EPIC and Care Leavers Ireland have come together to celebrate the positive experiences of care leavers in Ireland.

Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, will officially launch, Care Leavers Ireland, a new charity which benefits young people leaving the Irish state care system and the first ever National Care Leavers Day planned by EPIC. 

The event is taking place in the National Library of Ireland, Kildare St., Dublin at 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 8^th.

The purpose of the event is to give young care leavers an opportunity to meet and to highlight their achievements and successes. The focus will be on their positive experiences rather than the usual negative issues usually associated with children in care

Care Leavers Ireland was founded in 2008 by the Director of TTM Healthcare, Brian Crowley. The charity makes small but practical grants available to young people who have left the care system and find themselves needing financial assistance toward education or training needs.

“To date over 80 young people have benefitted from Care Leavers Ireland” states Mr Crowley . “ With our official launch ,we hope to raise awareness and increase funding to ensure that young people will get assistance into the future.”

EPIC are launching “Care Leavers Day” which will become an annual event, a day dedicated to celebrate the positive experiences and achievements of young people who have been brought up in care and have made the transition from care to independence.

As well as Minister Frances Fitzgerald, others  speaking at the launch will be a number of young people  with whom EPIC works and some who have benefitted with a grant from Care Leavers Ireland. Also speaking will be Jennifer Gargan, CEO EPIC,  Brian Crowley, Director TTM Healthcare  and Gordon Jeyes, CEO designate Child & Family Support Agency.

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For elaboration / clarification contact Jennifer Gargan (EPIC) 086-6073866

or Noel Howard (Care Leavers Ireland) 087-1331280