"Active Village" Programme - Up to PLN 15,000 for First Aid Training for Municipalities and Volunteer Fire Departments

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development has launched an open call for proposals under the "Active Village" (Aktywna Wieś) programme. Task No. 3 - rural safety - covers funding for first aid training and the equipment needed to deliver it. For municipalities and Volunteer Fire Department (OSP) units operating in areas with up to 20,000 residents, this is a straightforward and accessible path to securing public funding.

At EHS VR, we help you design a training project that meets the requirements of the call and implement VR training that is both compliant with the grant's objectives and genuinely effective for participants.

What the "Active Village" programme is and how much funding is available

The key parameters of the call:

• funding: up to PLN 15,000 per project

• who can apply: municipalities and entities operating in municipalities with up to 20,000 residents - including OSP units

• Task No. 3: rural safety events - first aid training, purchase of equipment necessary to carry out the task, and other justified costs

• application window: 30 March - 30 April 2026

• results announced: by 15 May 2026 at the latest

• how to apply: by email to aktywnawies@minrol.gov.pl or by post to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Full competition documents are available at: gov.pl/rolnictwo

What can be funded under Task No. 3

Task No. 3 focuses on rural safety. Within this framework, an offer can include:

• first aid training for local residents or OSP members

• purchase of equipment required to deliver the training - including VR headsets and simulation devices

• other costs directly related to the task, provided they are justified in the application

That last point is particularly important: it opens the door to funding modern training tools - such as VR applications for practising first aid - as part of a project that genuinely builds skills rather than simply meeting a formal requirement.

Why VR training works well for this type of project

VR first aid training does not replace hands-on practice with a manikin. Its strength lies in allowing participants to safely repeat procedures and scenarios - multiple times, without risk and without requiring a medical instructor to be present at every session.

In rural communities and OSP units, this matters because:

• training can be delivered regularly, not just as a one-off event

• the same scenario can be run with successive groups of participants

• participants practise the correct sequence of actions and decision-making - not just memorise theory

• the instructor has a ready-made scenario and can focus on debriefing after each session

Which first aid topics EHS VR applications cover

For a project under Task No. 3, three training areas tend to work best:

• first aid - the correct sequence of actions, providing assistance until emergency services arrive, common mistakes and how to avoid them

• fire safety - responding to a threat situation, evacuation, correct use of a fire extinguisher

• safe behaviour - teamwork, communication in a crisis, responsibility for the people around you

These are topics that can be practised repeatedly without the logistical costs of field-based training - and that directly align with the purpose of the programme.

What a grant-ready project with EHS VR looks like

If you want to secure funding and use it for VR training, we help you build a training solution tailored to the requirements of the call.

Here is how we approach it:

1) We align the project with the goal of Task No. 3

We start with the end result: how many sessions, for how many participants, which skills, and what outcomes. Based on this, we select the training topics and structure.

2) We design the training programme

We provide a ready-made logic for the training cycle: session length, participant rotation, introduction and wrap-up elements, and a method for running post-scenario debriefs.

3) We supply materials that make writing the application easier

We prepare information that can be used directly in the activity description: which scenarios, which competences, which results, and how the training will be delivered.

4) We implement the solution and support your team

We help you launch the training so it is straightforward to deliver - from setting up the equipment to running the first sessions with your groups.

What a municipality or OSP unit gains with EHS VR

Beyond the immediate impact of the sessions, the practical training benefits are:

• scenario-based exercises that can be repeated and used to track progress over time

• fast implementation of a structured training programme for the local community

• high repeatability of procedures - without risk, without operational pressure

• a tool that gives the instructor a clear session structure to follow

In short: the grant funds the project, and your community gains a modern, scalable way to deliver regular, effective safety training.

Ready to apply for the "Active Village" programme?

The application window runs from 30 March to 30 April 2026. Time to prepare a strong offer is limited. If you represent a municipality or an OSP unit and are considering applying under Task No. 3, contact EHS VR. We will help you design a project that is consistent with the call's objectives - with clear outcomes and a real impact on safety in your community.