Catch up on previous events
In the autumn of 2024 we launched the Confident Caring programme, bringing together siblings who have an autistic and/or disabled brother or sister. We are grateful to the Boshier Grant Scheme and the National Lottery Community Fund (Awards for All) for their generous support of this work. If you weren’t able to come along to some of the sessions, don’t worry – you can catch up with them here!
Cuppa & Chat sessions
Being a sibling can be complex and challenging at times, but knowing others who just ‘get’ what sibling life is like can make all the difference. We ran two online peer support sessions for siblings of autistic people, facilitated by Sibs staff. We chatted about the positives and the challenges of being a sibling, and shared strategies we use to support ourselves.
Following the popularity of these sessions, we’re pleased to be able to offer six further online support group sessions run by a trained Sibs volunteer across 2025. Find out the topics and dates for these sessions here.
Information sessions and workshops
For each session we held, there’s a one-page guide with key points from our expert speakers, alongside further resources and guides too:
Feeling confident with safeguarding (04/11/24)
This session was led by Lisa Curtis, Deputy CEO and Head of Safeguarding Adults and Young People – Ann Craft Trust
Find out more:
Caring from a distance (11/11/24)
This session was led by Ms Caroline White (Research Associate) and Dr Clare Whitfield (Lecturer Advanced Practice) from the University of Hull
Find out more:
Advocating for your brother/sister (25/11/24)
This session was led by Rosie Mockford, Family Consultant – Dimensions.
Find out more:
Behaviour that challenges info session (28/11/24)
This session was led by by Dr Nick Gore
Reader in Intellectual & Developmental Disability,
Co-Director of The Tizard Centre
Find out more:
New Year nourishment (20/01/25)
This workshop was inspired by ‘Self-Care for Winter’ by Suzy Reading and was led by a life coach who specialises in the needs of siblings and sibling carers, Charlotte Flynn.
Find out more:
- Read ‘Self-Care for winter’ by Suzy Reading
- Take a look at Charlotte Flynn’s website and sign up to her mailing list at the bottom of the home page. The first email that you receive will include a free guide: 4 ways to Thrive in Times of Challenge.
- Download Sibs eBook Self-care for siblings
Your romantic and partner relationships (10/02/25)
This workshop was facilitated by Sibs staff.
Find out more:
- Sibs eBook ‘Self-care for siblings’ – chapter on ‘Your relationships’
- How to find a counsellor
- Coping with feelings (including guilt)
- Adult siblings and loneliness
- Rachael – “Having a partner who accepted my family and all that it entails was a huge priority for me”
- Lisa – “We know neither of us is a mind-reader, so the easiest way to work on things is to speak to each other about how we’re feeling.”
- Relate – relationship information, advice and counselling
Siblings aged 55+ (10/03/25)
This workshop was facilitated by Sibs staff.
Take a look at these experiences of other siblings in their 50s and 60s too:
- Barbara – Poem: “Glass Child”
- Kausar – Video: “Was I moulded into this role? It just comes from within myself”
- Kate – “My Asperger’s family”
Related resources:
Please note: We don’t record our online information sessions. This is so that siblings feel can feel comfortable to speak openly about their situation in a safe and confidential environment, and ask questions too.
Support group for adult siblings of autistic people
Take a look at more information on each topic and download the summary guide. Find out more about future sessions here.
Being a sibling vs. being a carer (13/02/25)
A lot of siblings don’t identify as carers — but what does caring mean, exactly? Are there things you do for your brother or sister that you wouldn’t do for an adult without a neurodiversity? Maybe you provide support in social situations, answer the phone multiple times a day, help with managing finances, advocate for them with social workers, or support your parents who provide more direct care. How do you make room to “just be a sibling” when you’re also a carer (or when you take on helping roles that people with neurotypical siblings might not)?
Did you miss this session? Download the one-page guide here:
Related information:
Money (mis)management (09/04/25)
A lot of resources around money management and disability focus on managing benefit payments, having power of attorney, or deputyship/guardianship. But what about our brothers and sisters who do manage their own money — but might need guidance or make unwise/risky financial decisions? How do we support them? What might that look like when it is or isn’t working? What financial and/or emotional boundaries might we need to set to take care of ourselves?
Did you miss this session? Download the one-page guide here:
Related information:
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