10 August 2012

The agenda for the for the study visit and workshop for members on social innovation in Helsinki, Finland is now available. The meeting will be hosted by Eurodiaconia member Helsinki Deaconess Institute and will take place from the 18^th – 19^th September 2012. The letter of invitation can be found here. and there is online registration. If you would like to request financial support, please read the reimbursement rules beforehand.

The meeting is an opportunity to examine methods that help evaluate and mainstream innovative approaches and help mutual learning to make a real impact on the work of social service providers. It aims to engage diaconal organisations in the initiatives related to social innovation at EU level and equip them to engage further at national level, both in policy discussions and projects. The study visit will be to the pilot housing project run by Helsinki Deaconess Institute for homeless persons, part of the EU-funded “social policy experimentation” project “Housing First Europe”.

Social Services Europe, of which Eurodiaconia was a founding member, has also just published a common briefing, entitled “Social Innovation: the Role of Social Service Providers”. The document looks at what social innovation is, including the current EU policy context, concepts and definitions and success criteria for social innovation and then examines social innovation in the social service sector. It concludes with policy recommendations  to EU institutions and national governments. The paper can be found here.