Co-Creating Future Social Services
Envision an integrated social welfare system that provides personalised, tailored solutions to meet the needs of vulnerable people and improves their wellbeing. Consider how it can be achieved under increasingly demanding circumstances, with challenging demographic changes, such as ageing populations, and more complex needs and expectations. The question on how we can collaborate to bring about this vision will be addressed at the 2024 European Social Services Conference (ESSC). ‘Co-Creating Future Social Services’ will focus on three thematic strands: social inclusion in cities, managing the future workforce, and digital solutions to promote social inclusion.
Sessions will focus discussions on community led projects that bring together local stakeholders working in synergy to promote a sustainable, responsive social welfare system in cities, strategies that co-operate directly with the workforce to deal with the challenges they face, and technological and digital solutions that promote integration and ensure digital social inclusion.
How can you get involved?
This month a Call for Contributions was launched inviting organisations to lead the conversation at the 2024 ESSC.
Is your organisation working in partnership with other public services to support people in difficult social circumstances?
Are you working with people using social services in the design, delivery and evaluation of social programmes?
Are you developing IT and digital tools to support community-based social services in collaboration with professionals and end-users?
Have you developed innovative solutions to tackle the workforce challenges facing social services?
If you can answer yes, why not consider submitting a proposal for inclusion in the conference programme to showcase your project or solution at the largest forum for social services in Europe.
Your project could be featured in the conference programme as an Interactive Workshop and Case Studies, part of a Thematic Panel Discussion, a presentation at the Project Forum or the Practice Fair. With almost 700 delegates from 40 countries in attendance at the 2023 conference, sessions have a diverse audience that encourage rich discussion and debate.
Yolanda Domingo Calduch and Toni Codina from the iSocial Foundation in Spain presented in the last conference and outlined how for their organisation “presenting and sharing with other professionals from all over Europe the application we have developed for homeless people, allowed us to deepen and discuss how some digital tools allow today to improve the quality of Social Services.” Presenting at the conference is not only rewarding for delegates, but also for the presenters who form new connections and receive valuable feedback and new perspectives.
The 32nd edition of the ESSC will take place in Antwerp, Belgium from 26-28th June 2024. Tom Meeuws, Alderman responsible for social affairs in Antwerp, looks forward to welcoming you to the city: “Antwerp is eagerly looking forward to be the host city for this edition. I hope that together we can make this conference a great success and share new insights.”
Make sure that you submit a proposal to help lead the way in co-creating the future of social services. Submissions in French, German, Italian and Spanish can be made until the 17th November and the deadline for English submissions is 24th November.
Find out more here.
