Support for siblings

Family life can be a bit different for children and young people when their brother or sister has Additional Needs or Disabilities (AND). Things like going out for the day or getting enough sleep might be more of a challenge and this can be hard for siblings to cope with. Parent/ carers often ask us what support is available for their sibling child, so we have put together this information to help you find help and advice both locally and online.

Advice and information

Charities and services who support families with children with special educational needs and disabilities can offer information about how to include siblings and support their bond. Other parents can also be a great source of advice, as they give a personal account of what has worked well for their family.

• Sibs is a national charity which supports brothers and sisters of adults and children with disabilities. Their website has a large amount of information on ways parents can support the sibling child and promote a good sibling bond between the children.
• YoungSibs is part of Sibs and is a website for children and young people who have a sibling with SEND. Children can talk to other siblings who have similar experiences and age appropriate information is available to help children understand more about SEND.
• Super Siblings is a safe space for children to socialise with others who understand their situation in a welcoming, environment designed to relieve children of any mental and emotional strain they may have.
• Contact have a booklet for parents about supporting siblings who have a brother or sister with SEND.
• Story books about disabled children or children who have siblings with disabilities can be a nice way to help siblings feel there are other children like them. It can also help to open up a conversation, especially with children who are usually a little reluctant to share their worries with you.
• Winston's Wish provide practical advice about how to provide emotional support for children who have lost a close loved one, including siblings whose brother or sister has died.

Activities that siblings can do together

A challenge that parents often face is finding childcare or activities that all their children can enjoy, at the same time and place. Below are some examples of activities you can access in Surrey and things you can try at home.

• YMCA East Surrey have a wide range of services for the local community, including short breaks for children with SEND. Their holiday play scheme is suitable for children of all abilities from ages 4 (school age) to 11.
• Spelthorne ParaSports Club is for children and young people aged 5-25 and their siblings. Taking place on Saturdays during term time, each week a different sport or physical activity is put on for everyone to try.
• Challengers is a short breaks provider who run play schemes for disabled and non-disabled children.
• Little Stars at The White Lodge Centre is a stay and play group for children with additional needs, from birth to five years of age. Siblings are also welcome to attend.
• Sparklers Charity provide inclusive play opportunities for young children with additional needs and their siblings in Camberley.
• Surrey NAS run annual activity days for autistic children/young people and their siblings.
• Epsom and Ewell Phab club provides inclusive activities for young disabled and non-disabled people.

Financial assistance for family life

Below are some suggestions that might help your family to have more quality time together, either as a whole unit or perhaps just between yourself and your sibling child. Lots of families say that having a short break from caring responsibilities every so often makes a huge difference to how everybody copes day-to-day.

• The Family Holiday Charity and Children's Hope Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust's Rest and Relax grants are charities that fund UK caravan holidays for families with disabled children. They each have their own criteria, but they are usually intended for families on low incomes, who have not had a holiday for a number of years.
• The GP Carers Break Payment is £300 for a carer to use to have time away from caring, either by enrolling the person they care for in an activity or using the money to buy something that will help them to have some relaxation.
• Parent/ Carer Break Grant can be used to fund a short break activity, a holiday or days out. You could use this grant to help create an opportunity for someone to one time with your sibling child.
• Carers Trust - provides information about grants, funds and charities that may be able to help if you or the person you care for require extra help to pay for something.
• Family Fund provide grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children. Occasionally the needs of the sibling child will also be considered and a small sibling grant might be given. This is from the 'Sibling Too Grant' which is a very limited resource, so families cannot apply for this money directly. It is given at the discretion of Family Fund.
• Turn2Us is a website that has tools you can use to check you are receiving all of the means-tested benefits you are entitled to, and you can also search for grants relevant to your individual circumstances.
• MAX cards are available to families with a child who is registered on the Surrey Children's Disability Register. The card gives families discounts on popular attractions, helping make days out more affordable.