At Silver Academy, learning is about much more than lessons. Join us and discover a space where friendships grow, curiosity is celebrated and later life is full of new possibilities. 

About Us

Looking for a friendly place to meet new people, learn something new and feel part of your community again? Silver Academy is a European project created to tackle loneliness in later life by bringing people together through positive learning experiences.

At Silver Academy, learning is about much more than lessons. Join us and discover a space where friendships grow, curiosity is celebrated and later life is full of new possibilities.

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Older Adult Learner 60+

If you are an older adult, Silver Academy offers local community spaces where you can enjoy short, engaging activities, explore new interests and connect with others, from digital skills and creative arts to health, languages and lifelong curiosity.

Adult Educator

If you are an adult educator, the project provides coaching programmes, handbooks and ready-to-use learning resources to help you create inclusive, confidence-building learning opportunities for older learners.

Project Results

Silver Academy Educators Toolbox

The Silver Academy Educators’ Toolbox brings together 40 micro-learning resources designed to help adult educators run engaging, confidence-building activities with older learners. The resources focus on practical, hands-on learning and draw on participants’ life experience, making it easier to re-engage people who may feel hesitant about returning to education.

Community Coaching Programme

The Silver Academy Community Coaching Programme is a training course for adult educators who want to create welcoming, inclusive learning spaces for older adults. It focuses on coaching and mentoring approaches that help build confidence, improve engagement and support people who may feel unsure about returning to learning.

The programme is delivered through blended-learning modules covering community coaching skills, overcoming barriers to participation, and designing micro-learning activities for older learners. The Programme equips educators with practical tools to run flexible activities, strengthen social connections and turn local spaces into vibrant Silver Academies where later-life learning can flourish.

The Silver Academy Facilitator’s Handbook

A practical guide for organisations and educators who want to set up and run welcoming learning spaces for older adults. It provides clear step-by-step support on planning a Silver Academy, creating age-friendly environments, engaging local communities and delivering enjoyable, interactive sessions.

The handbook also includes guidance on using the Educators’ Toolbox, running flipped-learning activities, gathering learner feedback and adapting sessions to different contexts. With ready-to-use checklists and templates, it helps facilitators deliver high-quality Silver Academies that promote connection, confidence and lifelong learning.

Silver Academies

Silver Academies are welcoming local learning hubs where older adults can meet others, try new activities and enjoy learning in a relaxed, friendly environment. Based in familiar community spaces such as libraries, community centres and NGOs, they remove barriers to participation and help reduce loneliness through shared learning experiences.

Each Silver Academy brings the project to life by hosting activities from the Educators’ Toolbox and giving trained educators a space to put community coaching methods into practice. Supported by a practical Facilitator’s Handbook, the Academies create inclusive spaces that promote active ageing, digital inclusion and social connection across partner countries.

Project Partners

  • IB-Logo_CMYK (1)
    Internationaler Bund
    Germany
    Internationaler Bund (IB) is one of Germany’s largest social enterprises with over 75 years of experience in education, youth work and social inclusion. IB works with children, young people, adults and older people across a wide network of centres to support personal development, employability and lifelong learning. Through schools, vocational training, social services and community programmes, we promote key competences alongside technical skills to help individuals thrive in changing social and labour market contexts. With strong experience in European cooperation and large-scale project delivery, IB brings a people-centred, inclusive approach to strengthening adult education and community learning across Europe.
  • JANUS Logo (1)
    JANUS Education Network
    Ireland
    JANUS is a training and consultancy organisation based in Ireland with over 20 years of experience in skills development, social inclusion and lifelong learning. JANUS works with educators, trainers, communities and workplaces to deliver flexible learning in wellbeing, communication, sustainability and digital skills. Through blended, digital and face-to-face programmes, we support people at all stages of life to build resilience, emotional intelligence and collaboration skills. With strong expertise in professional development and EU-funded training, JANUS brings a learner-centred, practical approach to strengthening the soft skills that underpin healthy, supportive and effective working environments.
  • ALAD - Logo Cores Versão Principal Completa
    Amato Lusitano – Associação de Desenvolvimento
    Portugal
    ALAD is a non-profit organisation based in Castelo Branco, Portugal, with over 25 years of experience promoting social inclusion, equal opportunities and lifelong learning for people in vulnerable situations. We work across skills development, training and community support to strengthen personal, social and professional autonomy, with a strong focus on active ageing and sustainable inclusion. Through long-standing local services and strong partnership networks, ALAD delivers initiatives such as a senior citizens’ university, migrant integration services, professional insertion programmes and social innovation hubs. With extensive experience in national and European projects, ALAD brings deep community knowledge and a people-centred approach to supporting older adults and inclusive learning environments within the Silver Academy partnership.
  • LOGO-LIBERETA
    Università delle LiberEtà
    Italy
    ULE is a lifelong learning centre based in Italy, established in 1993 and specialising in adult education and training. Each year, ULE delivers hundreds of courses for thousands of learners, working with a large network of teachers to promote learning, wellbeing and social participation in later life. With more than two decades of experience in European cooperation projects, we bring strong expertise in programme management, international networking and inclusive adult education. Our work in physical and psychological wellbeing education for older adults adds particular value to the Silver Academy partnership, supporting the project’s focus on reducing loneliness and strengthening community connection through learning.
  • logo GPA
    Global Partnerships Association
    Bulgaria
    GPA is a non-profit organisation based in Bulgaria, focusing on citizen engagement, lifelong learning and non-formal education. GPA builds partnerships and delivers projects that support people of all ages to stay active, develop skills and play a positive role in their communities. Through local and international initiatives, we work across areas such as sustainability, democracy, entrepreneurship, culture and innovation, helping adults strengthen resilience, confidence and leadership. With a strong network of trainers and volunteers, GPA brings valuable expertise in community learning and social participation to the Silver Academy partnership.
  • ASDRUVAD_Logo
    Association for the Rural Development of the Duero Valley
    Spain
    ASDRUVAD is a national association in Spain dedicated to supporting rural development across the Duero Valley region. The organisation promotes cultural, educational and social initiatives that protect local heritage while strengthening economic participation and lifelong learning in rural communities. Through training programmes, partnerships with public and private bodies and strong regional networks, we support disadvantaged groups to access education, employment and community activities. Our experience in community-based development and social innovation brings valuable rural insight to the Silver Academy partnership.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. (Project No.: 2025-1-DE-2-KA220-ADU-00035330)