Siblings and young carers

brother and sister

Having a child with an additional need and disability affects the whole family – including brothers and sisters. And  they also need support to manage their feelings, information and “me” time.

Centre 33  – support across Cambridgeshire

Centre 33 logoCentre 33 provides a range of services across the county for 8-18 year old Young Carers (including siblings).

They provide:

  • a young carers needs assessment
  • information, advice and support
  • opportunities to meet up with other young carers
  • one to one support
  • groups in primary and secondary schools and other places across Cambridgeshire
  • regular activities and events
  • support during transitions such as changing schools, starting independent living.

Centre 33 have produce a handy guide for parents about the young carers project.

For more information, visit https://centre33.org.uk/help/how-we-can-help, contact Centre 33 on 0333 4141809 or email help@centre33.org.uk

Caring Together’s Offer for Siblings

Caring Together put on a range of virtual activities and workshops for young carers (including siblings) and also plan trips and activities to provide them with a much-needed break.

They know that for many brothers or sisters of children with disabilities or additional needs, they can miss out on breaks from their caring role, or on spending quality time with their sibling. Through Caring Together’s team of trained workers, they are able to provide these children with a much-needed break and fun opportunities – this could range from supporting them to do a fun activity together with their brothers or sisters such as baking or cooking, to taking the young carer out to do a fun activity (e.g. trampolining, bowling, or even just going for a milkshake).

To find out more about any of Caring Together’s events and other opportunities for young carers, contact them on 0345 241 0954, email hello@caringtogether.org or sign up to their mailing list at www.caringtogether.org/mailinglist

Sibs

Sibs logoSibs is the UK charity for brothers and sisters of disabled children and adults.

YoungSibs

YoungSibs, is a part of the Sibs website that is especially for children and young people (aged 6-17) who have a brother or sister who is disabled, has special educational needs or a serious long-term condition. The site includes information and help pages as well as a forum to chat to other siblings dealing with similar issues.

“Big Sibs” at Student Community Action

Cambridge Student Community Action provides a volunteer befriender for children from one‐parent or carer families, children that have suffered a bereavement, children with disabilities, learning difficulties or behavioural problems, or children with family members who have disabilities, learning difficulties or behavioural problems. The Big Siblings are student volunteers from Cambridge University or Anglia Ruskin University aged 18 years upwards. For this reason, Little Siblings must be between 5 and 11 years of age.

The student acts as an ‘adopted’ older brother/sister to the child, taking them out (usually once a week). Families must live within walking/cycling distance of Cambridge City Centre.

This project is for children aged between five and 11 years. Visits are usually about one to two hours, once a week.

Student Community Action: 01223 350 365 or email mail@cambridgesca.org.uk