Spokespeople available.
27th January. More than 50 people gathered on the 10th of December to celebrate the official launch of Barnardos services in County Clare. This included families who are currently receiving support, funders Tusla, and community partners. Barnardos will provide support for young parents and their children, victims of domestic abuse and refugees from Ukraine.
Barnardos has been providing support to families in Clare since 2019. One major programme is TLC KIDZ, an early intervention approach for children and young people who have experienced domestic violence and abuse. The programme helps children heal from the impact of domestic abuse and helps mothers in understanding their child’s experiences and support their recovery.
Another major programme Barnardos runs for parents in Clare is the Young Parent Support Programme, which is funded through the European Social Fund Plus in partnership with Tusla PPFS and Treoir. This service is for families of young parents under 24 years of age. It supports young parents from pregnancy throughout the first 1000 days of their baby’s life and development.
In September 2025, the Barnardos Clare service expanded to include a full-time Project Worker post to work specifically with families from Ukraine and those seeking International Protection (this service is supported by ESF and Tusla). The service offers a suite of targeted, trauma informed support on a one to one basis, within IPAS centres or other community locations.
Laura Keane, Project Leader, Barnardos Limerick North
“The focus of our work is helping children and their families to build resilience and stabilise the impact of trauma to feel safer and more regulated, to develop skills to cope with difficult things that have happened in family life, and support to develop more positive relationships and support networks. We are delighted to open our door to more people in Clare. It’s a number of years in the making.”
Samantha Dunne, National YPSP Manager, Treoir
“On behalf of the Treoir team, it has been a delight to work with the Clare YPSP Project all in the early stages of its establishment, and we look forward to working with Barnardos to support more families in Clare”.
Áine Mellett- Tusla Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Service (PPFS) Manager
“Our journey in getting services to this point started more than two years ago. I am delighted to support the new and exciting programmes being offered by Barnardos. I welcome Barnardos participation in the work that Tusla is doing locally through our five local Child and Family supports networks. By working together our goal is to proactively identify and reach out to the children and families most in need in our communities so that they can flourish and thrive.”
To contact Barnardos Clare call 086 027 1147
For further information, please contact:
Barnardos Press Office: 086 044 5966
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: barnardosireland
Instagram: @barnardos_irl
LinkedIn: @barnardos_irl
