Claire House sibling stars set to take to the Strictly dancefloor

The brothers and sisters will be joined on the night by eight amateur dancers and their professional partners, who are perfecting their routines ahead of Claire House does Strictly in Liverpool.

At Claire House Children’s Hospice, the charity supports siblings of the children it cares for, through emotional support, play, shared experiences, and opportunities to create precious memories.

Young dancer Niamh Mercer, 10, said: "I love watching Strictly and I really wanted to do something for my sister, who passed away. Claire House means a lot to me because when I've been sad, they've always been there for me, and I've had someone to talk to."

Claire House, which has a full hospice in the Wirral and a soon-to-be transformed site in Liverpool’s West Derby, supports seriously and terminally ill babies, children and young adults.

Through this project, the hospice’s young dancers have been learning a routine while building confidence and having fun together.

Alex Wheeler, Therapeutic Support Worker at Claire House, said: "We see every day how siblings can hold a lot of big emotions. Our role is to help them feel understood, supported and reminded that they're just as important.

"Our aim is to give siblings a chance to relax, express themselves creatively and just enjoy being children."

After weeks of rehearsals, the siblings are ready to showcase everything they've learned from Headliners on Saturday, September 26.

Funds raised through events like Claire House Does Strictly help ensure children and their families can access the care and support they need when they need it most.

Debby Lofthouse, Events Fundraiser at Claire House, said: "Claire House Does Strictly is always such a special event, and we're so proud to see our sibling group taking part this year. The children have worked incredibly hard learning their routine and it's been wonderful to watch their confidence grow week by week. We can't wait to see them take to the dance floor at the Titanic Hotel and show everyone what they've achieved.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Greenmount Projects for sponsoring the Sibling Group Dance and for generously donating their table on the evening to the parents of the children taking part. Good luck to all our dancers. We can't wait to see you shine!”

Sign up to watch Claire House Does Strictly ready for next Saturday: www.clairehouse.org.uk/strictly-livestream/