Our Impact
Restoring Young Lives Affected by Cancer and Other Serious Illness
Barretstown is Ireland’s leading provider of psychosocial care for children, young people and families affected by cancer and other serious illness.
Founded in 1994 by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman, our programmes have reached almost 175,000 children and young people, generating over €2.2 billion in social value.
Through our residential camps, outreach programmes in hospitals, schools and communities, and cutting-edge research, we address what medical treatment alone cannot — rebuilding confidence, restoring independence, and transforming a story of illness into one of possibility.
At Barretstown, we are known for creating magic through our residential camps and outreach programmes. In the medical world, it has a more formal name: psychosocial care.
Psychosocial care addresses the full picture of a young person’s recovery – their emotional wellbeing, mental health, relationships and social world. It is now widely recognised by the World Health Organisation and the Irish Government as an essential part of healthcare and long-term recovery. At Barretstown, it is at the heart of everything we do.
Mission
To restore the lives of children and young people affected by cancer and other serious illness, and their families, through life-changing psychosocial support — all in a safe, supportive and fun environment.
Vision
We believe every child and young person affected by cancer and other serious illness deserves the chance to restore their life, and to embrace it with joy, optimism and hope.
Values
Excellence
We lead the way in psychosocial care, integrating evidence-based practice and wellbeing into every programme. Through professional excellence, we continually improve the experience for children, young people, and their families.
Leadership
We collaborate to drive positive change for children and young people affected by serious illness, helping shape a future which has a truly integrated approach to healthcare.
Caring
We prioritise the care of children, young people, and their families. We listen responsively and engage in open, honest dialogue to meet their needs and expectations.
Fun
Fun is integral to everything we do. Laughter and joy are key to improving the lives of those affected by serious illness in childhood.
Impact
Ireland's most trusted provider of psychosocial care — with a global reach.
The case for psychosocial care has never been stronger. An independent report commissioned to mark our 30th anniversary found that Barretstown’s programmes have generated over €2.2 billion in social value across children, young people, families, volunteers and the wider community.
Without psychosocial care, that value simply doesn’t exist — and for too many seriously ill children and young people, neither does the path to full recovery.
And at the heart of this impact are the over 175,000 children, young people and families whose lives have been restored — and a community of volunteers, supporters and partners who made it possible.
History
Hospitals treat the illness. Barretstown treats the child.
Philanthropist and actor Paul Newman founded Barretstown with one singular ambition – to give children and young people living with cancer and other serious illness the chance to experience the fun, magic and wonder of childhood. In 1994, as part of the Serious Fun Children’s Network, he opened the camp in Ireland where children could, in his own words, “kick back and raise a little hell.” Through his extraordinary resolve and generosity, Paul redefined what’s possible when it comes to rebuilding young lives affected by cancer and other serious illness.
Our next chapter
Our next chapter is built on four strategic pillars — Programme Development, Research, Training and Advocacy. Just as psychosocial care addresses the whole child rather than a single symptom, these four pillars are designed to work together as a whole, each one making the others stronger.
Our residential camps and outreach programmes remain the heart of everything we do. Alongside them, our new Psychosocial Clinical Research Hub will lead cutting-edge research into psychosocial interventions. Our Training Centre of Excellence equips communities, healthcare professionals and educators with the tools to deliver outstanding psychosocial care beyond our gates. And through our advocacy, we work alongside Government, the HSE, clinicians and families to make psychosocial care understood, better funded and more available across Ireland.
We believe every young person affected by cancer and other serious illness deserves the chance to restore their life, and to embrace it with joy, optimism and hope. That is what Barretstown has always stood for. And today, we are making a commitment to stand for it for even more of them.