About MentoringWhat Is A Mentor?Think back to when you were a child. Was there someone, other than your parents - maybe a neighbour, a family friend, an aunt or uncle, a coach - who shared time with you and made you feel special? When you become a mentor, you can do the same for a youth. It's about sharing time: playing catch, reading a book or watching movies and making popcorn.
Through our enrollment process, we get to know you so we can find the best match for you. Our matches are based on common interests, location and time considerations. Your Mentoring Coordinator at BBBS will be there to cheer you on and help you out if you need it.
How much is this going to cost me?
It varies by program, but we encourage free and low-cost activities like going for a walk, a bike ride, or baking cookies. BBBS provides occasional free tickets for events (theatre, sports and cultural events), a Deals for Bigs Program highlighting special offers around the city, as well as functions sponsored by our agency.
Who are our volunteers?Kind, caring people over the age of 18 from all walks of life
People who want to have a little fun with a youth
A friend to a young person
Mentors are not:
Youth workers
Substitutes for parents or teachers
Providers of basic necessities like food and money
Your Role & Our Role
Your Role as a Mentor:- Build a special friendship with a young person and have fun together
Take the lead in establishing the friendship
Talk, listen, support, guide, encourage - believe in them and help them believe in themselves. Keep others informed about what you're doing. In most of our programs, you communicate directly with the families involved and our staff. In-School Mentors communicate with staff at the school and at our agency
Volunteers pick up and return their young person, so access to a vehicle with ($1 million liability) is necessary
Keep in touch with your Mentoring Coordinator and ask questions you might have.
We also enjoy hearing about the fun you've been having.
Our Role:
- Be there for you
- Assign a Mentoring Coordinator to you
- Do our best to match you with a young person who shares your interests, location and schedule
- Depending on the program you choose, your Mentoring Coordinator will keep in touch with you through phone calls and visits according to our follow-up schedule
- Send you a bi-monthly newsletter
- Help make your match successful
- Cheer you on and help you out if you need it!
- Send you information on community opportunities to share with your young person
No matter which program you choose, we'll be here for you
Benefits of Mentoring
Being a mentor is about having fun. It's about sharing time and exploring the world together. A mentor provides inspiration, acceptance, challenge, a sympathetic ear and exposure to new ideas and activities. It's about sharing little moments to create big magic!Having a mentor makes a big difference to a young person. Youth matched with mentors are:
52% less likely to skip school.
80% more likely to finish high school
46% less likely to use drugs
27% less likely to use alcohol
Even sharing just 1 hour a week as an In-School Mentor has a huge impact on the student:64% of students with an In-School Mentor developed more positive attitudes toward school
58% achieved higher grades in social studies, language and math
60% improved relationships with adults
56% improved relationships with peers.
Many organizations support our In-School Mentoring program by giving staff time off to make a difference in the life of a young person. Mentoring benefits the youth, the mentor and the mentor's employer.
Children matched with mentors show improved:
- Confidence, self-esteem and sense of hope
- Academic grades
- School attendance
- Interactions with peers, parents and teachers
- Social and communication skills
People who volunteer tend to be:
- Happy, healthy, fulfilled
- Conscientious, productive
- Stress-free with a positive outlook on life
The employer gains by:
When an organization encourages its employees to volunteer, it:
- Creates pride in the organization
- Boosts morale
- Strengthens work teams
- Increases job satisfaction
- An unexpected benefit for some companies is that the mentors blossom and take on new job responsibilities and leadership roles - essentially mentoring their co-workers.
FAQs
Me? A Mentor?
Yes, you! It's really simple. All you need to do is have fun with a young person doing stuff you already do or want to do - like play video games, bake cookies, enjoy free tickets to events, wash your car or watch TV. Whatever. You decide!
I am so busy. How will I find the time?
Each one of our volunteers leads a busy life but they find that the time spent with a child is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding parts of their life. "It's my mental-health vacation," is how one long term Big Brother put it.
For Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Couple matches we ask you to spend a few hours three to four times a month with your Little Sister or Little Brother doing activities that you both enjoy. We recognize that you may not be able to see your "Little" every week. We also know that there are times that you may not see the child because of scheduling conflicts or vacations, for example.
For In-School Mentors, we ask for a time commitment of one hour a week during the school year. The mentorship can carry on from year to year and from school to school. An In-School Mentor also has the option of transferring to the Big Sister or Big Brother program, if the child and parent also wish to do so.
Can I make the one year commitment to the child?
Our volunteers find the commitment is a pleasure and not a chore. More than 95% of our matches complete the first year successfully and our average match lasts more than three years. More than half our matches are in touch after ten years.
What's in it for me?
For a few hours a month you get to feel like a kid again and not have to worry about your job, classes or bills! The new perspective you gain as a Mentor will brighten your world. Even better, you'll make a big difference in your community and in the life of a child. You'll enjoy the satisfaction of helping a young person improve their social skills and self-confidence. People who volunteer tend to be fulfilled, happy, optimistic, conscientious and productive - and they ensure their other responsibilities are met.
When an organization encourages its employees to volunteer in our In-School Mentoring Program, for example, they take pride in the fact that their organization wants to make a difference in the community. This can boost morale, strengthen work teams and increase job satisfaction. An unexpected benefit for some organizations is that the volunteers blossom and take on new job responsibilities and leadership roles - essentially mentoring their co-workers. Organizations also benefit from an enhanced image in the community, helping to attract future employees.
How do I know I'll get along with this young person?
We get to know you first so we can find the best match for you. We are one of the largest Big Brother Big Sister agencies in Canada and we base our matches on your common interests and time considerations.
Can I really do this?
Yes! If you can be a good friend to a young person, you can be a great Mentor.
I don't know much about children, is that okay?
You bet! Behind the scenes, you'll have our team of Mentoring Coordinators cheering you on and helping you out if you need it.
Do I need a vehicle?
Mentors in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Couples for Kids programs are encouraged to have access to a vehicle with $1 million liability or have another reliable source of transportation (for example, public transit).
What if I can't make it every week?
No problem, just let your Mentoring Coordinator and your young friend know ahead of time when you will see them next.
Can I smoke or drink alcohol when I'm with my young person?
No, we ask our Mentors not to use tobacco or alcohol while with their young person.
Can we have an overnight visit?
Yes, after your first year anniversary and with approval from the parent and mentoring coordinator (child must be 10 years of age or older). The only programs overnight visits apply to are:
Big Brothers
Big Sisters
Couples for Kids
Are there other Volunteer Opportunities?
Yes! Big Brothers Big Sisters Abbotsford Mission Ridge Meadows has a growing support volunteer program. Opportunities include: