Children First Awareness Week
This is a nationwide campaign to promote the protection and safeguarding of children and young people against abuse and neglect.
This year’s campaign took place from 15th – 21st of September 2025. The key message from the Department, “We were all children once. Now we are Children First” reinforces that safeguarding is everyone’s business. Youth workers and volunteers are responsible adults in the lives of children and young people and are in key positions to identify when they might be experiencing harm and to report it to the relevant people so action can be taken to prevent future harm from occurring.
The term “Children First” refers to both the Children First Act 2015 and the Children First National Guidance for the Protection & Welfare of Children 2017. It recognises that children and young people exist outside of their homes and should be protected in their schools, sports clubs, youth clubs and services, dance classes, drama groups, or wherever else they wish to spend their time. Youth work organisations have a responsibility under Children First to ensure their services are safe, inclusive and protective for children and young people. This means having safeguarding structures in place that contribute to creating a culture of safeguarding throughout the whole organisation.
This Children First Awareness Week we invite you to think of all the things you do to create safe environments that ensure children and young people are protected from harm in your youth work organisation and consider how you share this important work with young people and their parents/carers in clear, accessible, and meaningful ways.
NYCI’s National Child Protection Programme has planned a range of events to celebrate Children First Awareness Week. We invite you to join us for one of our webinars or consider attending our in-person event to discuss the issue of Peer Abuse. Whatever your interest we would love to see you! Please click on the links to register your interest in our webinars and to let us know if you’d like to attend our in-person event on the 17th September!
For further information, please reach out to the Child Protection Programme Administrator, Olwyn (olwyn@nyci.ie).
Themes Explored During Children First Awareness Week 2025
Click below to expand themes!
We held a webinar on Monday the 15th of September with speakers from Saoirse Domestic Violence Services who highlighted ways in which we can recognise the harm and impact of domestic violence on children and young people.
Click to Access Saoirse’s Children First Awareness Presentation >> Saoirse NYCI Child Protection Presentation Recognising and Responding to Domestic Violence
Watch back Saoirse Webinar discussing Domestic Violence >>
Click to Access Article: Recognising and Responding to Domestic Violence >>
Click Below To Explore Further Resources
Child trafficking is a hidden but devasting crime. How can we recognise when a young person is being exploited and what should we do?
Click to Access Mecpath’s Children First Awareness Presentation >> MECPATHS Presenation Overview 2025
Click Below To Explore Further Resources
Click to Access CARI’s Children First Awareness Presentation >> CARI Peer Abuse Presentation
Click to Access NIAPP’s Children First Awareness Presentation >> National Inter-Agency Prevention Programme Peer Abuse Presentation
Click to Access An Garda Síochána Online Exploitation Unit’s Children First Awareness Presentation >> An Garda Síochána Presentation
Watch back An Garda Síochána’s Webinar discussing how to Recognise and Respond to Online Abuse >>
Click Below To Explore Further Resources
- Report Concerns to Hotline
- Report on Child “self-generated” sexual material online: children and young people’s perspectives”:
Click through below to access our Children First Awareness Presentations >>
- Cloyne Diocesan Youth service (CDYS) Presentation
- Foróige Presentation
- Sphere 17 Presentation
Watch back our Webinar discussing Safeguarding in Youth Work >>
Click Below To Explore Further Resources
- Tusla Consultation with Young People
- Lundy model of Participation
- Tusla Changing Futures Website (designed by young people for young people)
Articles from Children First Awareness Week 2025!
Child safeguarding is everyone’s business. This September we’re coming together again to think of all the ways we put the safety and wellbeing of children and […]
Children and young people are often the silent victims of domestic violence. How do we recognise when they are being harmed and what should we do? […]
Child trafficking is a hidden but devasting crime. How can we recognise when a young person is being exploited and what should we do? Child trafficking […]
Organised as part of our ongoing suite of events for Children First Awareness week, today’s in-person gathering at Wood Quay Venue marked the launch of a […]
Recognising and Responding to Online Abuse: its impact on young people and the role of youth work. Children and young people are increasingly vulnerable to online […]
Youth work comes in many different shapes and sizes in Ireland, with each organisation being unique in terms of what they provide for young people and children to enjoy and experience! However, every organisation has at least one thing in common no matter what type of service they provide: Safeguarding.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or need further information about any of our events, please do get in touch.
Email: olwyn@nyci.ie ¦ Tel: 01 4255946
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