In the period March 2024 - July 2025, the Bulgarian Youth Red Cross (BYRC) participated in the "Sport Coach+" project - a joint initiative with the Reference Center for Psychosocial Support of the IFRC/HR and the Olympic Refugee Foundation of the International Olympic Committee.

The project aimed to create a safe, supportive and inclusive sports environment for children and young people, including those affected by displacement and various social challenges. Through sport as a tool for psychosocial support, work was done to improve the mental health, well-being and social inclusion of young people.

Within the framework of the project, 19 trainings were held in Bulgaria, in which over 320 sports coaches from different settlements in the country participated. The trainings developed knowledge and skills for:

• creating a safe and supportive sports environment;
• applying the principles of psychological first aid;
• promoting support and inclusion through sport.

The “Sport Coach+” project contributed to building a network of trained sports coaches who can work in sensitive contexts and use sport as a tool for supporting and developing young people. It showed how partnerships between humanitarian organizations and sports structures can lead to lasting benefits for communities.