New Westminster is one of the most transit-connected cities in Metro Vancouver, sitting at the intersection of the Expo Line and within easy reach of Burnaby, Surrey, and the Tri-Cities. That accessibility makes it a practical place to volunteer, whether you live in the Royal City itself or commute in from a neighboring community.
Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver runs six mentoring programs across New Westminster, matching volunteers with youth aged 7-17 through formats that fit different schedules and comfort levels. Structured programs like In-School Mentoring, Game On!, and Mentoring with Math run at schools and rec centers on set weekly schedules. The Big Brothers Community Mentoring program pairs you one-on-one with a young person for a year, with the flexibility to choose activities together across the city and broader region. Mentoring Coordinators guide you through every step, from your initial application to your matched relationship and beyond.
We welcome volunteers, families, and youth of all gender identities and expressions, including transgender and gender-diverse community members. Program availability shifts seasonally, and our Mentoring Coordinators can tell you exactly what's running when you reach out.
Big Brothers Community Mentoring Program:
The Big Brothers mentoring program provides supportive one-to-one mentoring relationships to children and youth in our local communities. A Mentor is a role model that a Mentee can talk to, learn from, and share experiences with. Through regular weekly outings, a relationship builds on trust, common interests and fun!
The Mentor/Mentee match is monitored and supported by our experienced caseworkers, and the Parent/Guardian, to ensure positive and meaningful relationships. This is a one-year commitment, meeting weekly for 2-4 hours in your local community. The result is an impactful experience for both the Mentor and the Mentee.
In-School Mentoring:
The In-School Mentoring Program provides supportive one-to-one mentoring relationships to children and youth during their school day. The Big Buddies in this program are adult role models that a Mentee can talk to, learn from and share experiences with.
This program runs for the duration of the school year, meeting weekly for one hour during the school day. Matches spend time together on school grounds doing non-academic activities such as playing sports, games, creating art or just hanging out at the playground. Our matches are paired for the duration of the academic school-year.
Game On!:
The Game On! program is a group mentoring program that provides mentees with information and support to make informed choices about a range of healthy lifestyle practices. Through fun physical activities and active play, complemented with balanced eating support and snacks, participants are engaged in life skills, communication, and social-emotional health discussions to encourage a life-long healthy lifestyle.
Game On! is offered throughout the year at schools and community centres throughout Greater Vancouver. Groups meet once weekly, during weekdays, for 90 minutes. This program is led in-person by a mentor for a group of mentees over 8-10 weeks.
Mentoring with Math:
This program is designed to strengthen the impact of tutoring by adding in the element of mentorship. Learning from a Mentor as a positive role model and friend encourages self-esteem and confidence-building for the Mentees as they work through math problems together.
Mentoring with Math aims to support families who are not otherwise able to financially pursue academic support opportunities outside of school. To ensure all families have access to support, please refrain from applying if your child is able to access paid academic support elsewhere. Snacks, math workbooks, and other supplies are provided.
Mentors meet with Littles once-a-week for 90 minutes in-person (throughout Greater Vancouver) or 60 minutes virtually, over 8-10 weeks, and work on numeracy, complete activities, and play games.
Teen Mentoring:
The Teen Mentoring program is an opportunity for secondary school students to build leadership skills and gain experience working with children, by becoming a Mentor to an elementary school student mentee.
The Youth Leadership component of this program empowers the Teen Mentors to be leaders and engages the youth in skill-building workshops, group facilitation, and public speaking opportunities, and community events.
The Teen Mentoring program requires a one-hour weekly commitment, after-school, as well as consistent participation in Youth Leadership, throughout the school year.
Roots Mentoring:
Roots Mentoring amplifies and celebrates Indigenous cultures while learning from the experiences and teachings of Indigenous Community Leaders and honoured guests. We welcome Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to take part in fostering an environment of curiosity and dialogue to learn from one another and from our honoured guests.
The Roots Program is inspired and informed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. At BBGV we continue to build a foundation on which strong and collaborative relationships can grow between Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth, mentors, staff, and community partners.
Volunteer FAQs for New Westminster
Do I need to live in New Westminster to volunteer there?
No. New Westminster's central location makes it easy to reach from Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam, and Vancouver via SkyTrain. What matters is reliable availability, not where you're coming from.
What's the difference between short-term and long-term programs?
Game On! and Mentoring with Math run over 8-10 weeks at a fixed location with structured activities. They're a good fit if you want to start with a defined commitment. In-School Mentoring runs for the academic year, also at a set location. The Big Brothers Community Mentoring program is a one-year commitment at 2-4 hours per week, meeting your mentee one-on-one out in the community with more flexibility in what you do together.
What does a typical week look like as a volunteer?
It depends on the program. For structured programs, you show up at a school or rec center at a set time, engage with youth through organized activities, and leave. For the Big Brothers Community Mentoring program, you and your mentee decide what to do, and Big Brothers provides monthly ideas for free and low-cost activities across Metro Vancouver.
How does the application and matching process work?
You submit an application, complete an interview with a Mentoring Coordinator, attend mandatory training, and pass a criminal record and reference check. Matching typically takes 4-6 weeks after training, with timing varying by program and current availability.
Is prior experience with youth required?
No. Training covers everything you need before you're ever matched. Your Mentoring Coordinator stays involved throughout your commitment, so support is always available if questions come up.