Give her the gift of a friend AND a mentor.
Refer a girl to the Big &
Little Sister Program or
Study Buddy Program!
Watch Big Sisters'
"Power of Mentoring" video
“The program has been a very positive influence in my daughter’s life. Our lives are so up and down lately, it is nice that she has the consistency of the Big Sister- someone she can trust.” – Mom of a Little Sister
Who can be a Little Sister?
Little Sisters are girls who could benefit from the support and friendship of either a Big Sister mentor or Study Buddy tutor. Many Little Sisters suffer from low self-esteem, social isolation and a lack of enriching experiences as a result of challenging life circumstances such as poverty, family distress, abuse or loss. A supportive mentor can act as a reliable and caring friend who can be there to listen to them, have fun with them, and help them negotiate difficult times.
| All Little Sisters must meet the following criteria: |
* | Ages 7 - 17 |
| * | Live in the Lower Mainland |
| * | Interested in being matched with a caring, adult mentor |
| * | Bble to meet the minimum time commitment for the program they are applying for (Big & Little Sister Program = 2-4 hours/week for one year; Study Buddy Program = 1 hour/week for 6 months) |
Little Sisters applying to the Study Buddy Program must also: |
| * | Be able to demonstrate a need for academic support |
| * | Be from a family that cannot access other one-to-one tutoring services due to financial constraints |
How can I refer a Little Sister?
Little Sisters are referred to us by parents, social workers, school counsellors and other helping professionals. To refer a Lower Mainland girl (age 7-17) to Big Sisters, fill out and submit a referral form for the Big & Little Sister Program or Study Buddy Program (see downloadable forms below).
Once we receive the referral, we'll contact the parent/guardian to set a date to meet with them and the child for our required child safety training and an interview to assess the child’s suitability, needs and interests. Once we've found a suitable mentor, the caseworker will introduce the volunteer to the Little Sister and her parent/guardian, and then the match will begin getting together weekly. Each match will continue to be supported by a Big Sisters caseworker through regular in-person meetings and telephone check-ins. How long will it take for a Little Sister to be matched?
Depending on a variety of factors such as where the child lives, her interests and requirements, and the availability of volunteer mentors in her area, it will be a few months before a match is made. We work hard to make a compatible match for each Little Sister - and sometimes that can take a bit of time - but we know it's worth the wait!
Referral Forms
Choose which program would best suit the needs of the girl you are referring:1. Big & Little Sister Program (2-4 hours/week for one year) - Download the BIG & LITTLE SISTER PROGRAM REFERRAL FORM
2. Study Buddy Tutoring Program (1 hour/week for 6 months) - Download the STUDY BUDDY REFERRAL FORM
To have a Referral Form sent to you by mail or fax, please contact us at 604.873.4525 ext. 300 or bigsisters.bc.ca.
Who are Our Volunteer Mentors?
Our volunteer mentors are woman who are age 19 or older. Each volunteer mentor is thoroughly interviewed and screened by a Big Sisters counsellor, attends a training session and child safety training, and provides three references and a Criminal Record Check before they are accepted as a volunteer.
The Communities We Serve
Vancouver, Richmond, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, New Westminster, Surrey, White Rock, Delta, Tsawwassen and Ladner.
If you live in Langley, please visit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Langley at www.bbbslangley.com. If you live in the Abbotsford, Mission, or Chilliwack area, please visit Big Brothers Big Sisters Fraser Valley at www.mentoringworks.ca.