Social Services: Creating Lasting Change

The 2025 edition of the European Social Services Awards is entitled ‘Social Services: Creating Lasting Change.’

In this year’s edition of the European Social Services Awards, we are looking for applications that deliver impactful social services, such as supporting vulnerable families and children, home-led and integrated support services for people in situations of homelessness, community-focused programmes for persons with disabilities and older persons. 

Programmes should demonstrate long-term solutions that break cycles of disadvantage and promote autonomy and self-determination. We value approaches that strengthen communities through collaboration and adaptable social services. 

Strong applications show clear, lasting benefits for individuals and communities facing systemic barriers. Proposals may cover cross-cutting themes, be populations-focused, address public-private partnerships and ESN’s priorities related to promoting a person-centred community model of care and support.

This year’s awards are especially meaningful as they coincide with the 25th anniversary of the European Social Network. This is a milestone that celebrates a quarter-century of dedication to strengthening communities and celebrating excellence through social services. 

Background of the European Social Services Awards

The annual European Social Services Awards (ESSA) acknowledge outstanding achievements in social services, shining a spotlight on successful new approaches and the extraordinary ongoing work of public social services managers, funders, planners, providers, and deliverers of social services.

Now in its seventh edition, the European Social Services Awards have honoured over 200 finalists from across Europe and the wider international community. The annual Awards Ceremony has brought together more than 750 participants over the past years. 

The European Social Services Awards is an initiative from the European Social Network (ESN), the European Network for Public Social Services. As a Social Services Leader, ESN gives visibility to the excellent and innovative work done by social services in fostering social inclusion across communities and facilitates those working in the field to exchange and support each other in improving their practice.