Give a young girl the gift of a friend AND a mentor.
Refer a girl to the Big & Little Sister Program OR Study Buddy Program!
“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.”
– Mother 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 referred Little Sisters must meet the following criteria: |
| * | be between the ages of 7 and 17 |
| * | live in the Lower Mainland |
| * | be interested in being matched with a caring, adult mentor |
| * | be able to meet the minimum time commitment for the program they are interested in (Big & Little Sister Program: 3-5 hours once a week for 1 year; Study Buddy Program: 1 hour a week for 6 months) |
Little Sisters being referred to the Study Buddy Program must also: |
| * | be able to demonstrate a need for academic support |
| * | be from a single parent family OR from a dual parent family who cannot access one-to-one tutoring 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 form we will contact the parent/guardian and child to set dates for them to come to a mandatory child safety training and interview to assess the child’s suitability, needs and interests so we can make a compatible match. Once we have found a suitable mentor, the counsellor will introduce the volunteer to the Little Sister and her parent/guardian. After this initial introduction, the match will begin getting together weekly. Each match will continue to be supported by a Big Sisters counsellor through required 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, the various requirements of the child, and the availability of volunteer mentors in her area, it may be a few months before a match is made. Our Big Sisters counsellors work hard to make sure they find a compatible match for each Little Sister - and sometimes that can take a bit of time - but we know it will be worth the wait!
BIG & LITTLE SISTER PROGRAM REFERRALS |
Click here to download the AGENCY Referral Form (PDF) |
Click here to download the FAMILY Referral Form (PDF) |
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STUDY BUDDY PROGRAM REFERRALS |
Click here to download the AGENCY/FAMILY Referral Form (PDF) |
To have a Referral Form sent to you by mail or fax, please call 604.873.4525 ext. 300 or email bigsisters.bc.ca.
* PLEASE ONLY REFER A GIRL TO THE BIG & LITTLE SISTER PROGRAM OR THE STUDY BUDDY PROGRAM, NOT BOTH. THANK YOU! *
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 Maple Ridge area, please visit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Abbotsford, Mission and Ridge Meadows at www.mentoringworks.ca.