MACS aims to support those with MACS conditions, along with their families. As a result, we have partnered with 'Swings and Smiles' to offer our members a course of workshops that recognise siblings of children with disabilities’, in their own right. The workshops run over a course of four weeks with an optional follow up monthly session.
The aim of the sessions is to connect siblings, discuss things such as disabilities, what it means to be a carer and the impact of their current situations on their own mental health and well-being. Each session has a theme such as building resilience, relationships, managing anxiety etc.
The sessions are facilitated by Ben Hawkes who is a specialist sibling support worker for Swings and Smiles. The sessions are interactive using MS teams and Nearpod which means MACS siblings are able to take part interactively on each session. Nearpod allow siblings to react to each other 's posts, send each other comments and share their thoughts during the session.
The sessions are very welcoming and very inclusive. Ben ensures that all children have the opportunity to be involved as much or as little as they wish and most of all they're FUN. There will be a 7-11year old course, and an 11-16 year old course, where the content is varied to be age appropriate for each topic.
The younger sibling workshops will take place on a Wednesday for four weeks commencing on 21st February.
The older sibling workshops will take place on a Wednesday for four weeks commencing on 4th September.
Details of these workshops will be available on the MACS Services and Events Facebook page. If you require assistance or further information, please don't hesitate to contact Sharon on sharon@macs.org.uk of by phoning 07395 280 764.