Register here before Thursday 28 November 2024

In April 2024, the Helpdesk Conference – Unlocking EU Funds for Social Inclusion: Investing in quality services, support and lives highlighted the outstanding results from Helpdesk, EU Funds for social services project. 

This Social Services Helpdesk Project emerged as a result of demand for quality social services which is constantly increasing. Despite their crucial role, it is widely acknowledged that social services are facing important challenges, such as chronic underfunding, staff shortages and challenges in transitioning to community-based and person-centred forms of services. EU funds, particularly ESF+ (European Social Fund Plus) and ERDF (the European Regional Development Fund), can create key opportunities to overcome these obstacles. However, too often social services struggle to benefit from these funds for 3 main reasons:

Can the future of cohesion policies effectively address the growing need for care and support? How can the outcomes and tools from the Helpdesk facilitate access to EU funds? These key questions will guide the upcoming webinar.

To tackle them speakers will present:

• The "User Journey Towards the Tools from the Helpdesk," led by Lillith Alink from EASPD and Baptiste Vasseur from ENSIE, focusing on the experiences of users engaging with the Helpdesk resources.

• Insights and case studies from practitioners (speakers to be confirmed), giving a practical perspective on tool usage.

• A session on the future of cohesion policies, highlighting findings from the Helpdesk, led by Mathias Maucher from Social Services Europe.

• An intervention is planned with Marek Teplanský from DG REGIO, who will share perspectives on inclusive growth and regional development (TBC).

Together with 14 organisations representing social services, EASPD been working on 5 key recommendations to ensure that the next EU budget is fit to implement the EU’s social agenda. This means (among other things): 

• A dedicated Social Fund to Implement the European Pillar of Social Rights. 

• Ensuring the inclusion of not-for-profit social services as implementing partners and in consultation mechanisms. 

• Ensuring EU funds drive social and human rights-based change. 

Read our full recommendations.  

Agenda