Advocacy for individuals and systemic change
Empowering People in Care (EPIC) provides advocacy support to children and young people in a range of care situations, including residential care, foster care, relative/ kinship care, hostels, and high support /special care facilities. EPIC also works with children and young adults preparing to leave care, and those in aftercare. Their advocacy support to children and young adults in the care system aims to increase their participation in the decisions affecting them. EPIC also works to resolve the issues and problems children and young people experience in care, and to help them access the services and resources they need and bring about positive change in their lives and in the care system.
Approach
A core part of EPIC’s work is to influence policy, legislation and practice to ensure better outcomes for children in care, in aftercare or for those with care experience. They use research findings and experiences shared by these young people to speak credibly on their behalf for changes at a local, regional and national level.
EPIC are active public campaigners lobbying for change and improvements in the provision and quality of care services at a local, regional and national level in Ireland and where possible, internationally. They also engage in training exchanges with other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and encourage peer-to peer sharing through their Fora and youth councils.
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