What makes youth spaces inclusive? - Belong To Rainbow Award Ceremony 2026 YouTube video by Belong To LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland

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...

EPIC YEP staff and EPIC Youth Council on the train together. On screen text reads “EPIC Youth Council: On our way to the Tusla Aftercare Conference”. EPIC Youth Council seated together at a table in a conference room. On screen text reads “EPIC Youth Council: Registered and ready”.

An EPIC advocate and an EPIC Youth Council member standing at the EPIC information stand, with a banner and leaflets on the table. On screen text reads “EPIC Youth Council: Hi from the EPIC stand with Criomhthann. We are getting to chat about EPIC with attendees too”. An EPIC Youth Council member speaking to a room of people, holding a sheet of paper, with a presentation screen behind them. On screen text reads “EPIC Youth Council: Kai’s speech then education workshop” and “Go Kai!”.

EPIC Youth Council members standing together for group photos at the conference. On screen text reads “EPIC Youth Council: Cute haha”. A collage showing group photos, conference tables and event branding. On screen text includes “Tusla Aftercare Conference” and “EPIC Youth Council: Thanks for the great day gang”.

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 💜

Images in a polaroid format showing go-karting, barista training, kayaking, spray painting, a visit to the Zoo, and a whiteboard saying "Welcome to EPIC Limerick".

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 ✨

Screenshot of an Irish Times education article titled “I was previously in care – what education supports might be available?”, shown on a purple background. The Irish Times masthead and article headline are clearly visible, with the lower portion of the article fading out.

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...

“Be Sound”: Getting Education Right for Children in Care and Care-Leavers A seminar exploring barriers and supports for care-experienced students, sharing insights, tools and best practice.

To register to attend, visit www.eventbrite.ie/e/be-sound-g...

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 📍

A graphic with a soft purple gradient background. On the left is the EPIC logo with the text “empowering people in care”. Below it, the words “Transgender Day of Visibility” appear in purple handwritten style text. At the bottom, the date “March 31st 2026” is written. On the right side, horizontal paint strokes in blue, pink, white, pink and blue represent the transgender flag.

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 🫶

Aftercare should be needs‑based and dependable as young people move into adulthood. Lived experience must guide ongoing reform.

You can view the 2026 Report Card here: childrensrights.ie/reportcards/...

They also spoke about the challenges young people face when leaving care, especially around aftercare and housing:

“One of the biggest issues is aftercare… the current system does not work for everyone.”

They highlighted two commitments, the National Alternative Care Framework and the update to the Child Care Act, as important opportunities for meaningful reform:

“Both are very important opportunities to improve the care system, but only if the gaps that young people experience are addressed.”

A teal graphic featuring the cover design for the Children’s Rights Alliance “Report Card 2026.” At the top left, the Children’s Rights Alliance logo appears with the tagline “Uniting Voices For Children.” Large white text in the centre reads “Report Card,” with “2026” displayed in white text inside an orange rounded rectangle. The background includes faint line‑drawn icons related to children, learning, and care, such as books, letters, and simple figures.

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.

Wayne Stanley CEO of EPIC (Empowering People In Care) being interviewed by RTÉ at the Mansion House, Dublin.

Wayne noted: “Ireland is a changing country. Our demographics are changing, and the pressures on families are changing. But foster carers are absolutely the bedrock of our care system. For the children it works for, it makes it one of the best care systems in the world.”

EPIC Youth Council member, Kai, answering questions at the event with Dr Niall Muldoon (Ireland's Ombudsman for Children), Dr Tricia Keilthy (Head of Policy at the OCO) sat beside him. There are pull-ups and a tablecloth with OCO branding.

Kai highlighted the difference between feeling unheard and unsafe in his first care placement, and the positive experience of moving to a home where staff focused on his strengths and interests rather than his trauma. He spoke about how this contributed to a greater sense of belonging and stability.

Taken inside the Mansion House, Dublin, the background shows crests representing previou Lord Mayor of Dublin. On a big screen, you see a presentation slide "Let's get it right! A rights-based vision for children in care. March 2026".

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...

The report outlines a rights-based vision for children in care with 84 recommendations, and is now available to read here: www.oco.ie/library/lets...

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.

A graphic shows three EPIC Advocacy Service leaflets side by side. The first leaflet has a pink background with an illustrated young person and the text “Advocacy Service for Children in Care”. The second leaflet has a red background and shows two young people sitting together, with the text “Advocacy Service for Children and Young People in Care”. The third leaflet has a teal and navy background and shows young people talking together, with the text “Advocacy Service for Young People in Care”. Below the leaflets is the EPIC logo with the words “Empowering People in Care” and the heading “Advocacy Resources”.

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

Our EPIC Advocates provide free, confidential, and independent support to help you understand your rights, have your voice heard, and get the supports you need 🤝

Request an Advocate today by visiting epiconline.ie 🔗

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 😊

While EPIC currently provides a limited advocacy visiting service for those living in SEAs in the Dublin North East and Dublin Mid Leinster regions, all children placed in SEAs should have access to an independent advocate.

Children in care need safe, stable and properly regulated environments. EPIC is calling for all residential settings where children are placed, including SEAs, to be brought under the remit of Health Information and Quality Authority.

SEAs are meant to be short-term emergency placements, but their growing use highlights the pressure across Ireland’s care system, including shortages in residential and foster care and a lack of special care placements,

As EPIC CEO Wayne Stanley said, SEAs should not become part of the system.

Tusla placed 1,121 children in unregulated care last year Figures obtained by RTÉ News show more than 1,100 children in Tusla's care were placed in unregulated Special Emergency Arrangements throughout last year.

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...

Have your say and take part in the consultation. Your voice matters. 📣

Submission on the Development of a National Alternative Care Strategy Submission to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality on the Development of a National Alternative Care Strategy In December 2025, EPIC made a submission to the Department of Children, Dis...

EPIC has published our submission to the Department of Children, Disability and Equality. It sets out a rights based vision shaped by the lived experiences of children in care and young care leavers 💜

www.epiconline.ie/library/subm...

Public Consultation on the National Policy Framework for Alternative Care

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...

Submission on the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025 Submission on the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2025 EPIC has made a submission on the Child Care (Amendment) Bill. There are many positive amendments to be welcomed, particularly the establishment of a...

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.