Our programs are inclusive to all young people who have, and are experiencing adversities and will benefit from mentorship to reach their full potential, regardless of race, culture, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. If you have any questions, please reach out to enrolment.to@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.
The Big Brother Big Sister Big Sibling one-to-one community-based program, matches a Little aged 7-16 with a Big aged 18+ based on mutual experiences and shared interests. The pair meet for eight hours per month in the community and build a healthy, caring relationship that can last a lifetime. Not only do we foster relationships that allow children to thrive, but we reduce risk-taking behaviour and support healthy development.
Our 1:1 Community Based program provides tailored support for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth ages 7-16 through
individual mentorship with a queer identifying role model (18+). The following highlights some key
features of this program:
• Participants are matched based on shared experiences and interests, fostering meaningful
connections and trust.
• Monthly community outings offer personalized guidance from mentors and opportunities to explore
identity-related challenges.
• We prioritize building a strong sense of community through “Big Bunch” outings where matches in
this program come together for engaging activities curated by our staff.
• We prioritize leveraging strengths already present in the queer community to encourage the
development of queer-specific coping skills and mitigate the long-lasting impacts of queer-related
trauma.
Married or Common Law partners who wish to volunteer together can be matched to a mentee through our Big Couples Mentoring program (an extension of the above One-to- One Community Based Mentoring Program). Couples must be over 25 years old, in their relationship for at least two years and have lived together for at least one year.
The Big G Program is a one-on-one mentoring program that aims to create an intergenerational relationship between a mentor who is age 55+ and a mentee. It targets early retirees for volunteer mentorship positions and enrols children who need the support and friendship that the Big G can provide. The Big G Program gives mentors and mentees the opportunity to share and learn from each other.
As BBBST volunteers, mentors in the Big G program will be provided with specialized asset-building training that they can use within their match, their families, or other community groups and aims to increase social satisfaction and interaction while decreasing social isolation. Adapting a hybrid model, volunteers can choose to participate in the In-School Mentoring program or Community Based one-on-one program (s. above for info about these programs).
In the In-School Mentoring (ISM) program, volunteer mentors are matched with children and youth, identified as needing additional support in schools across Toronto. Children referred to the ISM program may face any one of a variety of barriers to educational success. The mentor and mentee meet for one hour weekly, in school, during the school-day. Children who participate in ISM have improved connection to their school community, improved academic performance, improved attendance and higher educational attainment.
In partnership with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, BBBST’s mentorship initiative ‘Big Steps to Success’ looks to bridge the education gap for children and youth who are in most need. The program is specifically designed for children and youth (7-14 years old) who are involved in the welfare system, offering customized mentoring services.
We know that having a healthy mentoring relationship with an adult can have profound effects in building resiliency in young people. Big Steps to Success’ objective is to help young people improve educational outcomes and benefit from a caring adult relationship. Each mentor-mentee (or Big-Little) pair will participate in the program for a period of three to five years, with a minimum commitment of one year.
We take the fear out of the unknown in our Pumped for Post-Secondary program (PFPS). Groups of High School mentees are mentored by trained and screened University/College students on a post-secondary campus throughout the school year. Through 13 group sessions, mentors empower and encourage mentees to successfully transition from High School to University/College. Focusing on the Developmental Assets of Planning & Decision Making, Self-Esteem, Sense of Purpose and Positive view of personal future, the program inspires mentees to envision themselves beyond High School.
Currently PFPS is available at New College U of T, George Brown, Humber College, and York University and is tailored to each program site.
Contact Tara Hartley, Manager, Group Programs at tara.hartley@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca to learn more!
