Aims, history, strategy

Siblings have a lifelong need for information, they often experience social and emotional isolation, and have to cope with difficult situations. They also want to have positive relationships with their disabled brothers and sisters and to be able to choose the role they play in future care and support.

Sibs mission

Sibs aims to enhance the lives of siblings by providing them with information and support, and by influencing service provision throughout the UK.

It believes that siblings have a right:

• To be valued for who they are and what they do
• To be seen as individuals with specific needs
• To access reliable sources of advice and information, and support services
• To influence the services and policies that affect them
• To reach their full potential

Sibs vision

We work to support our vision of a world in which siblings of disabled children and adults are seen, understood and valued.

Sibs current strategy

Our current strategy has 4 key pillars, which underpin the charity’s focus to capacity build our work with siblings across the lifespan.

Our 4 key strategic aims for the next 3 years are to:

• Reach more siblings
• Provide transformative sibling support
• Amplify the voices of siblings
• Futureproof our charity

Sibs history

Sibs was set up in 2001 by Monica McCaffrey, in response to demand from parents and professionals in the children’s sector for information on how to support siblings of disabled children. 1998 saw the first UK conference for sibling group leaders to promote the development of sibling groups for children. As the demand for support grew, it was clear there was a need for an organisation specifically for siblings, and together with a group of adult siblings set up the charity. Sibs received charitable status in 2002. Sibs was re-registered as a new charity in 2011 when it became a limited company.

Since 2001 Sibs has been running workshops and developing resources for parents, siblings and professionals on sibling issues. From 2002 to 2009 Sibs’ main focus was on the development of sibling groups for children across the UK, through training local professionals as sibling group leaders, and influencing service providers in local authorities to support siblings. Between 2006 and 2009 Sibs’ work led to a 50% increase in the number of sibling groups for children in the UK and increased awareness and skills in supporting siblings within the children’s sector.

Many of the groups and services for young siblings set up by local authorities during this period have since been cut or reduced due to recent spending cuts. As a result of this reduced local support, Sibs set up YoungSibs online service in 2012 to support young siblings directly and began focusing its efforts for young siblings on influencing schools to identify and support siblings.

Over the years Sibs has provided phone support to adult siblings particularly at times of crisis. In order to reach larger numbers of adult siblings Sibs began its work to develop a network of local adult sibling groups in autumn 2015. Sibs employed its first Development Officer for adult siblings in 2017 and launched Sibs Talk, a primary school intervention.

Since 2020, Sibs has published 3 of its own research reports, and collaborated with academic institutions on a number of research projects which either had siblings as the main focus, or included siblings and sibling carers. The charity has developed new offers for adult siblings, including bespoke events, publications and wellbeing support.  Our work with schools is gaining momentum, with the launch of a new report in 2024 “if Only You Knew” and the publication of a raft of free school resources and training.  In 2025, ahead of National Siblings Day, Sibs held its first parliamentary roundtable event, sharing our work and the experiences of siblings with MPs.  Sibs will be celebrating its 25th birthday in 2026.