Erasmus+ KA2 Project - ”First Things First” - Health and well-being in Hairdressing and Beauty care http://www.firstthingsfirst.eu Aim of the project Health and wellbeing is a topic that is becoming more and more important in the fields of hairdressing and beauty care. Self-employment and entrepreneurship are important skills in these fields. A working environment in which attention is paid to health, wellbeing and work safety will enable longer careers. Occupational diseases caused by exposure to chemicals, poor ergonomics and other reasons are commonplace. Chemical exposure is commonplace because health and safety regulations are neglected at work places. Indifference towards health and safety regulations is commonplace. This is a global issue. The aim of this project was to raise awareness on health and well-being in the fields of hairdressing and beauty care. The information that was compiled and produced in this project supports both companies and education providers operating in the aforementioned fields. The increased knowledge will reduce occupational diseases and hazards and will enable longer careers in beauty care and hairdressing. This will, in turn, go hand in hand with entrepreneurship skills and lifelong learning. The aim is to improve working conditions by addressing commonplace practical problems. Products of the Project (Intellectual Outputs) Participants of the project had the opportunity to produce and compile materials that are connected to health and wellbeing. The materials were in various formats: video, text, online clips, audio etc. all compiled into a coherent information package that is freely available at the project website: https://firstthingsfirst.eu/ . The material package can be used by companies and education providers when the issues of work well being and occupational safety are addressed. The digital material package can be integrated into either vocational studies or core skills studies e.g. entrepreneurship, physical education, health education, work safety education and chemistry. Also a digital work wellbeing test was made in the project in the form of a game that is available in Google Play Store for Android. Learning, Teaching and Training events The project covered the span of two years. Altogether 4 Learning, Teaching and Training events were held, one in each participating country. Each meeting focused on specific aspects of health and well-being: work safety, allergies and work related diseases, ergonomics and work well being. Also chemical and cosmetic legislation and microbiology were covered by these events. Avisits to local companies and lectures and training by stakeholders took place. The project's final dissemination event was organized in Porvoo, Finland. The outcomes and products of the project were launched in this event. Partners The project partnership represented 5 different European countries • Careeria (coordinator), Kouvola Region Vocational College and company partner Pikku Reata OY (specialises in hairdressing and beauty care study materials) • 4 partners from overseas - VET education providers: Leeds City College (UK), Albeda College (The Netherlands), Tartu Vocational Training Centre (Estonia), IES Francesc de Borja Moll (Spain) • Working life silent partners: Hairdressing and Beauty Care companies: o M Room (international hairdressing franchise chain) o Sim Finland OY (A Finnish cosmetics factory) Additionally information, materials and consultation were provided by several silent partners.