"John has turned my life around, without him my life would be totally different…the greatest thing I’ve had in my life is John and I would like to thank him very much from the bottom of my heart." - Marc, Little Brother

Program Description

The Big Brothers Program matches adult male volunteers with boys aged seven to twelve who have limited-to-no contact with their fathers. Big Brothers spend two to four hours per week with their Little Brothers doing a wide range of friendship-based activities together. Big Brothers provide encouragement, guidance, and support, and they sign-up for one year. This program is available throughout Greater Vancouver. In Squamish, the program is available for girls as well as boys.

FAQs

Who can volunteer?

You can! A typical volunteer is a caring responsible man who is over the age of 19. Our volunteers come from a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds and from all walks of life. There are no special skills required – only a willingness to spend some time with a young person.

What is the basic commitment of a Big Brother?

Big Brothers are asked to spend an average of two to four hours per week with their Little Brothers, and commit for a minimum of one year.

Is there an age limit for Big Brothers?

The minimum age for Big Brothers is 19. There is no maximum age limit, as long as the volunteer is in good health and maintains an active lifestyle.

How long do the friendships usually last?

The average friendship lasts two to three years. Many friendships last well beyond that and some last a lifetime.

Will an applicant be matched to a child from any part of the city?

To limit travel time, we try to match a Big Brother to a Little Brother who lives close by. But we also want to match volunteers with boys who have similar interests and personalities. Sometimes the most compatible Little Brother will live in a neighbouring community and a small amount of travel may be necessary.

Do you need to own a car?

No, some of our Big Brothers rely on public transit. In this case, we’ll try to match the volunteer to a child on an accessible transit route.

How old are the children?

Little Brothers must be between the ages of seven and twelve when they first get involved, although friendships can continue under the Big Brothers Program until the boy reaches the age of 19.

What are the children’s backgrounds?

Most of the boys have limited-to-no contact with their fathers and live in a single-mother home where there is no consistent male influence. A typical Little Brother is an average kid who would enjoy and benefit from spending quality time with an adult male who shares his interests.

Like our volunteers, our Little Brothers come from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. And like our volunteers, our Little Brothers have stable family situations. This program is friendship-based and is not designed as a form of intervention for serious individual or family problems.

Are Big Brothers expected to help with family issues?

A Big Brother’s primary responsibility is to spend time with his Little Brother, and is discouraged from getting involved in family dynamics. Our support and guidance ensures that clear boundaries are maintained.

Is there a cost involved in being a Big Brother?

There are no membership fees. However, a Big Brother is responsible for paying his portion of activity expenses, while the mother is expected to cover her son’s portion. While some Big Brothers may occasionally offer to treat their Little Brother, this should be the exception and not the rule.

We encourage the volunteer to choose activities that are no-cost or low cost, and fall within the mother’s limited budget. We help out whenever possible by providing free tickets to special events.

What do the kids like to do?

While interests vary, most kids like to participate in active and outdoor activities, like swimming, mountain biking, and roller blading. They also enjoy movies, games, and going to Science World. A large portion of our Little Brothers enjoy team sports while others prefer art, working on building models, Lego and wood working.

The focus of the program is to spend quality time together. It’s not always necessary to do exciting activities or to spend money.

Does the agency stay involved once the match is made?

Yes. We provide on-going support and monitoring. Our mentoring coordinators are available to deal with any questions or concerns that come up. Regular phone contact with all parties is an expectation of the program as are regularly scheduled meetings to discuss the progress of the match.

We also provide agency sponsored activities so that the Big and Little Brothers can meet each other.

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Volunteer Application Form – apply online now!