Support for Siblings at Acorns Children’s Hospice

A grant to Acorns Children’s Hospice from the Strengthening Worcestershire Fund helped support their work with siblings of children receiving hospice care.

One child with a sibling using the hospice services was displaying frustrated and angry behaviour but didn’t talk about their feelings. Acorns supported them to build strategies for regulation including breathing techniques and positive coping strategies. The groups help build relationships with other siblings in similar situations and, parents report their child is now able to express their feelings at home, rather than ‘hitting out’, and is using some of the techniques they have learnt.

Other siblings helped said the following:

 “The sibling groups are like having an extra family”

“I laugh so much my heart hurts” 

“I enjoy making new friends and enjoy the new opportunities”

“The Sibling Group … helps when I feel I’ve had enough, and I just need to chill. It gives me a couple of hours to relax my brain”.

 “We have fun and forget we are sad sometimes.”

To find out more about Acorns Children’s Hospice go to: https://www.acorns.org.uk/

For more information on our Strengthening Worcestershire Fund go to: https://www.worcscf.org.uk/our-grants/take-a-look-at-our-current-funding-programmes/