The Siblings Together Buddy Project for Siblings in Care

The Siblings Together Buddy project which began in 2013 is an innovative approach to reunite siblings separated through care and adoption. The project recruits and trains volunteers to become Buddies who support and encourage siblings to enjoy activities together on a monthly basis. The Rees Centre (Oxford University) undertook an independent evaluation of the project which assessed the impact of the Buddy Project on the young people, Buddies and those caring for the young people. Researchers from SPSW (University of York) collaborated on the evaluation and were responsible for designing materials and carrying out interviews with young people in care and with the volunteer Buddies. The evaluation addressed:
 Changes in the well-being of the children and young people involved over the time
in which they chose to participate
 Changes in the relationships between siblings and contact with the wider family
 Longer-term sustainability of the project including evidence that enables and
persuades fostering providers and foster carers to establish similar provision.