Grandparents As Parents

Are you a sibling carer? If so we would love to hear from you

Children being raised by siblings have particular, and often overlooked, needs. For example, sibling care arrangements often take place following the death of the children’s parents, which means that both child and carer sometimes have to negotiate with children’s social care services while they are grieving for the loss of their parents.  However, there is little hard information about this particular group of carers, and Family Rights Group would like to find out more about what the issues are affecting the lives of sibling carers.

Family Rights Group would like to hear from you if you would be willing to take part or know of sibling carers who are willing to be interviewed. Our aim is to discuss the results of the research at a sibling carers’ forum in about a year’s time.  We will then draw up a report drawing attention to what can be the advantages as well as the difficulties of sibling care arrangements. The report will make recommendations about how these living arrangements could be better supported and will be held at a launch event in 2010.  We will also be developing tailored advice materials for sibling carers including their own webpage and electronic discussion board.

This work is being led by David Roth, FRG's policy adviser on family and friends care issues. If you would be interested in taking part in the project, please contact David by email (droth@frg.org.uk), phone (020 7923 2628) or by writing to him at Family Rights Group’s offices at The Print House, 18-20 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL.