NEWS
11 August 2011
SIBS Celebrate 10th Birthday
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust’s SIBS group celebrated its 10th
Birthday in style with a party at Winchelsea School in Poole.
Nearly 50 young people
attended the party along with current and past staff and councillors from Dorset and Poole.
SIBS is a group for young people living in Poole, Bournemouth and East Dorset who have a
sibling with a learning disability. It was founded in 2001 and is run by the Trust’s Children’s
Learning Disability Service.
The SIBS 10th Birthday party, which included; fun activities for the children, a bouncy castle,
ice-cream van, stocks, goody bags and party food, was funded by Friends of SIBS who
raised over £600 for the celebration.
“The main aim of SIBS is to allow siblings to gain a better understanding of their brothers
and sisters, gain new coping skills, meet others in the same situation and be able to relax in
a supportive environment. Children who have a sibling with a learning disability often find it
hard to understand why their sibling is different, why they are treated differently and why
they get more attention. There is strong evidence for the positive effect that sibling groups
can have for families,” said James Cook, Community Nurse, Dorset HealthCare University
NHS Foundation Trust’s Children's Learning Disability Service.
Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust provides community health services,
mental health, learning disability, addictions, community brain injury, community dental, and
some primary care services, across Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole. Community health
services encompass; district nurses, health visitors, school nursing, end of life care, sexual
health promotion, safeguarding children, diabetes education, audiology, speech and
language therapy, dermatology, podiatry, orthopaedic, prison health care, breastfeeding
support services and the running of Dorset’s 11 community hospitals.
Ends
Enquiries: Paula Quigley or Julie Dean on 02380 382970 or email:
[email protected] / [email protected]