Largest Conference Yet
Conference theme
The 2024 European Social Services Conference
The European Social Services Conference (ESSC) is the annual flagship event of the European Social Network (ESN), the leading network for public social services in Europe. The ESSC is the largest public social welfare policy and practice forum in Europe, attended by almost 700 delegates in Antwerp in 2024.
At the 32nd European Social Services Conference (ESSC 2024) we discussed how we can co-create community-based social services, with a specific focus on three thematic strands: Co-Creating Cities Social Inclusion, Co-Creating Responses to Manage the Future Workforce, and Co-Creating Digital Solutions for Social Inclusion.
The conference highlighted the various aspects related to social inclusion planning and its impact on vulnerable populations, different planning and management strategies, integrated service delivery, co-production between professionals, service users, and their families, as well as the importance of digital social inclusion in technological advancements within social services.
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Presentations
Revisit the insightful presentations delivered by our esteemed speakers. Download the slides here and delve into the valuable insights shared during the conference. (Available exclusively for delegates.)
How to register
Join us to exchange insights and shape the future of community-based social services through local planning, delivery, and evaluation.
Join the Practice Fair
A dedicated conference session to enable registered organisations to present their projects and initiatives to all the conference delegates. Contact Francesco Capuani to find out how you can get involved.
You can still submit your proposal to present at ESSC 2024 until 27 November 2023 for proposals submitted in French, Spanish, German, Italian and 1 December 2023 for proposals submitted in English. Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your innovative projects and ideas to an international audience!
Key speakers
Highlights from ESSC 2023
Public social services are facing a significant number of challenges in relation to increasing social demands and expectations. Digital and technology innovation are key in supporting public authorities to undertake large
Navigating the Future of Social Services
The European Social Services Conference
Europe's Largest Policy & Practice Forum
The European Social Services Conference (ESSC) is the annual flagship event of the European Social Network (ESN), the leading network for public social services in Europe. The ESSC is the largest public social welfare policy and practice forum in Europe, attended by almost 700 delegates in Antwerp in 2024.
The ESSC 2025 will be the opportunity for decision-makers in public authorities, third sector organisations, social services professionals, providers of technology solutions, and researchers to share and exchange their knowledge and experiences with peers from across Europe and other regions of the world.
At the 33rd edition of the European Social Services Conference we will learn how relational welfare approaches on the one hand, and welfare technology on the other are major drivers of social services transformation to make them fit for the 21st century. The Conference will provide the platform to address how the combination of relational approaches and technology in social services creates a powerful synergy that enhances efficiency, accessibility, customisation, trust, and empathy.
ESSC 2025 Programme
The 2025 European Social Services Conference programme is now live!
Under the theme ‘Where Care Meets Tech’, this year’s programme offers a dynamic mix of sessions designed to inspire, inform, and drive innovation in social care.
Please visit the link below to see the full programme, and join us at this year’s conference.
How to register
Conference Bursary Programme
Are you a user of social services or have experience in the delivery of care or social services? Find out about support to participate through our conference bursary programme.
Spotlight Series: In Conversation with Helle Øbo
”I believe this conference is an important platform because it brings together a diverse group of experts, practitioners, and stakeholders who are all focused on advancing solutions in relational welfare and welfare technology.
Sharing expertise in this setting fosters collaboration, sparks innovation, and enables a cross-disciplinary exchange of ideas. By contributing my knowledge and experiences, I hope to help bridge gaps, inspire new approaches, and create practical solutions that can address pressing societal challenges in welfare systems.”
You can find out more about Helle Øbo’s transformative work in social services, her perspectives on the intersection of relational welfare approaches and welfare technology, and the significance of the conference in shaping the future of social services, by reading our Spotlight Series article here.
Meet our Speakers
Social Entrepreneur and Policy Advisor, United Kingdom
CEO, Code for America, United States
Director, MeSafe, United Kingdom
Professor of Information and Communication Sciences, University of Cote d’Azur, France
Chief Executive Officer, European Social Network
Chair, European Social Network
Our 2025 partners
Become a Partner
If you are working on solutions that promote integration, digital developments and inclusive practice and wish to discuss how we can collaborate together, then please contact our Development Coordinator, Francesco Capuani, by email at francesco.capuani@esn-eu.org, or at the link below to discuss how you can get involved.
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