PROGRAMS

COMMUNITY BASED MENTORING 

What is your best fit?

WHAT IS COMMUNITY-BASED MENTORING?

Spending time together out in the local community is how Bigs and Littles develop their relationship. After all, to change a child’s perspective of the world, you need to spend time out in it.

community based mentor Alison and her Little at a sporting event

PROGRAM DETAILS

A volunteer mentor (Big) is matched with a mentee (Little) who lives within 30 minutes of where they live. Bigs pick up their Little from their home and take them out to enjoy mentoring activities in the community.

HOW IT WORKS

The pair meets on weekends or after school to enjoy one-on-one activities together like playing sports, visiting the library, or just going for a walk and talking.

VOLUNTEER TIME COMMITMENT

Bigs spend time with their Little 2-4 times per month and need to make a minimum one-year commitment.

BBBSI SUPPORT

Each match is professionally supported by a Match Support Specialist. A Match Support Specialist is a Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence (BBBSI) staff member who provides monthly coaching and support to the parent, child, and volunteer. The purpose of Match Support is to ensure child safety, promote the development of the match relationship, and encourage positive youth development. Match Support Specialists also provide activity suggestions, outing advice, and community resources.

THE NEED

BBBSI needs volunteers who are 21 and older and live in our service area (Philadelphia, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties). We need committed and consistent volunteers to help the youth on our waiting list achieve their full potential.

NEXT STEPS TO BECOME A BIG

  1. CLICK HERE to complete the enrollment form (the form alone does not make you a big).
  2. A representative from BBBSI
    will reach out via email or text
    and ask you to complete a full
    application*.
    *Please note: you will be asked to provide your SSN for background checking purposes.
  3. Attend a virtual information session
  4. Complete your virtual interview
  5. BBBSI staff conducts background checks and contacts your references
  6. Get matched to a Little!
community based mentor Haby and her Little putting up postters

QUESTIONS?

If you have any questions about the program, reach out to our team:

VOLUNTEER:
[email protected]

TO DONATE:
[email protected]

 

 

community based mentor Alison and her little in the cockpit of a plane