Children and foster families in Mayo celebrate Care Day 2026

Mayo Care Day 2026, held in collaboration with EPIC (Empowering People in Care) advocacy service, EPIC Youth Council members and Foróige Connect, is an opportunity to celebrate all children in care. This year marks ten years of Care Day and the theme ‘The Future Starts with Us’ celebrates the dreams, hopes and ambitions of care-experienced youth, and reminds us that every young person deserves the opportunity to shape their own future. Care Day is a chance for young people with care experience to share their experiences, recognise their resilience and achievements and enjoy time together.

The fun-filled day was held for all care-experienced children and young people from Mayo. Children, young people and foster families from across the county gathered for a day of food, music, games, and fun. There were a range of activities, which included scavenger hunts, outdoor nature activities, and arts and crafts.

The Mayo young people’s FORA also played an important role in helping run the event, suggesting ideas for the day and facilitating activities for the younger children. This will in turn help some of the young people involved achieve their GAISCE Award.

At the end of December 2025 there were 161 children and young people in care in Mayo. Care Day is a celebration of all children and young people with care experience, which includes children and young people who are or were cared for by family members, in foster care, children’s residential care or aftercare. 

Commenting on the event Heather Wilson, Mayo Area Manager, Tusla, said “It was a joy to celebrate Care Day 2026 with children and young people from Tusla's foster care, residential care and aftercare services from across Mayo. It is so important that children and young people with care experience feel supported to achieve their full potential and have an opportunity to come together to share and promote awareness of their experiences. We are very proud to celebrate our children and young people in care, and with care experience, along with our foster carers, our team, and with the support of our partner agencies.”

Brenda Kneafsey from EPIC said “EPIC is delighted to collaborate with Tusla Mayo and Foróige Connect to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Care Day. Care Day was established to celebrate the positive experiences and contributions of children and young people in care or with care experience. It helps 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. The Mayo Tusla and Foróige teams have embraced the values of Care Day and have brought great enthusiasm and energy to today’s event to celebrate young people in care in Mayo and showcase their achievements and creativity.”

Care Day promotes the importance of hearing directly from young people with care experience, learning from their experiences, and listening to understand the challenges they face, so that we can work to improve services and to ensure they receive the right support to help them to achieve their full potential. It also provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of our foster carers and professional teams making a difference in the lives of children in care right across the county.

If you want to make a difference to a child's life and are interested in becoming a foster carer, you can visit www.fostering.ie, call freephone 1800 226 771 or email tusla.fostering@tusla.ie.

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