Thank you for your interest in attending a group to meet other siblings who have a brother or sister under the care of GOSH. Please read the below information before proceeding to register your interest in being invited to future sibling support days.
This group typically runs twice a year in the autumn and spring and is facilitated by the GOSH long-term health psychology team and Young Lives vs Cancer social work charity team.
Who is eligible?
- This group is for siblings aged 8 to 11 of children who are undergoing or have completed treatment for a cancer, tumour or bone marrow failure. Your child does not have to have a cancer diagnosis, but needs to be under the care of haematology, oncology, neuro-oncology or bone marrow transplant teams.
- Children attending will have different experiences, some of their siblings will have finished treatment, about to start or be actively undergoing treatment. All children are welcome and will share the experience of having a sibling under the care of GOSH.
- We can consider 7 and 12 year olds on a case-by-case basis, if parents feel they would be able to engage in the planned activities.
What to expect?
- The aim of the group is to bring together siblings who share similar experiences to offer a space to connect with each other, enjoy a morning of therapeutic activities and an afternoon tour exploring our generous host, the London Zoo.
- We typically have space for 15 children to attend, so it is unlikely that we would be able to confirm a place for all of your children for the upcoming group. However, we will be sure to keep your child on our list and prioritise them for future groups if they do not get a place this time, or are interested but not able to attend.
- The group will be for siblings only - not for the patient under GOSH or parents/carers to attend.
- At the time of organising our next group, we will screen those who have expressed interest to determine appropriateness and be in touch with you, accordingly. If your circumstances change sooner than us contacting you and your child cannot attend, or is no longer interested, please contact us at siblingday@gosh.nhs.uk.
If you do not meet the above criteria, or you are unsure about your appropriateness of this group for your child, please contact goshsiblings@gosh.nhs.uk for more information on other offerings, which might be a better fit for sibling support.