Reason for the project OWLE50+ [Older Women in Learning & Enterprise 50+] developed from partners working with older women entrepreneurs. Despite trends & recent legislation, older people are still disadvantaged in the EU labour market and older women more so. Also, the number of older women is growing but many lack necessary skills to manage changing circumstances & do not engage with adult learning unless encouraged. Finally, many older women need to earn additional incomeCME, UK considers these issues must be addressed on a European scale now because of increasing numbers of older unemployed women coupled with recession. We also know there is lack of customised training & enterprise support for older women.OWLE50+ is made coherent & meaningful by the high quality varied expertise of Italian & Swedish partners with experience in business incubation, women’s networks, counselling with reiki, international marketing,employability.Project summaryOWLE50+ partners find that:· gaining entrepreneurial competencies transforms daily life competence · women’s business models differ from traditional macho models· women over 50 need skills & information to manage senior citizenship· older women learn best if methods are customised to suit them. Using the UK micro enterprise course as starting point, partners will design & test a series of adaptable pick & mix ‘Multi Module’ [MM] workshops that will blend 5 learning strands needed by older women:· Older women’s enterprise competencies & micro business start up · Employability & life skills· ICT for social & business growth· Community involvement · Effective senior citizenship in the EU and own country. Intensive outreach will target isolated & disengaged older women.OWLE50+ will be learner centred using motivating methods for upskilling & confidence such as ICT social networking, reike, buddying with younger people for mutual benefit, exploring the option of micro enterprise, post-project support groups.OWLE50+ will work with local adult learning & enterprise support agencies to encourage them to customise for older women. In this way,OWLE50+ will use all available mainstream provision to complement the MM & increase participant learning experience & options. Main outputs· 90 older women recruited onto MM in 3 countries & going on to individual adult learning options · 5 strands of MM materials produced in each country for that context;1 set in each language.The project concept & materials will be adaptable to local contexts across the EU. · 3 e-publications,one in each language, will describe key strategies in: Customising pedagogical methods for older women; Assessing needs using a new OWLE50+ assessment tool; Activating local adult learning & enterprise support agencies to cater for older women. 30 case studies & an analysis of participants’ discourse will support the strategies· 1 dissemination website in English with Swedish & Italian sections · 3 events each year in each country to disseminate & create discussion Softer outputs include 90 participants able to manage their own ageing lives effectively & dynamic groups of older women active in their communities