Family Carers Ireland

What Family Carers Ireland does

Family Carers Ireland is a national charity (company limited by guarantee, RCN: 20029029) headquartered in Tullamore, Ireland, supporting Ireland's estimated 624,000+ family carers — individuals providing unpaid care to loved ones with disabilities, chronic illness, mental health conditions, addiction, or old-age related needs. Founded in 2016 and operating with 101-250 staff, the organisation delivers services through 21-22 resource and outreach centres covering all 26 counties, a National Freephone Careline (1800 24 07 24), virtual counselling, an online community forum, and HSE-funded home care delivery. Its product portfolio spans the National Freephone Careline, eLearning courses, the QQI Level 6 Certificate in Family Caring (delivered with IT Carlow), the Emergency Card Scheme (operated with An Garda Síochána, the National Ambulance Service, the Irish Red Cross, and the Order of Malta), the Young Carers Programme, home care services, the Seniors Alert Scheme, the Caring Employers Programme, and the Lidl Family Carer of the Year Awards.

The organisation is funded through a mix of HSE and government grant income (including Dormant Accounts Fund grants administered via Pobal), corporate donations and partnerships (notably Irish Life €350,000, Tesco Ireland €50,000, Lidl Ireland, Netwatch, Royal London Ireland, Eli Lilly), individual giving and fundraising campaigns (Heart of Gold, Dublin Marathon), membership subscriptions processed via Stripe, and home care service fees. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: 21-22 local centres, a freephone careline, online platforms, and policy/lobbying activities targeting government. Segments served include family carers (primary), young carers aged 10-17 (~67,000 estimated), and employers participating in the Caring Employers Programme. Recent strategic emphasis has been on emergency planning (Emergency Card Scheme), digital learning (eLearning courses), employer engagement (Caring Employers), and securing major corporate charity partners to diversify income beyond state grants.

Name

Family Carers Ireland

Legal name

Family Carers Ireland

Website

https://familycarers.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Family Carers Ireland is a national charity headquartered in Tullamore that supports Ireland's 624,000+ family carers through 21-22 resource centres, a freephone careline, eLearning, virtual counselling, home care, and the Emergency Card Scheme, funded by HSE grants, corporate donations, and membership fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Caregiver Support Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Caregiver Coaching, Education & Support (HSABAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Family Care Navigation & Care Coordination Platforms (multi-member care plans, referrals) (HLALAHAL)

Keywords

• Caregiver support services
• Home care support
• Family carer advocacy
• Community care resources
• Social care charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Tullamore

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government and HSE Funding: Core operational funding from government bodies including the HSE for home support services delivery, HSE Home Services, and grant funding from various government departments.
2. Charitable Donations and Fundraising: Corporate donations (e.g., Irish Life €350,000, Tesco Ireland €50,000), individual donations, and fundraising campaigns such as Heart of Gold and Dublin Marathon.
3. Membership Fees: Membership programme with login functionality, payments processed via Stripe PCI-compliant system.
4. Home Care Service Fees: HSE-funded home support services, private home care services, and family carer in-home respite services provided through the organisation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Family Carers Ireland is Ireland's national charity providing direct support services to over 624,000 family carers through 21-22 resource centres. Core offerings include a National Freephone Careline, eLearning courses, virtual counselling, home care services, an Emergency Card Scheme, peer support groups, an online community forum, and a Young Carers Programme. The organisation also conducts policy advocacy and research to influence systemic change for unpaid carers.

Product overview

Family Carers Ireland is a national charity offering a comprehensive suite of support services for family carers rather than a technology product company. The portfolio includes the National Freephone Careline (1800 24 07 24), eLearning Courses, Certificate in Family Caring (QQI Level 6 partnership with IT Carlow), Young Carers Programme, Virtual Counselling Service, Emergency Card Scheme, Home Care Services, Seniors Alert Scheme, Carer Support Groups, Online Community Forum, Research Publications, Caring Employers Programme, Working Care Out, Information Booklets, and the annual Carer of the Year Awards. These services work together to provide emotional support, practical assistance, education, emergency response, and advocacy for Ireland's family carers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Freephone Careline National freephone helpline (1800 24 07 24) providing emotional support, guidance, and information to family carers across Ireland, free to all callers.
• Virtual Counselling Service Free virtual counselling service delivered online via secure video link or by phone, helping family carers cope with stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional challenges.
• Home Care Services Range of home care services including HSE-funded Home Support, Private Home Care, Family Carer In-Home Respite, and Emergency Respite delivered across Ireland.
• eLearning Courses Online educational courses for family carers covering self-care, dementia care, first aid skills, nutrition, communication, and other caregiving topics.
• Certificate in Family Caring QQI Level 6 special purpose award developed with Institute of Technology Carlow, providing formal accreditation for family carers' caregiving skills and knowledge.
• Emergency Card Scheme Emergency response scheme providing peace of mind to family carers by ensuring their loved ones receive support if the carer has an unplanned hospital admission. Delivered in partnership with An Garda Síochána, National Ambulance Service, Irish Red Cross, and Order of Malta.
• Young Carers Programme Specialised support for young carers under 18, including projects, a Parent Hub, Young Carers Card, and eLearning modules addressing mental health, self-care, assertiveness, stress, and nutrition.
• Seniors Alert Scheme Personal alarm scheme for older people providing monitored personal alarms and pendants in selected Irish counties including Carlow, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, and Wexford.
• Carer Support Groups Peer support groups connecting family carers with others in similar situations to share experiences, reduce social isolation, and access mutual support.
• Online Community Forum Digital peer support platform enabling family carers to connect, share experiences, and access peer support online.
• Caring Employers Programme Programme supporting employers to develop carer-friendly workplace policies and support employees who juggle family caring with paid work.
• Carer of the Year Awards Annual awards programme (currently Lidl Family Carer of the Year Awards) recognising and celebrating the contribution of Ireland's family carers.
• Information Booklets Educational resources and guidance booklets covering rights, entitlements, legal guides, and practical caring information for family carers.

