Search
10 Feb 2026
Search
10 Feb 2026
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Last year, iCARE celebrated its silver jubilee, 25 years of helping children with autism and their families
A simple online vote could deliver a major boost for autism services in Inishowen, with local charity iCARE shortlisted for a national PTSB ‘community partnership’ and calling on the public to get behind its campaign.
Inishowen Children’s Autism Related Education (iCARE) is one of five charities competing in the North and West category of the national awards, which are decided by an online public vote.
iCARE is appealing for public support. If it gets enough online votes, the Buncrana-based organisation could become a PTSB community partner and secure a significant cash grant.
Formed in 2000 by parents seeking better supports for children diagnosed with autism, iCARE has grown into a vital service for families across Inishowen, providing after-school programmes, weekend and holiday activities, youth services and adult supports.
Over the past quarter of a century, iCARE has steadily extended its services, establishing its base on Looking Glass Brae in Buncrana in 2007, the Sonas Youth Club for teenagers in 2013, and the iADULT day service in 2020.
Read more: Photos from iCARE open day to mark 25 years of sterling service
Fifteen charities have been shortlisted overall, with five in each of three regions - Dublin and surrounding counties, North and West, and South and East.
The two charities receiving the highest number of public votes in each region will be selected as a PTSB community partner for 2026.
iCARE members recently enjoyed a coffee morning at the PTSB branch in Buncrana.
In the North and West category, iCARE is competing alongside The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Cavan Autism Parents Support, Louth Cerebral Palsy Group and SOSAD Ireland.
The PTSB Community initiative supports local organisations that make a meaningful difference in communities across Ireland. To date, the programme has provided more than €2 million in funding to charities nationwide. The successful organisations selected this year will become PTSB community partners for 2026.
iCARE has encouraged the public to get behind the campaign, stressing that every vote counts and that people can vote using multiple devices.
Voting is now open and will close on Sunday, 22 February.
Votes can be cast at this link: PTSB Community Partners
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
