CHILDREN ALL ACROSS Ireland need your help now more than ever.

Ahead of this year’s Giving Day, children’s charity Barnardos is appealing to the public for their help in providing vulnerable children with the kind of basic essentials that no child should go without.

This year, Giving Day will take place on 19 September. The day marks a massive opportunity for people like you to help put food on the table for vulnerable children and families who need support.

Visit Barnardos online to learn more about Giving Day and make a big difference by donating what you can. Every euro donated will make a real and lasting difference to a vulnerable child who needs it.  

Unfortunately, more and more families are in need of the help that Barnardos provides. With 56 service locations across Ireland, Barnardos works with families who are affected by traumatic life situations such as poverty, abuse, parental mental health challenges, neglect, separation, bereavement and parental addiction.

Speaking to The Journal ahead of this year’s Giving Day, Barnardos Project Worker Anne-Marie spoke about her experience of seeing first-hand how support from Barnardos can give a family hope. She spoke about working with Debbie and her six-year-old son Alex.

‘Debbie is doing everything she can to give Alex the best start in life, but the cost of living crisis has made it impossible for her to manage alone,’ Anne-Marie said.

‘When I first visited their home, I noticed the radiators were cold. She kept
Alex wrapped in blankets, turning it into a ‘cosy den’ game so he wouldn’t feel the reality of going to bed in the cold.’ Anne-Marie also noted that providing meals was a struggle for Debbie, with outings such as birthday parties, swimming and trips to the cinema ‘far out of reach’.

One of Ireland’s leading children’s charities, Barnardos report a growing demand for their services, with the number of vulnerable children and families in need of help growing each week.

Patrick Bolger Patrick Bolger

In addition to service locations, Barnardos work in family homes and schools to provide services such as early intervention, specialist services, and practical and emotional support.

Children like Alex benefit immensely from these supports. 

‘Together, we made sure Alex had what he needed to start school with confidence,’ Anne-Marie said. ‘He joined a small children’s group, where he could play, talk, and feel less alone. For his mam, simply having someone to check in, listen without judgement, and offer practical help lifted an enormous weight.’

‘Today, there’s a little more light in their lives. Debbie told me: “For the first time in a
long time, I felt seen.”’

Ahead of this year’s Giving Day, it’s important to be mindful of the stark reality faced by many families in Ireland.

According to data from the Barnardos Cost of Living 2025 report, nearly one-in-five families have cut back on or went without heating and electricity over the past six months. 40% of parents said they skipped meals or reduced portion size so their children would have enough to eat; 28% felt at some point they didn’t have enough food to feed their children; 12% used a foodbank. Similarly, one-third of parents report going into arrears on their energy bills. 

Funds raised on Giving Day will go towards a range of essentials to help vulnerable children in need. This includes providing children with a nutritious start at Barnardos’ breakfast clubs, hot dinner at their after-school clubs, and practical support for families at their Family Support Services across the country — including food vouchers, fuel, and other basic essentials. Money donated will also be used to provide therapeutic support for families. 

‘On Barnardos Giving Day, we are asking people across Ireland to give what they can, so we can keep supporting families like Debbie and Alex’s,’ says Anne-Marie.

‘A donation you make today helps us provide warmth, food, school essentials, and most importantly, hope.’

This Giving Day, give what you can to help vulnerable children access the kind of services that can give them the platform to thrive and change their lives for the better.

Please donate what you can at www.barnardosgivingday.ie.