The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation was set up in 1997 by Jonathan Irwin and his wife Mary Ann O’Brien (founder Lily O’Brien’s chocolates), in memory of their son Jack who suffered a brain trauma shortly after birth that left him developmentally delayed and shattered the dreams and hopes of his parents.
They were traumatised. However, despite the medical advice at that time that there was no support for Jack outside of the hospital, the family brought Jack home and cobbled together a homecare plan with the help of five local nurses from their neighbourhood.
Baby Jack lived at home for 22 months and died on 13th December 1997 in the arms of his favourite nurse, having taught his family and friends what the best homecare looks like and how short lives can have such a long lasting impact. His parents vowed that no other family would have to walk this difficult care journey alone and the Jack and Jill Foundation became the pathway from hospital to homecare through Jack’s legacy.
Jack’s homecare plan was the blueprint for the Jack and Jill Foundation’s unique model of child and family centred care that gives the parent carer a break from the intensive home care regime required for a child like Jack.
Supported
547
families in 2025
Currently have
530+
families in our care
Helped
3,319
families since 1997
Families refer to the service as The Gift of Time.
Time to do the ‘normal’ things that others take for granted.
Jack and Jill is always mindful of the isolation and loneliness that families experience and nurses pay particular attention to the needs and emotions of the healthy brothers and sisters who can so easily be overlooked.
The name Jack and Jill has its origins in the nursery rhyme Jack and Jill went up the Hill to fetch a pail of Water; Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after. The reference to crown or head is synonymous with brain trauma or injury and Jack and Jill rolls off the tongue easily.
