Big Brother

Who can volunteer?

You can! A “typical” Big Brother is a caring, responsible guy who is over the age of 18. Our Volunteers come from diverse backgrounds and from all walks of life. No special skills or experience are needed. All you need is a little time and enthusiasm.

What is the basic commitment of a Big Brother?

Spend 2 – 4 hours once a week with your Little Brother and commit for a minimum of one year.

Am I the right age to volunteer?

The minimum age to be a Big Brother is 18. There is no maximum age limit, as long as you are in good health and maintain an active lifestyle.

How long do the friendships usually last?

Although Volunteers are only required to make an initial commitment of one year, the average friendship lasts 2 – 3 years. Some friendships last well beyond that and others last a lifetime.

Will I be paired with a child who lives in my community?

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 I need to own a car?

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

How old are the Little Brothers?

Little Brothers are between the ages of 7 and 14, but the agency-sponsored friendship can continue with the Big Brother until the boy reaches the age of 19.

What are the children’s backgrounds?

Generally most of the boys are from father absent homes but on a case by case basis boys are accepted into the program who may have a varying degree of contact with their father. A typical Little Brother is an average child 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 diverse backgrounds and have stable family situations. This program is friendship-based and is not designed as a form of intervention for serious individual or family problems.

Will I be expected to help with family issues?

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

As a Big Brother, you won’t be counseling or fulfilling a parenting role. You are a buddy to share good times with. And simply by being a caring and dependable friend, you have the capacity to be a positive role model for your Little Brother.

Is there a cost involved in being a Big Brother?

The Big Brother is responsible for paying his portion of activity expenses, while the parent/guardian is expected to cover the child’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 you to choose activities that are no-cost or low cost, and fall within the parent/guardian’s limited budget. We help out whenever possible by organizing special events or providing free tickets to special events.

What do the Little Brothers like to do?

While interests vary, most boys like to participate in active and outdoor activities, like biking, shooting hoops or playing catch. They also enjoy movies, games, and going to places like Science World. A large portion of our Little Brothers enjoy playing sports, while others prefer art, building models, Lego and mechanical projects.

We make every effort to match Big and Little Brothers based on similar interests and personalities, so the two of you can build a solid friendship.

Does the agency stay involved after I first meet my Little Brother?

Yes. We provide on-going support and monitoring of the friendship. You will be designated a mentoring coordinator, who will be available to deal with any questions or concerns that come up. Regular phone contact with all parties is expected as are regularly scheduled meetings to discuss the progress of the friendship.

We also provide agency sponsored activities like picnics, water skiing, kayaking and bowling, so that the Big and Little Brothers can all meet each other.

Check for Eligibility

1. I am 18 years or older
2. I have lived in the Greater Vancouver Area for a minimum of 6 months.
3. I understand the application process can take up to approximately 2 months to complete. Once accepted as a Volunteer, being matched with a Little Brother can take several weeks, depending on my location and other preferences.
4. I can easily manage the time commitment in my schedule and can commit to a minimum of one year following my acceptance into the program.
5. I will submit my Police Information Check – Vulnerable Sector form to my local Police/RCMP station as soon as possible, and if necessary will follow up with any concerns.

Submit an Application

1. You may choose to apply online or you may contact our agency and we can send you an application in the mail or through email.
2. After we receive your application form and all the requirements are met, we will provide you with a Police Information Check – Vulnerable Sector form.

Submit a Police Information Check – Vulnerable Sector

1. You must submit your Police Information Check – Vulnerable Sector forms immediately as we require that you complete a new record check before we will consider you for an interview.
2. As per our National Standards, we must receive a new Police Information Check – Vulnerable Sector form solely for our organization.

Interview

1. Once we receive your Police Information Check – Vulnerable Sector form results and you meet our requirements, we will contact you to schedule a one-on-one interview. The interview lasts approximately one to two hours and consists of a series of questions related to your motivation, relationships with family and friends, employment and schedule availability, current interests and hobbies.
2. Please note that only those applicants that meet our requirements will be contacted for an interview. Contact will be made only after we receive your Police Information Check – Vulnerable Sector results.

References

1. Your references are adults who have known you well for more than two years and who represent different facets of your life:  your employer, a family member/significant other, personal references and someone who has witnessed you working (paid or voluntarily) with children.

Training

1. Training is a three-hour group session. It is designed to get you ready to meet your ‘Little’ and will give you the tools you need to build a successful friendship.

Meet Your ‘Little’!

1. Upon your acceptance, our staff will begin to search for a suitable Little Brother for you, considering factors such as where you would like to be matched, your interests, and the needs of the children on our wait-pool.  We work hard to find a compatible match for each Mentor – and sometimes that can take some time- but it’ll be worth the wait!
2. Once a potential Little Brother has been selected for you, one of our staff will tell you about your Little and will schedule the introductory meeting. Your meeting will take place with the dedicated Mentoring Coordinator and the parent(s).
3. If everyone is in agreement another meeting between the Mentoring Coordinator, the parent(s), the child and yourself will take place.
4. Once everyone is acquainted, you and your Little Brother will plan your first activity. Thank you for volunteering as a Big Brother and welcome to the program!