The aim of the project is to: "Investment in development – key to sukcESUS!" is a comprehensive support for the development of institutional capacity of the ‘ESUS’ Department of Social Economy and Social Services Foundation in the area of social services and the implementation of education and social inclusion policies in the period 01.01.2025 – 30.06.2025. In recent years, the role and importance of social services and their implementation by social economy entities have been highlighted. The definition of social services was introduced by the Act of 19 July 2019 on the implementation of social services by the centre of social services (Journal of Laws of 2019, No. Journal of Laws 2019, item 1818). According to the law, social services should be universal for the general population (not only for low-income people), which means increased access to social services and greater demand for services. Non-governmental organizations were mentioned among the providers of social services, which makes them an important partner for local governments, in particular social service centers. Non-governmental organizations do not work for profit, but for a social mission, they know local needs, and a flexible management structure allows for the implementation of innovative solutions, hence their great importance in the local community. The role of social economy entities in the implementation of social services is also emphasized by the Act of 5 August 2022 on the social economy (Journal of Laws of 2022, No. Journal of Laws 2022, item 1812), introducing two types of social enterprises: providing social services and acting for the purpose of reintegration. The Act also introduced provisions on the possibility of limiting orders to social enterprises (less than PLN 130,000 net). Despite such important provisions in the aforementioned laws, the development of the social economy sector in the sphere of social services is not progressing as quickly as one would expect, and local governments often unsuccessfully seek PES for the implementation of social services. A limiting factor is the lack of resources for the professionalization of social economy entities in the area of social services and the lack of accessibility for people with special needs. As of 29 April 2024, there were 920 entities in the register of social enterprises, but only 18 in Świętokrzyskie, including 15 providing social services. A factor limiting the development of social economy entities is also the lack of intersectoral dialogue, cooperation and advocacy activities, which means that local governments often do not know which NGOs operate on their territory and which services they provide. According to the Klon/Jawor study, ‘The chilling effect. The health of NGOs’ advocacy’ (XII.2022, 2023 edition) over the last few years, we have seen a decline in the advocacy function of NGOs. In 2022, 38% of organisations in the social sector in Poland undertook broadly understood advocacy activities, and in 2018 it was 47% of all non-governmental organisations. Thus, the important function of social organisations, which is to participate in law-making, is being less and less implemented, and the voice of the groups on whose behalf they act is becoming less and less audible. The poor condition of advocacy results from: • unhealthy competition and competition that is not focused on the quality of activities or services provided, but on the struggle to raise funds. • Conflicts within the non-governmental sector, such as taking away ideas. Such destructive relationships in some environments are seen as a new and growing problem. • Insufficient cooperation in the form of fragmentation of positions, which is incompatible with the idea of advocacy, i.e. joint action. Instead of acting in solidarity, in the interest of the entire social sector, some organizations look at their particular interest, which in the long run weakens the entire non-governmental sector. • Ineffective methods of operation. • Social polarisation and lack of social trust. cd. in additional information