Siblings and young carers in Cambs

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.

For brothers and sisters

“Big Sibs” at SCA

Cambridge Student Community Action This provides a volunteer befriender for children from one‐parent or carer families, children that have suffered a bereavement, for 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

YoungSibs website

YoungSibs, is a UK-wide website 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. Visit the YoungSibs website.

Caring Together's Offer for Siblings

Workshops, activities and carer breaks

Caring Together are putting on a range of virtual activities and workshops for young carers (including siblings) and are also planning trips and activities for Easter holidays and May half term in order to provide them with a much-needed break (with ideas ranging from bowling, to theme parks, to trampolining to visiting the Harry Potter studios).

Recent workshops have included boxing and mindfulness, staying healthy with Clubbercise and yoga, mental health and wellbeing sessions, as well as arts and crafts, and comic art skills workshops as ways to help young carers to swich off from the stresses of home.

To see a full list of the upcoming virtual activities and workshops planned for the coming months visit https://www.caringtogether.org/news/upcoming-activities-for-young-carers-and-young-adult-carers-5-feb

To find out more about any of our workshops, and to make sure you get the latest information about workshops, trips and other opportunities for young carers, contact us on 0345 241 0954, email hello@caringtogether.org or sign up to our mailing list at https://www.caringtogether.org/mailinglist

Bursaries for young carers/young adult carers

Thanks to funding from BBC Children in Need and our own fundraising, Caring Together are in a position to support even more young carers (including siblings) over March to reduce the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has on their health, wellbeing, and education or employment.

You can download information on how to apply here [PDF 155kB]

And the application form is available by clicking here [Word 251kB].

Specific support for siblings

We 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 our team of trained workers, we 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). If you know any children or young who could benefit, get in touch.

For young carers

Young Carers Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Carers Trust Cambridgeshire supports Cambridgeshire young carers. Visit its YC webpage

STEP Young Carers supports young people aged 5-18 across Huntingdonshire and Peterborough
STRIVE Young Adult Carers supports young people aged 16-25 across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk.

Centre 33 – support across Cambridgeshire

Charity Centre 33 provides a range of services across the county for 8-18 year old Young Carers, including regular groups, a newsletter, and one-to-one support. For more information, contact Centre 33 on 0333 4141809 or email help@centre33.org.uk

Young Carers Assessment Team

The county council’s Young Carers Needs Assessment Team assesses the needs of young carers – a young person aged 18 or under who helps look after a relative who has a condition, such as a disability, illness, mental health condition, or a drug or alcohol problem.