Mentor partnership like ‘peas in a pod’
When the Big Brothers Big Sisters programme paired mentor Aaron Grooby with Zayden Hodgson, it was the perfect match.
Zayden’s mum Tania Strange said they were like ‘‘two peas in a pod’’.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a mentor programme which provides additional adult support to children.
Strange applied for the programme after a suggestion from Zayden’s school.
‘‘Just to help Zayden with his social skills. He was bit of a loner at school.’’
Zayden’s older brother suffered from cancer which also put Zayden ‘‘on the back burner’’.
Strange said the mentorship meant he could have something ‘‘really special ... that’s his own’’.
The benefits have been noticeable.
‘‘He’s a lot happier in himself and a lot more confident.’’
Grooby celebrated their one year anniversary together in November and he enjoys every moment they spend together.
Grooby fondly referred to Zayden, 11 as his ‘‘little’’ and said they had a close friendship.
He has a volunteer streak running through his veins. Grooby and his wife used to belong to the volunteer fire service until a break from it had them thinking of finding a new way to give back to the community.
A friend suggested Big Brothers Big Sisters and the seed was planted.
Now the couple each have their own ‘‘little’’.
Grooby said his match with Zayden was spot on.
‘‘He’s a really outdoorsy kid.’’
The pair see each other at least once a week, mostly on a weekend. out-going,
The programme requires mentors to commit one hour a week to their mentee.
Grooby said sometimes they could be out for a whole day doing ‘‘typical boy stuff’’ including fishing, biking, climbing, jet skiing and ‘‘a bit of wood working when the weather’s not that great’’.
Grooby said he had seen Zayden grow over the time they had spent together.
‘‘There’s just certain things that he comes out with now which he didn’t at the start, quite positive things.’’
The relationship the pair had forged would be lifelong, Grooby said.
Big Brothers Big Sisters helps families in various situations including single parent, large families and families where a child may be missing out due to a sibling with high needs.
Programme director Chelsea Routhan said often the child just needed a positive role model in their life.
‘‘Ideally we want that to happen naturally in the environment and so we can put a volunteer mentor with a child that needs that extra support and friendship.’’
She said the organisation was always looking for mentors, especially men.
For more information or to apply, visit www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.nz