The death of a child or having a brother or sister with a life limiting illness affects the whole family. At Helen & Douglas House we believe that like parents, brothers and sisters need support too.
The Elephant Club offers support to siblings, both bereaved and non- bereaved, who are aged between 6 and 17 years old. The club is an on-going group that meets every other month from 10.00 – 3.00 at a venue not far from Helen & Douglas House.
Often children and young adults are worried about discussing their fears and concerns with their parents because they don’t want to add to their worries. Having a safe place to voice their concerns can help the young person feel less anxious and less alone, especially if they know that they won’t be judged for how they feel.
We can do this by providing a safe environment for siblings of children and young adults known to Helen and Douglas House to share their feelings, whether it’s individually with our Sibling Support Team or in a group with other young people. We recognise that every child and young adult is unique and we support them with a range of activities.
Within the club, children and young adults have the opportunity to take part in lots of fun activities, as well as time for them to think and talk about their experiences of having a brother or sister who is ill or has died. The sessions are structured in a way which helps the young people share their thoughts and feelings with their peers who have been though similar situations. The young people gain support from each other and develop new friendships. As well as the structured activities there is always lots of fun to be had at the Elephant Club. The programme includes games, art and craft activities, treasure hunts, and trips out to different places.
Aims of the Club
- To provide siblings of children known to Helen and Douglas House with an opportunity to meet other siblings in a similar situation and so widen their friendship and support circle in a safe and trusted environment
- Allow siblings to talk about their experiences, fears, wishes and hopes
- Make each sibling feel unique but ‘normal ‘ and, as an individual, listened to, understood and supported
- To support the sibling with helpful coping strategies for dealing with difficult situations
- To build confidence
- For siblings to have FUN!
