There’s one thing that Callum never wants to miss, spending time with his Big Brother mentor Bruce Thomas. While they have lots of fun fishing, cycling at the velodrome, and building and flying kites he also likes that he has time to talk with Bruce.
Big Brother Big Sisters Nelson matches young people between 6 and 12 years of age with a mentor who has compatible interests. Bruce and Callum have been meeting each week for fifteen months.
“It’s a chance to act like an eight-year-old and be allowed to,” jokes Bruce.
Big Brother Big Sister currently have 57 children waiting for a mentor, 47 of those are boys.
“You don’t have to change your life to change theirs,” says programme director Chelsea Rowthan. “The friendship is the intervention.”
She says that having a mentor ignites potential in the young people who are referred by parents for many reasons. They may have faced adversity, be in a busy household but need a one-to-one mentor, struggle with friendships or not be in contact with one of their parents.
Mentors are asked to commit to once-a-week interaction for at least a year, and they are supported by mentoring coordinators. Chelsea says, in surveys of mentors, 98-100 per cent say they would recommend mentoring to a friend.
To chat about being a mentor you can call Chelsea on 03 545 9864.