Call for Proposals Now Open
Every great conference begins the same way: with an idea, a lesson learned, an experience worth sharing. The 35th European Social Services Conference (ESSC), taking place in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, in June 2027, is built entirely on these contributions, and the call for proposals is now open.
A programme written by the sector, for the sector
ESSC is not only a conference that happens to its participants, but it is shaped by them. Every year, the programme takes shape through the proposals submitted by social services leaders, practitioners, researchers, and third sector organisations from across Europe. Their experience becomes the conference's content, and their insight becomes its direction. This year's theme, Communities that Care, Systems that Work, will guide the topics to be discussed.
Europe is ageing, family structures are changing and loneliness and social isolation are increasing, placing growing demands on social services and welfare systems and challenging us to rethink how care and support are organised within our communities. The answer is not more fragmentation, but stronger connection between administrations, communities, and the people delivering care day in, day out. The European Social Network (ESN) believes that stronger connections between communities, public services and care systems lie at the heart of the answer, and ESSC 2027 is where that conviction will be tested, debated and developed further.
Seven ways to contribute
Submitting a proposal means joining a conversation already underway across the continent. This year's call spans seven topics, from organising care in the community and shared social responsibility, to digitally inclusive services and the ethics of care. Whatever your focus is, whether prevention, policy, technology, or intergenerational solidarity, there is space for your voice.
Applicants may apply under one topic per proposal, with a maximum of two applications per organisation. A detailed topic guide and review criteria are available to help shape a strong submission.
Why you should apply
Presenting at ESSC puts you at the heart of Europe’s leading forum for social services, where those shaping policy, managing services and driving innovation come together to influence the sector’s future direction.Applying means contributing directly to the European social services reform agenda at a moment when that agenda is actively taking shape.
It means sharing your knowledge with an international audience of peers, policymakers, and experts who are looking for exactly the kind of practical insight you have to offer.
It means connecting with colleagues from across Europe and beyond working on the same challenges, often from different angles. And it means putting your organisation's successes and new ideas in front of the people best placed to build on them. Every proposal is a chance to turn one team's experience into a resource for the whole sector.
Be part of ESSC 2027
The Call for Proposals closes on 25 November. Between now and then, ESN encourages leaders, practitioners, researchers, and organisations across the sector to reflect on what they have learned and to bring it to Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Submit your proposal before 25 November on the ESSC website.
