Questions about the time commitment
1. What is the time commitment to be a Study Buddy?
2. Can I go on vacation?
3. What do I do if my work/school load changes and I have less time?

Questions about your match with your Little Sister Study Buddy
4. How long will it take before I'm matched with a Little Sister Study Buddy?
5. How is a Little Sister Study Buddy picked for me?
6. How long can I be matched with my Little Sister Study Buddy?
7. What if I need help or advice about my match?
8. Am I supposed to develop a friendship with my Little Sister’s parent too?

Questions about what Study Buddies do together
9. Where do Study Buddy matches study?
10. Can we do things other than studying together?
11. Are there activities that include other Study Buddy matches?
12. Do I have to know the BC school curriculum to be a Study Buddy?
13. I don’t have a car – is that ok?
14. Can I invite my friend to help with our tutoring sessions?

Questions about Criminal Record Checks
15. Where do I get a Criminal Record Check?
16. How much does a Criminal Record Check cost?
17. Do the people I live with also need to get Criminal Record Checks?
18. What if I just moved here from another country?

Questions about application references
19. Can my boyfriend or roommate be one of my references?
20. What if I don’t have a professional reference who's known me for 2 years?

4. How long will it take before I'm matched with a Little Sister Study Buddy?
Depending on a variety of factors such as where you live, your skill set, and the various needs of the girls on our waiting list, it may be some months before you are matched with your Little Sister Study Buddy. Our Big Sisters casework team works hard to make sure they find a compatible match for each Study Buddy - and sometimes that can take a bit of time – but it’ll be worth the wait!  TOP

5. How is a Little Sister Study Buddy picked for me?
Your Big Sisters caseworker will review your application, noting what subjects you are comfortable tutoring, where you live, and other information you share with us. Before introducing you to your Little Sister, your caseworker will tell you about the girl she's chosen for you to make sure you are comfortable with her choice - you have the option to say no at that time. We are committed to making a compatible and fun match for you and your Little Sister Study Buddy!  TOP

6. How long can I be matched with my Little Sister Study Buddy?
The minimum commitment is 6 months, however many Study Buddy matches choose to continue their friendship for years! Once a Little Sister becomes a legal adult at age 19, the match ends officially with our agency, however we encourage these ‘graduated’ matches to continue their friendship outside of our program – and many become life-long friends!  TOP

7. What if I need help or advice about my match?
As a Study Buddy volunteer, you will be assigned to a Big Sisters caseworker who is there to support you throughout your match with your Little Sister Study Buddy. Your caseworker will check-in with you on a regular basis and we also encourage you to contact your caseworker whenever you need guidance, tutoring tips and resources, or an ear. We are always here to support you!  TOP

8. Am I supposed to develop a friendship with my Little Sister’s parent too?
It will be necessary to communicate with your Little Sister’s parent/guardian to schedule tutoring sessions, however, volunteers are not encouraged to form a close friendship with the parent/guardian. As a Study Buddy, your role is to develop a trusting relationship with your Little Sister and spend one-to-one time helping her reach her academic goals.  TOP

STUDY BUDDY ACTIVITIES

9. Where do Study Buddy matches study?
We recommend that Study Buddy matches find a convenient, quiet place to hold their weekly study sessions such as a local library or the volunteer's home.  TOP

10. Can we do things other than studying together?
Yes! In addition to your weekly tutoring sessions, you and your Little Sister Study Buddy can also go on educational outings (up to one per month) after you have been matched for four months. TOP

11. Are there activities that include other Study Buddy matches?
Yes! We hold occasional educational outings for our Study Buddy matches, which are advertised in our weekly e-newsletter. Our Activities Committee also puts on three annual parties that all of our Study Buddy matches and Big & Little Sister matches are invited to: Summer BBQ, Halloween Party, and Winterfest Party. TOP

12. Do I have to know the BC school curriculum to be a Study Buddy?
No. The topics covered in the BC school curriculum are very similar to other curriculums. What is important is for you to get a good understanding of where your Little Sister is at academically, which can be accomplished by talking to her parent, her teacher and/or your Study Buddy caseworker. An overview of the BC curriculum is posted online at www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/welcome.php if you want to get a general idea.  TOP

13. I don’t have a car – is that ok?
No problem! Many of our matches take transit to their study sessions. TOP

14. Can I invite my friend to help with our tutoring sessions?
No. Study Buddy matches are intended to be one-to-one relationships. You’ll find that you and your Little Sister Study Buddy will form a stronger bond if your time together adheres to our one-to-one policy. TOP

CRIMINAL RECORD CHECKS

15. Where do I get a Criminal Record Check?
You can get your Criminal Record Check done at the RCMP/Police station in the municipality/city where you live (a complete listing of RCMP/Police stations is included in the Study Buddy Application Package). We encourage you to get your Criminal Record Check done as soon as possible as it can take awhile for the station to process it and send it to you.  TOP

16. How much does a Criminal Record Check cost?
The cost of Criminal Record Checks varies according to where you live. Most are free for volunteers with others ranging from $10-$25. Please refer to the Study Buddy Application Package for details.  TOP

17. Do the people I live with also need to get Criminal Record Checks?
Live-in partners/spouses must complete a Criminal Record Check, however other family members or roommates do not. Due to the close nature of the relationship between a volunteer and her partner/spouse, the partner/spouse is more likely (than a parent or roommate) to see the Little Sister and interact with her when she comes to the volunteer’s house.  TOP

18. What if I just moved here from another country?
You must have lived in Canada for at least one year before you can apply to volunteer as a Study Buddy, or be able to provide us with a recent International Criminal Records Check from your most recent country of residence.  TOP

APPLICATION REFERENCES

19. Can my boyfriend or roommate be one of my references?
No. Spouses, partners, fellow applicants and current roommates are not accepted as references for the Study Buddy application. We ask that you provide us with another family member and friend who have known you for at least two years to be a reference for you.  TOP

20. What if I don’t have a professional reference who's known me for 2 years?
Your professional reference can be a current or former employment supervisor,
co-worker, teacher, or volunteer supervisor. If you don’t have a professional reference who has known you for 2 years, contact us at info@bigsisters.bc.ca or 604-873-4525 ext. 300 and we'll figure out a solution together.  TOP