Support for Siblings
Friendship Circle
This website has a list of books for siblings of people with special needs, including reading books and activity books. For more information, please visit: https://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2016/08/04/10-great-books-if-you-have-a-sibling-with-special-needs
Sense
Sense host virtual activity nights (including book clubs and games nights) and wellbeing sessions for siblings aged 5-18. They also host some in-person events. For more information, please visit: https://www.sense.org.uk/our-services/support-for-children/support-for-young-carers-and-siblings/
Siblings Australia
Siblings Australia has produced a story resource for 4–7-year-olds called ‘Alex and Arlo: A Sibling Story’ about being a sibling to a child with a disability. It is available to download for free from their website: https://siblingsaustralia.org.au/siblings/young/
It also has a page of recommended books and movies for different ages. Please note that they advise reader discretion before reading these stories with children as some of them contain language around disability which may be outdated. For more information, please visit: https://siblingsaustralia.org.au/books-movies/
Sibs
Sibs is a charity that supports siblings of brothers and sisters with disabilities, special educational needs or long-term conditions. It provides information and support to children and young people from the age of 7-17 (through YoungSibs) as well as adult siblings. It offers advice about how to talk to people about difficult emotions and provides a Sibling Advisor service for young people to reach out for extra help. They also have a number of guides to help adult siblings to manage aspects of their sibling’s care.
Other Support
Providing Support to Siblings
Unique
Unique have produced a guide to help parents and family members to support siblings of people with chromosomal conditions. It is called ‘Supporting Siblings of Children with a Rare Genetic Condition’ and is available to download here: https://rarechromo.org/practical-guides-for-families/
Support for Bereaved Siblings
Bodie Hodges Foundation
This foundation provides support to bereaved children and young people, including 1-1 or group sessions in Leicester. They also provide memory bags with art supplies and books to help children to understand death. These bags are available for children from the age of 3, including specialised bags for children with Special Educational Needs.
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK supports children and their families when a child grieves or dies. They have several resources on their website, and host support groups for children from the age of 4 upwards. Their website also includes information about a game called Apart of Me which has been developed by grief experts and young people and is available to download on smartphones.
Cruse Bereavement Support
Cruse has a helpline for people of all ages to provide emotional support to those affected by grief.
Sibling Support
Sibling Support has been set up by siblings, for siblings. The website has a range of resources and stories, along with memorial ideas and mindfulness boxes to help siblings to process their grief. It also includes a booklet to help siblings understand pregnancy loss.
Winston’s Wish
Winston’s Wish has a helpline for children, young people and the adults who are supporting them. The phoneline provides advice, information and bereavement support.
Other support may be available from local authorities and children’s hospices. To find out more, you may want to speak to your social worker or GP.
