A wild time was had by all at siblings’ day

Both supported and bereaved siblings spent the day swinging, climbing, and zipping through the trees at Wild Wood Adventure in Guildford.

As the first face-to-face siblings’ days since the pandemic, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices care team wanted to ensure a day out full of fun and laughter so organised a day packed with activities to be enjoyed.

These days are a very important way to allow siblings a chance to have a break, some independence and fun with those in similar circumstances and let them explore their own interests and express themselves in a variety of ways.

Siblings of children with life-limiting conditions may experience feelings of isolation and anxiety, all of which will have been intensified because of the many changes the pandemic has caused, so the support Shooting Star Children’s Hospices is able to provide through therapeutic activities has never been more needed.

The siblings were joined on their respective days by some of the Shooting Star Children’s Hospices care team (who luckily weren’t afraid of heights!) to join them on a fun and tricky route through the trees – tackling bridges, logs, zips from tree to tree, cargo nets, wobbly things and more.

After working up an appetite for lunch both groups continued the fun, with the bereaved siblings group playing games including rounders and football at Stoke Park; and the supported siblings group enjoying games and a storytelling activity after lunch.

Vikki German, Family Support Worker, who helped organise both days said, “As out first face to face siblings’ days since Covid we were really keen to make them fun days out, and we certainly did! It was lovely to be able to be together, let off steam and simply have a good time – even some of the care team braved the ropes! These days serve as important opportunities to help support their development and emotional needs, enabling them to grow in confidence and build a supportive network of peers around them. With Shooting Star House now reopen as our Outreach, Therapy and Family Support Centre we’re looking forward to being able to continue to hold our much loved siblings’ days, therapies and groups in person at both hospices.”