Disability charity to expand services in Newbridge & Athy
Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD, Caroline Prendergast (Kare Board Member), Edward Timmins TD, Breon Timmons (Board Member), Minister Emer Higgins, Brian Murray (Board Member), Margaret O'Neill (Kare CEO), Jason Kennedy (Board Member), Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, Matthew Behan (Board Chairperson), Caroline Wiseman-Kenndey, Board Member, Aidan Farrelly TD, pictured at the launch of Kare's new strategic plan in Newbridge Silverware on Monday.
KILDARE non-profit organisation Kare has published its new strategic plan, which was recently launched in Newbridge by Emer Higgins, Minister of State with special responsibility for Disability.
The Newbridge-based charity is well known for its work supporting those with intellectual disabilities, and is now championing the slogan: ‘Connected communities where everyone belongs’ in the newly launched five-year plan.
The plan focuses on delivering high-quality, person-centred services, alongside five other priorities: advocacy, governance, supporting staff, technology and innovation, and building strong partnerships and long-term sustainability.
Kare shaped the plan through extensive engagement with the people Kare supports, their families and staff, to reflect what matters most to them. A key event in the consultation process was the Beyond Barriers conference held in November 2025 by the Voice for Kare advocacy committee, which was attended by more than 100 individuals supported by Kare.
The Chairperson of Voice for Kare, David Leigh, welcomed the Minister and guests to the launch event and said: “Last November we held our Beyond Barriers conference. This was a very important event where people who use Kare’s services came together to talk about the things that matter most to us. The ideas and discussions from the day have helped to shape this plan. I am looking forward to seeing how Kare grows and improves over the next five years.” Kare has expanded significantly since it was founded in 1967, and continues to respond to increasing demand for its services. Through this plan, the organisation has set out an ambitious programme of work which will see continued expansion of services to meet changing needs, including the opening of two new day services later this year in Newbridge and Athy.
Kare CEO, Margaret O’Neill, commented: “Kare has always adapted to meet the needs of the people we support, and those needs continue to grow and change. This plan sets out how we will respond to that in the years ahead, in alignment with Ireland’s National Human Rights Strategy for People with Disabilities. It’s ambitious, but it is rooted in Kare’s history, values and community spirit, which remain at the heart of everything we do.”
As Kare approaches its 60th anniversary in 2027, the new strategic plan reflects on where the organisation has come from and sets out its direction for the future.
The full strategic plan and Easy Read version are available at https://www.kare.ie/strategicplan.
