Really pleased that my article ‘The importance of relationship in independent advocacy for care experienced young people’ has been published today in Children and Society. It’s OPEN ACCESS and available at onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... @epiconline.ie

EPIC is inviting proposals to carry out a mid-point evaluation of our Strategic Plan 2022–2027 📑 If you have the expertise to support us in this work, we’d love to hear from you! ✍️ Learn more: www.epiconline.ie/news/tender-evaluation-strategic-plan/

EPIC is recruiting a Youth Engagement and Participation Worker to join our Dublin team. If you have a background in youth work, youth advocacy, or social care and are committed to empowering children and young people, we’d love to hear from you. Learn more: www.epiconline.ie/news/vacancy...

Our team of EPIC Advocates: Work across Ireland 💚 Offer independent support 🤝 Provide information and advice 💬 EPIC Advocates work with children, young people and young adults with care experience up to the age of 26. Learn more: www.epiconline.ie/what-is-advocacy/

EPIC is hiring a Digital Media Officer (fixed-term, 1 year contract) 🙌 This role involves creating videos, graphics, blogs, and social content that showcase the voices and stories of care-experienced young people. Deadline: Monday, 22nd Sept, 5pm 📝 Learn more: www.epiconline.ie/work-with-us...

On Sunday, EPIC team attended the @irishfostercare.bsky.social conference 🌱 Fiona and Thomas represented EPIC with an information stand and session on our work while Cian, a member of the EPIC Care Community, spoke about his experience through advocacy, youth engagement and participation.

Young people in Mayo got creative this week, making dreamcatchers while talking about their rights in care ✨ Our Education Project Manager, Tara, wrote about the workshop and the conversations that happened - read the full blog here: www.epiconline.ie/news/know-yo...

“And I think that most of us would understand the value of education in getting you out of that adversity... That’s where my dedication, commitment to education came from.” - Levi Explore direct quotes from the Care to College research: bit.ly/4owQrYZ

Our Advocacy Service leaflets were developed by members of our Care Community and explain how an EPIC Advocate can support children and young people with care-experience 💜 Learn more: www.epiconline.ie/library/advocacy-flyers-and-posters/

Young people from our U18 Care Community joined a spray painting workshop + children’s rights session at @ocoireland.bsky.social this week as part of our Know Your Rights in Care project. When we asked participants what they learnt, one said: “You have the right to use your rights.” 💬

“It is a really positive intervention when you remove the risk and hopefully identify what [the children] need.” Kitty Holland’s in-depth article offers a look inside special care units, which provide therapeutic support for children who require bespoke interventions to meet their needs.

“Additional funding would allow them to develop capacity.” Wayne Stanley, CEO of EPIC, has called for increased funding to enable Tusla to reduce reliance on emergency placements and better support children in care through more strategic action. www.dublininquirer.com/children-pla...

“Kids are not expected to, I guess enjoy or like, you know, engage in education. But I think for the most part, it’s because they don’t get the actual assistance that they need” – Camilla Explore direct quotes from the Care to College research: www.epiconline.ie/voices-care-...

EPIC is seeking a consultant to evaluate the Take Care Toolkit pilot in schools (2025–2026), focused on supporting children in care. Find out more: www.epiconline.ie/news/school-...

Part two of our graffiti workshop wrapped yesterday - and the final piece is wonderful! Huge shoutout to the young people who took part, Hernan for leading the group and Core Youth Service for hosting. Now proudly on display at the EPIC office💫

We're seeking a Youth Engagement & Participation Worker in #Dublin 📣 This permanent role involves working directly with the EPIC Youth Council and empowering care-experienced youth through through the delivery of inclusive programmes & projects. Salary: €40,000 Deadline: 5pm, 31 July 2025 🗓️

"I think everybody who’s in the child’s life needs to be informed about the big changes that are happening." - Luna Explore direct quotes from young people who took part in Care to College research: www.epiconline.ie/voices-care-to-college/voices-from-care-care-placements-and-settling-at-school/

We had a brilliant, sunny start to our summer programme today🌞 Care Community members came together for an outdoor graffiti workshop with Hernan, which resulted in some seriously cool works of art. Looking forward to part two this Monday with the same group and a few new faces joining in!

