Siblings Together Information

There are 40,000 brothers and sisters in care in the UK living separated from each other, with another 4,000 newly separated each year These children have a fundamental right to choose contact with their brothers or sisters, and government surveys confirm contact is a top priority for them. Unfortunately, contact for separated siblings is generally infrequent, and when it does happen, the quality of contact offered is often poor. Siblings Together is the only charity whose aim is to promote positive contact between brothers and sisters separated by the UK care system. We tackle the huge injustice of sibling separation by running a range of programmes including week long residential camps and monthly activity days for separated brothers and sisters, and a “buddies” project to support individual sibling groups in meeting up. Our programmes provide a safe, secure and relaxed environment where children can have fun and spend quality time with their brothers and sisters. For many of us, our sibling relationships are the longest we ever experience. Our work not only responds to what children themselves want whilst they are in care, but also helps them build the long term network of support that we all need for a happy and successful life. We also campaign for changes in policy in practice in the care system, so a much higher priority is given throughout the system to responding to children's wish to see more of their brothers and sisters.