A few things to consider:
Time Commitment
Being a Big is not time-consuming; our volunteers invest as little as 4 hours a month in our programs; however, it does involve consistency. Ask yourself if you can...
Meet your mentee known as “Little Brother or Little Sister” consistently-preferably once a week, but at least twice a month.
Commit to be a mentor to your Little for at least 12 months from match date. Studies show that children achieve the greatest impacts when they have been matched for at least a year.
Mentoring Environment
Volunteering as a mentor is quite simple, although it can sound intimidating. You don’t need profound wisdom or incredible experience to create a successful mentorship relationship. All you need is the ability to create an environment conducive to mentoring. Ask yourself if you can...
Dedicate the time with your Little to be just the two of you. Your undivided attention is essential in helping a child reach their fullest potential!
Have your own reliable transportation for meeting with your Little. It is important that you Little can trust you to follow through with your set appointments.
Program Support
Big Brothers Big Sisters designed its programs to provide the highest level of support. As a volunteer, you will never be alone at any step. For us to provide this level of support, you also need to contribute to our program model. Ask yourself if you can...
Contact your assigned Match Support Specialist (MSS) each month. Your MSS will be there to guide your match relationship: to answer your questions, offer advice, to help you and your Little have a safe and fun relationship, to share match activity ideas including BBBS sponsored events.
As you consider becoming a Big, be aware that significant life changes can negatively impact your ability to consistently spend time with your Little. While none of the events listed below would disqualify you from becoming a Big, we do want you to consider if they could ultimately affect the quality and length of your match. Looking forward two years, do you anticipate any of the following significant life events?
- Changing jobs or employment status
- Marital/family status (marriage, divorce, pregnancy, adoption, caring for parent, etc.)
- Moving (either within the area or out of town)
- School status (expecting an especially busy semester, changing schools, graduating)
Based upon the information above, do you feel that this is the right time for you to be a Big? We hope your answer is “Yes!” If you still have questions about what will be expected from you as a “Big”. The best way to explore the possibility of volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters is to talk to our recruitment team about our programs and your options. You can submit an inquiry and schedule a call through this link.
You will have the opportunity during your interview to speak with our professional staff to further assess your individual situation. Remember, being a Big isn’t about finding time for a mentee; it is about inviting a mentee into the life you are already living. We look forward to partnering with you to support our mission to provide children facing adversity with a strong and enduring professionally supported 1-to-1 relationship that changes their lives for the better, forever.