ESSA 2026

Social Services: Breaking Down Silos,
Building Systemic Change

Across Europe, social services systems face increasingly complex social challenges, including demographic change, rising inequalities, digital transformation, and growing demand for integrated care and support. These challenges often affect people with multiple and intersecting needs, requiring coordinated responses across sectors such as health, social care, employment, education, housing, and community services.

However, social services systems are frequently organised in policy and sectoral silos, which can limit professionals from putting in place coordination, create barriers for people who use services to access them in an integrated manner, and reduce the overall effectiveness of support. Addressing these challenges requires systemic approaches that promote collaboration, innovation, and person-centred service delivery.

The European Social Services Awards (ESSA) aim to recognise outstanding practices that contribute to improving social services across Europe. Under the theme “Breaking Down Silos, Building Systemic Change”, the awards seek to highlight initiatives that foster cross-sector cooperation, strengthen integrated services, and create lasting improvements in social services and social support systems.

What we are looking for

This call invites initiatives that demonstrate how collaboration, innovation, and integrated approaches within social services and with other authorities, organisations and agencies can transform social services systems and improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. Proposals should showcase practices that overcome fragmentation and promote coordinated, accessible, and inclusive services.

Submissions are welcomed across several categories, recognising systemic change across different areas of social services. Successful initiatives should demonstrate:

Ready to share your project?

The Call for Applications is open. Submit your project and be part of the conversation on systemic change in social services at the 8th ESSA in Rome.