Quantifiable outcome

• €20 billion annual savings to the State through unpaid care
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NetwatchcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 October 2019Partnership since 2019 for the Netwatch Carer of the Year Awards. Netwatch, headquartered in Carlow, is a global leader in proactive visual monitoring. The awards recognise and celebrate the contribution of Ireland's family carers.
• Lidl IrelandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCharity partnership including Lidl's 'We Care Back' campaign and Lidl Family Carer of the Year Awards. Major corporate partnership supporting recognition of family carers.
• Institute of Technology CarlowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver QQI Level 6 Certificate in Family Caring programme. Funded through Dormant Accounts Fund administered by Pobal. Three courses delivered in 2019 with six more scheduled for 2020.
• An Garda SíochánacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency Card Scheme partnership. An Garda Síochána provides 'red response' visiting the person in emergency and deciding if transportation to emergency department is needed.
• National Ambulance Service Community First Responder SchemescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency Card Scheme partnership providing 'green response' volunteers to support cared-for person until home care package is organised.
• The Irish Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency Card Scheme partnership providing volunteer support during emergencies when family carer is hospitalised.
• The Order of MaltacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency Card Scheme partnership providing volunteer support during emergencies when family carer is hospitalised.
• HSEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHSE Home Services delivery including home care hours, home support packages. Also collaboration on COVID-19 response and home care policy.
• College of Psychiatrists of IrelandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on Paying the Price report examining the physical, mental and psychological impact of caring.
• UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health SystemsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on Paying the Price report and other research projects examining family carers' experiences.
• EurocarersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network membership. Family Carers Ireland participates in Eurocarers AGM and calls for EU-wide action to support carers.
• Royal London IrelandmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to provide support for family carers.
• Eli LillymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransformative collaboration announced to support family carers nationwide.
• LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's HospiceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoined the Caring Employers Programme to support employees with caring responsibilities.
• Iarnród ÉireannminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoined the Caring Employers Programme to support employees with caring responsibilities.
• Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and ReformminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJoined the Caring Employers Programme to support employees with caring responsibilities.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Age Action Ireland: Irish charity advocating for older people and ageing-related issues; comparable to FCI as a Dublin-based national non-profit with overlapping beneficiaries, policy advocacy function, and donor base.
• ALONE: Irish national charity supporting older people in their homes; closely comparable to Family Carers Ireland because it operates an adjacent population, runs national support services, and competes for the same HSE funding pool and corporate CSR partners in Ireland.
• Care Alliance Ireland: Irish umbrella organisation for family carers; the most direct peer in mission and constituency, providing research, policy, and support services to family carers in Ireland.
• LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's Hospice: Irish children's hospice and palliative care charity; comparable as a national non-profit serving family carers of children with life-limiting conditions and a Caring Employers partner that overlaps with FCI's Young Carers Programme.

Others

• HSE (Health Service Executive): Ireland's national health and social care delivery body; the primary statutory funder of FCI's home-support services and a strategic partner on the Emergency Card Scheme, making it the most consequential counterparty in FCI's operating model.
• Eurocarers: European network representing informal carers and carer organisations; comparable as the EU-level policy and research body that FCI already engages with through AGM participation and joint advocacy.

Regional players

• Carers UK: UK national membership charity for unpaid carers; comparable as a sister organisation in a neighbouring market with parallel services (advice line, policy lobbying, research, employer engagement) and similar funding model.
• Carers Australia: Australian peak body for unpaid carers; comparable as a national voice and policy advocate for family carers, similar constituency scope, and analogous government and corporate partnership mix.
• Carers Trust: UK charity network supporting unpaid carers through local carer services; comparable to FCI's network of 21-22 community resource centres, with a similar mix of direct service delivery and policy advocacy.
• Family Caregiver Alliance (US): US national non-profit serving family caregivers of adults with chronic, disabling health conditions; directly comparable service mix including care navigation, counselling, research, and policy advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/carersireland
• Facebookfacebook.com/familycarers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/family-carers-ireland

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Family Carers Ireland