A family support centre in North-West London has introduced a ground-breaking new programme dedicated to helping siblings of neurodivergent children.

The Jewish Family Centre (formerly known as the London Jewish Family Centre) in Golders Green held a pilot programme of six weekly sessions of art therapy and baking lessons for primary-aged children. The programme is now being introduced for the whole of the academic year.

The idea originated with one of the centre’s service users, a mother of an autistic child, according to JFC’s founder and director, Sandy Weinbaum. “She explained that there was nothing out there in terms of ongoing support for her children, whose home life could be quite challenging as a result of their sibling’s autism.”

Weinbaum added that these siblings were particularly susceptible to loneliness and social anxiety and that the programme aimed to solve this by showing the children “that they are not alone and that there are other children who are undergoing the same challenges”.

The art sessions were run by an Israeli-born artist and art therapist, Yasmin Gover, who has worked extensively with mothers and children. Art therapy groups provided children with “a safe space to express themselves”, she said.

The scheme has delighted parents of the children. “One mother told me that she had seen her older children really suffer from the lack of help out there, and she was thrilled that her youngest child will be supported to have a different experience,” said Weinbaum.

“Some of the children in the group had never even had a playdate with a classmate because they felt too ashamed to bring them back to their home. Through the group, they made good friends and their confidence blossomed as a result.”