My experience with the Siblings group
Hello, my name is Molly, I’m 14 years old and I have been coming to the Siblings Group at Leeds Mencap since I was 8 years old.
The reason I attend the group is because I have a sister who is two years younger than me, who has quite severe ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Siblings is a group for those aged 8-16 who have siblings with a variety of disabilities. We meet every Wednesday at the Vinery Centre, otherwise known as Leeds Mencap. We do a variety of activities from themed nights, cooking and baking, playing games, workshops for music and drama as well as trips out to local areas, such as Laser Zone, the local park, Hollywood Bowl and Pizza Hut.
Being a member of Siblings Group has helped me in a variety of ways. I’ve been able to find a community who understand life with a disabled sibling and understand the difficulties that may come with that. I have made many close friends over the years through the group, and have been able to help others to find supportive connections by recommending them to the group, who felt as if they had no one to connect to with their problems. The staff who run the Siblings Group have been very supportive over the years as I have faced other tougher challenges with my life, as I have lost my Nan and Grandad in the last 3 years and have begun to undergo assessment for ASD and Dyspraxia myself, all of which they have been a great source of comfort and help.
I hope this article may give you some insight for why this group is such a great place for those with disabled siblings to find an escape and community. Thank you very much for reading!
