Take Care: New toolkit launched for schools

EPIC – Empowering People in Care
Launched April 2025

Take Care is a practical and creative toolkit designed to help schools build more inclusive and supportive environments for children and young people in care. At the heart of the book are the voices of care-experienced young people, whose insights and reflections shaped every stage of the process.

Now published and available, this powerful new resource has been created in collaboration with EPIC (Empowering People in Care) and TUSLA’s Education Support Service (TESS).

Through a series of creative workshops facilitated by Kids’ Own, young people aged 14–18 explored and expressed their school experiences through writing and visual art. Their stories bring to life the real challenges faced by students in care and highlight what meaningful support can look like in education settings.

Thanks to funding from TESS, this project has enabled young people’s lived experience to inform how schools engage with and support care-experienced students. The book offers practical guidance for educators, grounded in real-world experience, and encourages greater collaboration between the education and care sectors.

What’s inside?

• First-hand experiences from care-experienced young people.
• Practical recommendations for teachers, school leaders, and staff.
• Guidance on building a trauma-informed and inclusive school environment.
• Strategies for supporting care-experienced students.

Who is it for?

• Teachers: Learn how to create a safe and supportive learning space.
• Principals and School Leaders: Build a care-aware school culture.
• School Support Staff: Understand how you can make a difference.

To read more and download a copy of Take Care, visit: epiconline.ie/take-care-toolkit/