Care Day was established in February 2016 as a day to celebrate the positive experiences and contributions of children and young people in care or with care experience - who rise every day and overcome challenges most of us will never experience.
The idea for Care Day was developed by young care-leavers from Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. 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.
They believed that this might address some of the misconceptions the public may have, while also improving their understanding of the obstacles both they and their peers can face. 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.
Don't judge a book by its cover,
embrace our stories instead!
Introducing Care Day 2023
Don't judge a book by its cover, embrace our stories instead!
The next Care Day will be celebrated across the world on Friday 17th February 2023. For #CareDay23, children and young people from the EPIC Care Community and Youth Councils want to address the stigma they can face while they are in care or after leaving care, and challenge negative stereotypes. Members are inviting people to learn about children and young people in care and embrace their diverse stories of hope, courage, talent, and achievement. We want communities across Ireland to listen to children and young people themselves, to look beyond the surface, and to see that every care-experienced child and young person is an individual with their own unique story, ambitions, and dreams for the future.
Get together with a friend to photograph an object and write a short story (300-word max) or record a voice note about your photograph and its meaning. The photograph you take can be something that inspires you or that is connected to your future hopes and dreams. For example, Sadhbh will be photographing a little pig ornament because she wants to swim with pigs the Bahamas one day! You can do this activity at school or where you live and send them into us to be included in our virtual exhibition! Send your image and story or voice note to participation@epiconline.ie with Care Day Photography Exhibition in the subject line by Friday 3rd February 2023.
Design a #CareAware bookmark using our bookmark template and include your #CareAware tips! Send your bookmark into EPIC and we will share it on #CareDay23 as part of our Virtual #CareAware Exhibition. All bookmark designs will also be entered into a special competition to become new EPIC resources for children and young people in care or with care experience.
Scan and send your bookmark design to participation@epiconline.ie with #CareAware Bookmark in the subject line, or post your design to EPIC, Empowering People in Care, 7 Red Cow Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7 before Friday 3rd February 2023.
Have a Book Sharing Day where you share a book with a friend that has a character you admire! We also want to create a Care Community Booklist of recommended reading from care-experienced children and young people and invite you to send us in your favourite book titles and a little about why it is your favourite - it can be fiction or non-fiction. Send your book recommendations to participation@epiconline.ie with Care Community Booklist in the subject line to have your book recommendation included.
As usual, we will run a number of competitions for Care Day and will share the information with you closer to the date. You can expect the Best Decorated Care Day Space to make a return. We are also super excited about our brand-new competition which was recommended by a young person – the Stick together, Stand Together Lego Competition!! Visit www.epiconline.ie/care-day-23 to find out more!
Show your support
- be #CareAware
We encourage people to organise their own #CareDay23 events and activities and also invite people to celebrate Care Day with us by sharing a message of support on February 17 – and remember to use the hashtags #CareDay23 and #CareAware. If you are organising a #CareDay23 event in your locality and would like us to promote it for you, please contact carolinereid@epiconline.ie.
For #CareDay23, be a #CareAware champion, as every journey, no matter how long, starts with the first step!