EPIC #JobFairy! We're seeking a detail-oriented & collaborative administrator to support our Advocacy Service & operations team 📌 This job-share, fixed-term role (20 hours/week) is based in Dublin & offers a salary starting of €20,000. Apply by 5pm, 31 July 2025 🗓️ #JobShare #Job #Vacancy

#JobFairy #Donegal 🌟 We're seeking a Youth Engagement & Participation Worker for a one-year, full-time contract. The role involves outreach, integration, & creative community-building with unaccompanied minors being cared for by Tusla. Salary: €40,000 Deadline: 31 July 2025 🗓️

We’re hiring! 🚨 Three new opportunities to join the EPIC team: - Part-Time Advocacy and General Administrator - Youth Engagement and Participation Worker – Dublin - Youth Engagement and Participation Worker – Donegal www.epiconline.ie/work-with-us/ #jobfairy #irishjobs #donegal #dublin

We had a brilliant, sunny start to our summer programme today🌞 Care Community members came together for an outdoor graffiti workshop with Hernan, which resulted in some seriously cool works of art. Looking forward to part two this Monday with the same group and a few new faces joining in!

EPIC’s Advocacy Service Manager, Fiona Murray, presented at the recent TIGALA seminar. Fiona shared insights drawn from the lived experiences of children and young people - emphasising how disruptive placement changes can be, and highlighting the need for consistent and supportive environments.

We’re hiring! 🚨 Three new opportunities to join the EPIC team: - Part-Time Advocacy and General Administrator - Youth Engagement and Participation Worker – Dublin - Youth Engagement and Participation Worker – Donegal www.epiconline.ie/work-with-us/ #jobfairy #irishjobs #donegal #dublin

Listen now 🎧 Kai from the EPIC Youth Council speaks to the Irish Foster Care Association about growing up in residential care, the need for real support, and why challenging stigma matters. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts! 🎙️

"I think everybody who’s in the child’s life needs to be informed about the big changes that are happening." - Luna Explore direct quotes from young people who took part in Care to College research: www.epiconline.ie/voices-care-to-college/voices-from-care-care-placements-and-settling-at-school/

On Saturday, EPIC was proud to take part in Dublin Pride, marching alongside youth groups from across Ireland with Belong To 🌈 At a time when LGBTQ+ are once again under attack, showing up matters now more than ever. 💜 ❤️ 🧡 💙

Earlier this week, EPIC Youth Council members Kai and Andrea spoke at the Children's Rights Alliance event, ‘A New Vision for a Reformed Child Protection and Alternative Care System‘. Read Kai's speech 👇 www.epiconline.ie/epic-youth-c...

Child Rights Researcher and Author of the new report, Róisín Webb from @epiconline.ie, reiterates the importance of young people's voices in the findings of the report.

This week, EPIC met with colleagues from across the youth sector to mark 10 years since the Marriage Equality Referendum. At a time when LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion are once again being questioned and challenged, it is as important now as it was then to come together in solidarity.

Tara Madden, our Education Project Manager, was at the ETBI Summer School in Galway today. Tara met with deputy principals and guidance counsellors to discuss Take Care - our toolkit designed to help schools better support children and young people in care. 🔗 epiconline.ie/library/take-care/

Pride 2025 🌈 These slogans are a reminder of what Pride is about - visibility, resistance, and solidarity. Feeling inspired? Join us for Dublin Pride 2025! To register, email [email protected]. The EPIC Pride Bloc is for everyone! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Explore what care-experienced young people who participated in the Care to College research study had to say. Their voices offer insights on the successes and challenges they faced during their education journeys. www.epiconline.ie/voices-care-to-college/ @esri.ie @tudublin.bsky.social

