Thomas and Katie were delighted to be invited by a young person to celebrate completing a full month of Play All May at Ballydowd Special Care Unit 👏 A month of daily movement, fun activities and confidence building, finished with a BBQ, ice cream van and bouncy castle 🥳

EPIC is inviting proposals from qualified and regulated financial advisory firms to provide independent pension, financial and governance advice to the organisation and its pension scheme members. Submission deadline: 5pm, Monday 15th June 2026 📅 Learn more: www.epiconline.ie/work-with-us...

“We’re very resilient. If I’m having a bad day, I’m like, ‘Well, I’ve come this far.’” Four members of the EPIC Youth Council spoke with Patrick Freyne for @irishtimes.com about their experiences growing up in care and their work advocating for other young people.

Earlier this week, EPIC joined colleagues from Inclusion Ireland to present to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability on the need for advocacy services for children with disabilities. You can read our full presentation here: www.epiconline.ie/news/joint-c...

EPIC CEO Wayne Stanley was delighted to attend the launch of the @ocoireland.bsky.social's 2025 Annual Report this morning We’re proud to support the OCO and their work championing the rights of children and young people across Ireland, including young people in care 🤝

The Department of Education and Youth hosted the second Convention on Education session last weekend. EPIC's Education Project Manager, Tara Madden, represented EPIC, bringing care-experienced perspectives into the conversation.

Child protection and safeguarding must remain at the centre of how the State responds to age-disputed young people seeking international protection. EPIC recognises both the complexity of age assessment processes and the serious consequences of getting decisions wrong.

EPIC’s National Advocacy Service supports children and young people in care, aftercare, and anyone with care experience up to age 26 🗣️ Our Advocates provide free, confidential, independent support to help you understand your rights and have your voice heard 🤝

Today is National Voter Registration Day! This is your reminder to check you’re registered to vote and ready to have your say 🗳️ If you’re newly 18, registering for the first time, or you’ve moved or changed details, check the register today! 👉 checktheregister.ie

“Be sound.” - That’s what care-experienced students are asking of the adults around them. Our recent seminar at the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival brought together education and care partners to talk about what really helps: understanding, consistency and practical support.

This week we hosted the "Be Sound" seminar in Cork as part of the Lifelong Learning Festival 🙌 The seminar focused on what supports care-experienced young people to succeed in education, including understanding, consistency and practical support across schools, further and higher education 📚

This event is tomorrow! ⏰ There's still time to get your tickets: www.eventbrite.ie/e/be-sound-g...

A proud moment from earlier this year, when we received @belong-to.bsky.social's Rainbow Award for our Inclusion and Best Practice in LGBTQ youth work 🌈💜 www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8zn...

Yesterday, EPIC YEP staff and our Youth Council attended Tusla’s National Aftercare Conference in Athlone 😊 Stands, workshops and talks created space to have open conversations about aftercare in Ireland 🤝 Our Youth Council members really enjoyed taking part 💜

Over the Easter break, EPIC’s Care Community enjoyed fun, creative, and skill building activities, including go karting, barista training, and kayaking in Donegal, spray painting in Cork and Dublin, a visit to Dublin Zoo, and a relaxed pizza and board games session in Limerick ✨

From The Irish Times, "I was previously in care. What education supports might be available?" 📚 This article focuses on education supports for people with care-experience in Cork and Kerry, while also pointing out wider options across Ireland 💜 Check it out: www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...

As part of the Cork Lifelong Learning Festival, EPIC is hosting a seminar focused on the barriers and supports that shape the educational journeys of care-experienced students. Date: Wednesday 22nd April 2026 📅 Time: 10.00am🕒 Location: Millennium Hall, Cork 📍

Happy Transgender Day of Visibility! 🏳️‍⚧️ Today, we celebrate trans and non-binary people everywhere ✨ At EPIC, we stand with care-experienced young people of all identities. Everyone deserves to be themselves without fear and to grow with confidence 🫶

The Children’s Rights Alliance has launched their 2026 Report Card, assessing how well the Government is delivering on commitments to children and young people. An EPIC Youth Council member spoke at the launch, bringing lived experience into the discussion.

RTÉ News covered the launch of The Ombudsman for Children's Office 'Let’s Get It Right' report on Tuesday. They spoke with EPIC CEO Wayne Stanley and EPIC Youth Council member Kai Brosnan, who shared important insights into the care system. Read the full RTÉ article here www.rte.ie/.../0324/156...

We were delighted to attend the launch of the Ombudsman for Children's 'Let’s Get It Right' report in Dublin yesterday 😊 Speaking at the event was EPIC Youth Council member, Kai. He spoke about his experience in care and the challenges he had encountered.

Every care-experienced child and young person should have clear information about their rights and the support available to them 💜 These leaflets explain what an EPIC Advocate does and how we support children and young people in care and in after care: www.epiconline.ie/library/advo...

Tá Seachtain na Gaeilge faoi lán seoil! ☘️ Roinn Kai ó Chomhairle Óige EPIC teachtaireacht físe chun an tseachtain a cheiliúradh 😊 Téigh chuig SnaG.ie chun tuilleadh eolais agus acmhainní a fháil 📚 @snagaeilge.bsky.social

EPIC’s National Advocacy Service works with children and young people in foster care, relative foster care, residential care, special care, and youth detention. We also work with young people in aftercare services and anyone with care experience, up to the age of 26 🗣️

Highlights from Care Day 🎉 Children and young people in care from across Ireland joined us for games, creativity and community 💜 Thank you to Core Youth Service, our brilliant facilitators and everyone who supported the day 🙌 Care Day is funded by the Dept. of Children, Disability and Equality 😊

New figures obtained by RTE show 1,121 children in State care were placed in Special Emergency Arrangements (SEAs) last year, almost double the number in 2023. www.rte.ie/news/ireland...

