Big Brother/Big Sister Mentors are positive role models who offer support and friendship to a young person. Mentoring is about experiencing fun activities together and forming a trusting bond. By giving a small amount of your time each week, you can make a big difference in the life of a young person.
We accept children aged six to eleven years on the programme, with the aim to keep them involved until they reach 18 years of age.
**Your commitment - volunteer mentors are:**
• A friend to their mentee, and take them out once per week for an hour or more.
• A positive role model and display responsible behaviours such as reliability, respect, honesty, whilst upholding the protection and safety of their mentee.
• Available to talk by phone or in person to their Mentor Coordinator every month.
• Communicate in a timely manner with their mentee's parent/caregiver to arrange weekly outings. who are rejected from participation in the programme.
**Ongoing support**
• Each match is supported by a BBBS Mentor Coordinator, who checks in monthly with volunteers, children and parents.
• Mentor and mentee events are organised several times throughout the year, along with mentor training and social activities.
**Acceptance on the programme as a mentor:**
• BBBS accepts mentors from the age of 18 to 70 years of age.
• You must have a full and valid drivers license.
• You need a registered vehicle.
*Screening:*
• Volunteers are required to complete an application form and participate in an interview that lasts approximately an hour.
• Volunteers must provide three referees, and pass the police vetting process.
• Volunteers attend our new mentor training programme
• The decision to accept a volunteer into the programme will be based upon an Applicant Assessment form that summarises information gathered during the screening process.
BBBS has final approval for an applicant’s acceptance into the programme and are not obligated to provide a reason to volunteer applicants