Fostering children is a profound act of kindness that provides stability, love, and care to those in need. There is an urgent need for foster carers who have room to place sibling groups. Keeping siblings together in foster care offers each child an extra layer of support and can reduce feelings of isolation. Across the UK, 86% of fostering services have a need for carers for sibling groups, proving the need for foster families who have the space and the ability to take in a small family of siblings. Think that could be you?

When fostering sibling groups, not only do you keep a family together, but there are also multiple other benefits to keeping siblings together in foster care:

The Importance of Keeping Siblings Together

Emotional Support: Siblings often share a deep bond, providing each other with emotional stability and support during times of uncertainty. When children are removed from their homes, the presence of a sibling can be a vital source of comfort and security.

Shared History: Siblings have a shared history that includes both happy and challenging times. This shared background helps them understand and relate to each other’s experiences, making the transition into a new home smoother.

Continuity and Stability: Being placed together helps siblings maintain a sense of continuity in their lives. This stability can significantly ease their adjustment to a new environment, reducing the trauma associated with separation.

Benefits for Foster Parents

Stronger Family Dynamics: Fostering siblings can lead to a more cohesive family dynamic. The existing bond between siblings can help them integrate more smoothly into their foster family, creating a supportive and unified household.

Increased Satisfaction: Many foster parents find immense satisfaction in knowing they are helping to keep a family together. The joy of watching siblings thrive together can be incredibly rewarding.

Enhanced Development: Siblings often play a crucial role in each other’s development. Older siblings can provide mentorship and guidance, while younger ones can offer companionship and a sense of responsibility.

Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Initial Adjustment: Fostering siblings can present challenges, particularly during the initial adjustment period. Patience, understanding, and consistent routines can help ease this transition.

Space and Resources: Taking in multiple children requires adequate space and resources. Ensuring you have the physical and emotional capacity to support siblings is crucial. Community resources and support groups can offer valuable assistance.

Individual Needs: Each child may have unique needs and experiences. It’s important to address these individually while fostering their bond as siblings. Regular communication, therapy, and individualized attention can help manage these dynamics.

Fostering siblings is a powerful way to make a lasting impact on children’s lives. By keeping siblings together, foster parents provide stability, continuity, and emotional support, allowing these children to navigate their new reality with the comfort of family. Though it comes with its challenges, the rewards of fostering siblings are immense, enriching the lives of both the children and the foster parents.

At Sunbeam, we are proud of our standards and the help & support we provide to all our foster carers. Sunbeam offers up to £700 fostering allowance per child per week depending on children’s needs. Additionally, we pay other allowances, and our foster carers receive many other benefits while fostering with us. Apart from this, all our foster carers have 24-hour access to staff and support which is not just a promise but delivered 365 days per year. To know in detail about the support offered by us  to our foster carers please read our “Reasons to Join Sunbeam”.

f you have the space, resources, and compassion to take on this meaningful role, consider fostering siblings. You’ll not only be keeping a family together but also creating a nurturing environment where each child can thrive and grow. We would welcome you to take the opportunity to speak to one of our existing foster carers to hear this first hand. If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, please call us on 02087990930 or visit our website www.sunbeamfostering.com.

Written By- Nishtha Singh (Digital Marketing Officer)