There is still time to contribute before the public consultation on the National Alternative Care Strategy closes next Thursday 12 March 2026 ⏰ www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

EPIC has made a submission on the Child Care (Amendment) Bill - you can read the full submission on our website: www.epiconline.ie/library/submission-on-the-child-care-amendment-bill/

EPIC's Youth Council answering 'a message to my future self' 💬 Their message is clear. More clarity and support are still needed for young people in care moving into adulthood.

We were glad to attend the Independent Advocacy Gathering 2026 😊 The event brought together independent advocates, self-advocates, and supporters to explore human rights issues affecting people with disabilities, including decongregation, rights in relation to medication and self-advocacy ✨

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who shared a Message of Care for #CareDay26! Each message reflects the kindness, encouragement and solidarity that help shape what Care Day is all about - celebrating the care community 💜 You can read all of the messages here: careday.ie/message-wall

We are excited to share that EPIC is now on TikTok 🎉 Follow us at @empoweringpeopleincare to see more of our video content, including posts featuring EPIC's Youth Council 😊 You can find us here: https://www.tiktok.com/@empoweringpeopleincare

Congratulations to Christy, the story of a care‑experienced young man, on winning Best Film at the IFTAs 2026! 😊 During the acceptance speeches, Alan O’Gorman, the writer of the film, gave a lovely shoutout to #CareDay26 👏 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltHn...

It was fantastic to see so many #CareDay26 events taking place across the country! 🚀 In Donegal, EPIC’s Youth Engagement and Participation Worker, Jayne, hosted a mix of creative and social activities with young people, including spray painting, crafting and wellness sessions 🎨

Turning 18 is a huge milestone, but for young people in care, it can also bring uncertainty and pressure. To mark #CareDay26 some of EPIC's Youth Council are sharing the things they wish they’d known before turning 18 - honest insights shaped by their own experiences.

For #CareDay26, share a message of care. These messages will be shared online and with care-experienced youth on Care Day to show that their voice matters and that their community is standing with them. Find out more and get involved: www.careday.ie/message-of-care

Today is #CareDay26 The theme this year is The Future Starts With Us, chosen by EPIC’s Youth Council. This theme celebrates the dreams, hopes and ambitions of care-experienced youth, and reminds us that every young person deserves the opportunity to shape their own future.

Today is #CareDay26 To mark the day, we have published a Scoping Review on child engagement and youth participation in the inspection of social care services for children as part of our Children and Young People’s Consultation Project. Read our Scoping Review: www.hiqa.ie/hiqa-news-up...

To mark International Care Day, we are highlighting our Learning Hub where you can access courses and resources developed with children, young people, their advocates and staff to support care experienced children and young people. Explore our Learning Hub: www.hiqa.ie/learning-hub... #CareDay26

🎉 Happy #CareDay26! 🎉 A day to support and celebrate children and young people in care and with care-experience. Care-experienced youth should be valued, respected and heard. The Future Starts With Us. Learn more: careday.ie @epiconline.ie

On Care Day2026, we are celebrating children and young people in care, along with the many people who support them each day. All children have the right to thrive, and being in care does not change that. #CareDay2026 reminds us why putting children’s rights first matters. @epiconline.ie

It’s Care Day! Today, we celebrate children in care & care-experienced youth under the theme “The Future Starts With Us.” Share a Message of Care 💬, post a selfie 📸, or tag us with #CareDay26 📲 www.careday.ie#CareDay26

Get involved in #CareDay26 and share a message of care for care-experienced children and young people! Visit careday.ie to find out more 💌 Care Day is this Friday 20th February 2026 📅

#CareDay26 is this Friday, February 20th! Learn about the theme, ways to get involved and links to resources on www.careday.ie

Are your policies up to date and inclusive?🔍 #CareDay26 invites organisations and groups to review their policies to ensure care-experienced young people are recognised and supported. Language and purposeful action matter 💜 Learn more at careday.ie

Today, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, launched a new education partnership to support care-experienced students across further and higher education.

An initiative to help young people who grew up in care to pursue education at further and higher level is to be showcased by the Departments of Children and of Further and Higher Education at an event today.

Public Consultation 📢 The Department of Children, Disability & Equality has launched a consultation to shape the new National Policy Framework on Alternative Care. Have your say on how the State supports children & young people in care! 🔗 Take part: www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

Join our team! 📣 EPIC is recruiting an Advocacy and General Administrator to provide administrative, data and operational support to our Advocacy Team and Operations Team. Closing date: 7 March 2026 at 5.00pm Learn more and apply: www.epiconline.ie/work-with-us... #jobfairy #irishjobs

Celebrate #CareDay26 your way on Friday, Feb 20th 🎨 Wherever you are, mark #CareDay26 by decorating your space in a way that feels right for you - posters, window art, chalk murals, badges, zines, or a shared artwork 😊 Get creative and reflect this year's theme. Learn more: careday.ie