ICYMI: The Care to College webinar is now available to watch 🎥 The session shares key findings from our newly commissioned research by Dr Merike Darmody from the @esri.ie exploring the educational experiences of young people with care experience. www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7Yr... ▶️

Our Youth Engagement and Participation (YEP) team work with young people in special care to amplify their voices - like this comic book project that lets young people share their stories through cartoons, guided by the Lundy Model. Learn about YEP: www.epiconline.ie/youth-empowerment/

Take Care is a new toolkit designed to help schools better understand & support children & young people in care 🧰 Developed with care-experienced youth, this guide provides insight into their school experiences & the challenges they face 🧑🏽‍🏫 www.epiconline.ie/take-care-to...

"Whether we take our first breath in a home filled with love & security or one marked by high stress & instability, is not in our hands. We don’t choose whether our childhoods are defined by books or burdens, by dinner tables or by social workers." - www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

EPIC is inviting young people to march with us at Dublin Pride on Saturday 28th June 2025 🌈 Find out how to register and why Pride is so important 👇 www.epiconline.ie/news/pride-i...

This week is Traveller Pride Week, an annual celebration that the unique culture, history and contributions of Irish Travellers. We’re marking the week by sharing this practical resource from NYCI on how youth organisations can better support Traveller participation: www.youth.ie/articles/5-t...

We recently launched the report 'Care to college: An exploratory study on care-experienced students’ educational journeys' with @epiconline.ie. The webinar launch is now available on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROdi...

Today, we have published the report 'Care to college: An exploratory study on care-experienced students’ educational journeys' with @epiconline.ie‬ 🏫 Care-experienced children & young people often face disrupted school experiences due to multiple care placements & school changes

EPIC is proud to launch Care to College, a new research study by Dr Merike Darmody @esri.ie, exploring the educational journeys of care-experienced young people. Through participative research and consultations, it looks at what supports and prevents access to and completion of higher education.

Reminder! 🔔 Join us online for the launch of Care to College: An Exploratory Study on Care-Experienced Students’ Educational Journeys. Fri 23 May 📅 | 10am 🕙 Speakers include Merike Darmody (@esri.ie), Wayne Stanley (EPIC) & Sinead Dunne (@tudublin.bsky.social) Register: bit.ly/care-to-college

“The report published today is a positive contribution, but we are conscious that many good reports have come and gone. Progress will be measured in the implementation of the recommendations and the improvement in the lives of children and young people.” - Wayne Stanley, EPIC CEO

On Monday, the team got together for an important workshop with Hilary Jenkinson (UCC) on our newly commissioned report, 'An Exploration of Independent Advocacy Provision | Towards a Best Practice Model'. www.epiconline.ie/news/independent-advocacy-towards-a-best-practice-model/🔎

Join us for the launch of Care to College: An Exploratory Study on Care-Experienced Students’ Educational Journeys. Fri 23 May 📅 | 10am 🕙 | Zoom 💻 Speakers include author Merike Darmody (@esri.ie), Wayne Stanley (EPIC) & Sinead Dunne (@tudublin.bsky.social). Register: bit.ly/care-to-coll...

“Meaning of the Child” Book Launch | Panel Discussion | Q&A🗓️ 24 June, 2-5pm ⏰ @tudublin.bsky.social📍 Book: lnkd.in/gwAzPBa9 🎟️ EPIC is honoured that proceeds from this event will be donated to the Brita Waters Legacy Fund, providing education & emergency grants to care-experienced youth.

Some of the team took part in manual handling and evac chair training today, helping ensure everyone can safely exit the building in an emergency. The training was intensive, but the team still managed to have a bit of fun along the way! 🙌 Big thanks to Andrew from Guardian Safety 👏

The EPIC Times is a call to action for the government, policy makers and legislators 🗣️ Its goal is to raise awareness about critical issues in the care system to ensure better outcomes for care-experienced youth in Ireland. #CareAware

"I love Lego and I’ve loved it since I was young. I love building the sets, but I didn’t realise [adoption] would be like this really big set that would take four years!" - Cian, 17 epiconline.ie/news