A ‘Big’ win for everyone
Big Brothers Big Sisters benefits all ages
There are many reasons people choose to become a Big Brother or Big Sister. And the rewards of the experience are undeniable, says Jonathan Leard, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Annapolis Valley.
“Everybody who volunteers tells us they get way more out of it than they ever thought they would,” Leard says.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Annapolis Valley currently has 30 active Bigs, plus nine volunteer board members.
“We’re a relatively small agency in the Big Brothers
Big Sisters network,” Leard says. “So, we have room to grow. One of our key challenges right now is volunteer recruitment.”
The board is committed to growing the organization, he adds, with a goal of doubling the number of volunteers during the next five years.
“Right now, we could take on 20 more Bigs and find a match for all of them.”
Seeing the impact they are having on a young person’s life is one of the things that makes volunteering as a Big a rewarding experience. A wealth of research has confirmed that a quality mentoring relationship has an enormous positive effect on the life of a young person, in a range of personal, academic and professional endeavours.
“We all have times in our lives when we could use a little extra support,” Leard says. “For a young person who may have had adverse childhood experiences it’s especially important to feel connected and supported.”
The program typically requires at least two regularly scheduled outings a month of several hours each and a minimum of an 18-month commitment. Most matches remain together between three to five years. They are together for the milestones – learning to ride a bike, birthdays, Christmas, graduations, and more.
“The relationship grows and develops over time and they become part of each other’s family,” Leard adds.
The program is open to young people, or “Littles” who are at least seven years of age, and can continue into the teenage years.
The process of becoming a Big, including an extensive interview, background check and training session, typically takes about a month. Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.
Big Brothers Big Sisters also has an in-school mentoring program that offers young people a friend to talk to and share the experience of growing up in the school environment. The Big and Little meet for an hour each week and take part in activities such as board games, crafts or simply hanging out on school grounds. This program has been put on pause due to the pandemic, but Leard hopes to see it up and running again.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Annapolis Valley is supported by donations of used clothing. People can drop off clothing, shoes, hats, mittens, towels and sheets and other cloth materials at the donation bins or at the Value Village New Minas Community Donation Centre.
The long lasting mental and emotional benefits from these connections are shared by both the Big and the Little, Leard adds.
“The message we always get from our volunteers is that they receive even more from this experience than the kids do.”