Big Brothers Big Sisters of London and Area

Since 1971, Big Brothers Big Sisters of London and Area (BBBS) has provided mentoring to youth in our community who have faced adversity throughout their childhood by pairing a youth, referred to as a “Little”, with an adult mentor, a “Big” – the only organization that provides this one-to-one style of mentoring.

Because of the uniquely close relationship between Big and Little, the volunteer recruitment process for BBBS is extensive and thorough to ensure that every Little has a Big with whom they can relate. This methodical approach can be lengthy and has resulted in a bottleneck and a long waitlist full of children in desperate need of a mentor. Additionally, the added stressor of the pandemic has made the situations of many children in our community worse, and the need to match them with a mentor that much more urgent.

“Some kids have been waiting for a mentor for years.” says Janet Tufts, Executive Director of BBBS. “Many may be dealing with violence, family breakdown, substance abuse, mental health issues – and then you add the pandemic on top of all that and it just takes the stress in their lives to alarming heights. If we don't address it now, it can affect the development of their brain, their immune systems, and their long-term mental health and prosperity.”

With help from a $51,056 Community Vitality Grant, BBBS will create a new staff position – a Volunteer Coordinator – to fix the bottleneck and reduce the waitlist.

“The Volunteer Coordinator is the first point of contact that someone would have if they contacted our organization wanting to become a Big,” says Janet. “We take huge pride in the matching process to make sure that the Big and Little have shared interests and that they can develop a level of trust.”

Many Bigs and Littles remain friends forever, but the connection between the two is about much more than friendship. By implementing a new, evidence-based mentoring framework developed by the Search Institute, BBBS is refining their programming to make the most of the mentor-mentee relationship.

“The Developmental Relationship Framework is about being very intentional around helping the child set goals,” says Janet. “Once the Little sets their goals, the Big helps them achieve them – friendship is important but it’s about so much more.”

And it’s through fostering these close relationships that BBBS is hoping to help make an impact on the lives of the hundred’s of kids in our community that need someone to look up to.

“If we can match a youth in a vulnerable situation with a caring and consistent adult, research shows you can prevent or reverse some of the negative consequences we’ve seen through the pandemic,” says Janet. “ The more, and the faster we can do that, the better. All it takes to make a great Big is a good heart– and a willingness to make a new friend.