Immediate Release: 6th January 2017
| WHERE | OMBUDSMAN FOR CHILDREN’S OFFICE
MILLENNIUM WALK, STRAND STREET, DUBLIN 1 |
| WHEN | 17th OF FEBRUARY 2017
(TIME TBC) |
EPIC will celebrate the second annual National Care Day on the 17th of February 2017.
This is a special day to celebrate the positive experiences of children and young people in the care of the State. EPIC will facilitate an event at the Ombudsman for Children’s Office in Dublin, which will include a creative workshop for young people and opportunities for them to talk about being in care.
This event is part of a larger campaign that EPIC is involved in called Five Nations One Voice. It is a collaboration with four other care organisations in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, all of which aim to create better outcomes for young people in care and promote a positive care identity for young people.
Director of EPIC, Terry Dignan stated:
“Last year’s first ever Care Day was incredibly successful in promoting positive care identities and raising awareness around the issues that children and young people in care face. On the 17th of February we hope to give young people an opportunity to celebrate being in care, further increase public awareness of care issues, and celebrate the voices, talents and achievements of children and young people in care.
We look forward to celebrating with them and with everyone who will be showing their support by using the #CAREDAY2017”
Several other events will take place in the week preceding Care Day 2017. Details will be shared shortly.
ENDS
Media interviews with young people are only available upon request.
Notes to the Editor
- There are currently 6,306 children in care (Tusla, October 2016 – available at: http://www.tusla.ie/data-figures).
- For further information on this campaign, follow us on Facebook or Twitter @epicireland #CAREDAY2017
- In 2014 EPIC’s Youth Board launched a video to dispel negative stereotypes of young people in care entitled ‘What do You Think Now?’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNKGJUYQGUA
For all media enquiries or to arrange an interview please contact:
Terry Dignan, Director of EPIC
Telephone: 01 8727 661 Mobile: 087 237 0269
Email: terrydignan@epiconline.ie Website: www.epiconline.ie
EPIC (formerly IAYPIC) is an independent association that works throughout the Republic of Ireland, with and for children and young people who are currently living in care or who have had an experience of living in care.