National Siblings Day: celebrating extraordinary siblings

The importance of sibling support

For many of the families we support, siblings play an especially important role. Having a brother or sister with a serious or life-limiting condition can bring a whirlwind of emotions – love, pride, confusion, worry – sometimes all at once. That's why Demelza is committed to giving siblings the space, support and confidence they need to understand and express their feelings, build friendships and simply have fun.

What’s Demelza offers

At Demelza, siblings can take part in group activities, one-to-one sessions and therapeutic support, all designed to help them feel seen, heard and supported. Whether it's monthly online craft sessions, seasonal outings like zoo trips and picnics, or residentials packed with confidence-boosting adventures, these experiences give siblings a chance to connect with others who truly 'get it'. Our approach is flexible and tailored to different age groups – because every family is different and every sibling's voice matters.

Our sibling events are purposely relaxed and flexible. By keeping the structure light, young people have the freedom to explore, take part at their own pace and enjoy time that's completely their own. For many siblings, whose daily routines can be shaped by caring responsibilities or medical schedules, this space to switch off and simply be themselves is invaluable.

One of the most special parts of these days is the way friendships build naturally. Children often find themselves chatting about the things they rarely need to explain – therapy appointments, their brothers' or sisters' needs or the highs and lows of family life. Those shared experiences help them feel seen, understood and supported.

What siblings have to say

We asked siblings what they enjoy most about being part of our events – and their words say it better than we ever could. Here's what some of our siblings had to share:

• "Demelza helps me calm down and talk to someone."
  
  
• "Demelza helps me express my emotions in a safe space."
  
  
• "Today I have enjoyed arts and crafts."
  
  
• "I like it when we go to Demelza and see people that we know and just have lots of fun. I always feel excited and happy to be going there, because I know my little sister is going to be happy. I’ve made a friend that I’ve met at basically every sibling event. We go to Demelza, we meet up, have fun. I would probably give my time at Demelza five out of five stars."