Care Day
Celebrating and connecting the care-experienced community!
Care Day was established in February 2016. It is a day to celebrate the positive experiences and contributions of children and young people with care-experience. A community that rises every day and overcomes challenges most of us will never experience.
Young care-leavers from Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales created the Care Day concept in 20216. Today, it is a joint initiative across five children’s rights organisations, which are now known as the 5 Nations 1 Voice (5N1V) alliance. The 5N1V alliance includes, Become (England), Who Cares? Scotland, Voices from Care (Wales), Voice of Young People in Care (Northern Ireland), and EPIC.
While discussing their different care experiences, they agreed that the public were not fully aware about care systems, and that this contributed to their shared experience of stigma and negative perceptions and stereotypes about children and young people who are or have been in care. They envisioned a day that would highlight the achievements and celebrate children and young people with care experience, while also educating the public about the care system itself.
Another primary objective of Care Day was to create a sense of community across the world for those with care experience, to help children and young people support each other and be proud of who they are and what they have achieved.
#CareDay24
EPIC celebrated Care Day 2024 on Friday the 16th of February with care-experienced children and young people across Ireland. Each year EPIC Care Community and Youth Council members develop a Care Day theme, and for their 2024 celebration they chose, “I am what I choose to become”.
On the EPIC Youth Councils, there is a diversity of talent and interest. From aspiring nurses, paramedics and social care workers to Lego enthusiasts, creatives, and footballers, as well as young people who have embarked on careers as teachers, social workers, and digital marketers. These inspirational young people have overcome challenges and are embracing their future. For #CareDay24, they wanted to inspire children and young people in care to aim high, dream big and reach for their goals.
