Barnardos Knowledge Bank
Not a member yet
1232 research outputs found
Sort by
Parent and Carer Involvement in the Online World of Children
No full textReportSince 2014, the Barnardos Online Safety Programme, supported by Google.org, has equipped children, parents, and educators across Ireland with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital world safely. Delivering workshops to over 100,000 children in more than 1,000 schools, the programme promotes a holistic approach where digital providers, policymakers, and communities all contribute to creating safe, age-appropriate online spaces. Each year, Barnardos gathers insights from children to shape programme delivery, and this year’s research also includes the perspective of parents and carers. The report explores how supported children feel by their caregivers in online activities, their comfort in discussing digital experiences, and when they seek help. Findings show that teens often struggle to talk about the emotional aspects of their online lives, while younger children seek more guidance on identifying misinformation, emotional wellbeing, and online consumer behaviour but value autonomy over screen time and social media use. Parents, although actively engaged, report difficulty keeping pace with technological change. The insights underscore the need for open communication, mutual trust, and shared digital experiences between parents and children to strengthen resilience, encourage positive online participation, and promote digital safety
Evaluating the Implementation and Impact of Integrated Services in Finglas (Summary)
Get PDFEvaluation reportThis independent evaluation, commissioned by Barnardos Ireland, examines the implementation and impact of integrated service delivery and interagency collaboration in Finglas, an urban area of north Dublin marked by entrenched socio-economic disadvantage. The study focuses on two community-led, prevention and early intervention (PEI) initiatives—the Better Finglas Area-Based Childhood (ABC) Programme and the Finglas West Family Resource Centre (FWFRC)—both coordinated by Barnardos in partnership with a broad network of local, statutory, and voluntary stakeholders.
Finglas faces multiple intergenerational challenges, including high deprivation levels, educational disadvantage, poor health outcomes, and elevated rates of lone parenthood and child protection referrals. In this context, the evaluation explores how the Finglas interagency model supports more cohesive, accessible, and responsive service delivery for children and families. The study adopts a mixed-methods, participatory approach encompassing desk research, stakeholder interviews, focus groups, surveys, and service-user feedback. It does not assess individual programmes, but instead investigates how collaboration shapes local service planning, coordination, and outcomes.
The Finglas model integrates statutory, community, and voluntary agencies under structured governance arrangements comprising steering groups and multi-tiered partnership networks. Its core principles include holistic, trauma-informed, and evidence-based responses; proactive early intervention; shared resources; and strong community trust and participation. A central conceptual tool—the Continuum of Collaboration—maps the varying levels of partnership, from networking to full integration, illustrating how collaboration adapts to local complexity, capacity, and need.
Findings indicate that the collaborative framework has yielded tangible benefits across several domains. Families report improved access to early years and family supports, seamless service experiences, and positive relationships with practitioners. Service providers highlight strengthened referral pathways, reduced duplication, and greater efficiency through shared planning and resource alignment. Interagency hubs such as Better Finglas and FWFRC have also enhanced community reputation, becoming trusted, inclusive spaces attracting families from beyond the immediate catchment. However, challenges persist, including limited resources, inconsistent participation, and administrative barriers to formalising collaboration through memoranda of understanding. Gaps in male engagement also signal the need for targeted outreach and broader inclusion strategies.
Overall, the evaluation concludes that the Finglas interagency model represents an effective, adaptable framework for delivering integrated, community-based PEI services in contexts of deep disadvantage. The report recommends consolidating governance and data systems, strengthening community involvement, and embedding sustained funding mechanisms to secure long-term viability. As a replicable model, Finglas demonstrates that well-supported collaboration can transform local service ecosystems, enhance equity, and build more resilient systems of care for vulnerable children and families
Parental Mental Health & the Impact on Children
Get PDFReportAt Barnardos, we believe that all children deserve the best start in life. Our services aim to transform the lives of vulnerable children because childhood lasts a lifetime. One of the most important ways of providing children experiencing disadvantage the best opportunity for positive wellbeing and development is to make sure they live in a safe, consistent and secure environment with loving adults who can parent positively.
