Siblings Together - UK - 2018
Monthly Activity Days
Helping young people in care initiate and continue to have contact with their siblings, helping them to develop strong family bonds and above all, achieve an independent and positive place in society supported by their sibling relationships
Years: 2018, 2019
There are over 40,000 Looked After children in the UK living separated from at least one sibling. These children have a fundamental right to choose to have contact with their brothers or sisters. However, in many cases this does not happen, and when it does, the quality of contact is often poor.
From April 2011 Siblings Together have run Monthly Activity Days (MADS) which provide on-going monthly opportunities for separated siblings to meet and enjoy creative activities supported by sessional leaders and skilled volunteersas.
The children attending enjoy fun outdoor activities, and arts and creative workshops. They are supported by professional, qualified staff and volunteers. Children attending are referred by social services departments – currently in the London Boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Islington and Haringey, currently being extended to cover Southwark and Lambeth.
Referral Forms and Risk Assessments are completed for each set of sibling referrals by professional, qualified staff at Siblings Together. All staff and volunteers working at the MADS project have been CRB checked and have received Safeguarding Children training. All staff and volunteers are fully briefed prior to and after each session and where appropriate the relevant mentor volunteers will be informed of any necessary issues to assist their work with the children. MADS are run under the overall leadership of the Director of Siblings Together, with support from staff and volunteers.
