundation, the Imago Foundation, the Mudita Association and other entities operating within the National Respite Tourism Network.
Reports are available in a digitally accessible version (WCAG compliant).