Unfortunately there are adversities that can make that more challenging. This briefing focuses on one of those issues, poor parental mental health. Without adequate supports, children living in households experiencing poor parental mental health are at greater risk of developing their own mental health problems, disengaging from school, struggling to build relationships and generally experiencing worse wellbeing and future opportunities.
If we want to improve children and young people’s mental health across the country, a firm commitment made under this new Government, addressing the negative impact of parental mental health must be a priority. Whole family supports mitigate and reduce the potential harm and negative impacts on children. Enhancing and making them more readily available should be a first step, because childhood lasts a lifetime
Barnardos Children’s Budget 2026
No full textPaperIn the recent Programme for Government1 there was a commitment to implement actions to ‘lift more children out of poverty, giving them the futures they deserve’. The Taoiseach Michael Martin reiterated this at the National Economic Dialogue stating that for Budget 2026 he is asking ministers to plan and come forward with measures that will really make the difference to the most vulnerable families and children.
In order to achieve this, and improve childhoods for those most at risk, there must be increased financial supports as well as additional family, health and developmental supports. Too many children continue to go without essentials, and too many families and children go without the support they need to have a decent childhood and provide them with the best opportunities to develop. All children should have access to decent quality homes, parents who are in a position to support, access to essentials and the ability to access essential services.
The longer children live in poverty and deprivation and go without essential supports, the greater an impact it will have on their health, wellbeing, and future development
Online Safety Over the Summer Holidays
Get PDFInformation sheetAs the school year wraps up, children and young people often spend more time online — from social apps and streaming videos to games and group chats. While these digital activities can offer entertainment and connection, they can also bring challenges to wellbeing, focus, and safety. Here are some tips on how you can support your children’s online safety and balance screen time over the holidays
Being a Parent to a Young Adult – 18 to 24 Years
Get PDFInformation sheetInformation sheet for parents of young adults aged between 18 and 24
Cost of Living Crisis: Impact on Children 2024
Get PDFReportFor the past three years Barnardos has been monitoring the impact of cost of living increases on families and children. The latest Barnardos Cost of Living Report outlines the stark reality on the number of families who are cutting back and going without essentials due to increases in cost of living, the struggles families are facing and the impact it is having on their children.
Barnardos commissioned Amarach Research to carry out a nationally representative survey with 1,000 parents/guardians with children aged under 18 in their care. The survey was carried out in April 2024. We also discussed cost of living issues directly with parents in over 10 Barnardos services across the country. We surveyed and spoke to staff across our services to get their views on cost of living issues facing the families we support
Barnardos Children’s Budget 2025
No full textPaperContinued cost of living pressures over the past 12 months have pulled more and more children into deprivation and placed increased pressure on parents. Too many children continue to go without essentials, and too many families and children go without the support they need to have a decent childhood and provide them with the best opportunities to develop. The longer children live in poverty and deprivation, the greater an impact it will have on their health, wellbeing, and future development.
The Taoiseach recently stated he is determined that Ireland will be a European and world leader in progressively eliminating child poverty, and making sure that every child can realise their potential. This Government, in their final budget, has a real opportunity to progress that ambition and make lasting change. Firstly, it can introduce measures to address the issue of children going without essentials by prioritising families struggling most and at greatest risk of going without essentials. Secondly, introduce more supports needed to ensure children can live in secure homes with supportive adults around them and are therefore in a position to realise their potential. That means support to address or mitigate any harm that might be caused by adversities within the home
The Real Cost of School in 2024 - Back to School Survey (Summary)
Get PDFPaperFor 20 years Barnardos has highlighted the costs and pressures experienced by parents when preparing their children to go back to school each September. This year the survey was live from the 19th June to the 20th July inclusive. A total of over 900 responses were received. These responses represented the costs associated with 500 primary school pupils and 410 secondary school students. The costs examined in the survey comprise the basics required for returning to school, such as schoolbooks, school uniforms, classroom resources, digital technology and voluntary contributions, as well as school tours and trips
Early Years eNews: Issue 3
No full textNewsletterIn this issue of Early Years eNews, we bring you updates from across the ELC and SAC sector including information of the Child Care (Amendment) Blll, the launch of Equal Start, the extension of AIM and the evaluation of LINC. We also have all the latest info from Barnardos