The Big Brother Big Sister programme is a youth mentoring programme that forms friendships between an adult volunteer and a young person who will benefit from extra support. Male volunteers are matched with young males and female volunteers are matched with young females.
The Big Brother Big Sister programme is open to both male and female adult volunteers who can share one to two hours a week with a young person. Adults are matched to young people based on similar interests, hobbies, and personalities. They decide mutually on weekly activities that they are both interested in. Volunteers from all walks of life are already involved and include Army personnel, teachers, students, footballers, tradesmen, medical staff, and men currently not working.
It is looking for any male who has an hour to give weekly to a programme that not only benefits young people in a fun way but also gives the volunteer an excuse to re-engage with activities he may not have been involved in for years. Initial training and ongoing support is provided for volunteers.
Today, January 27, sees the launch of the annual initiative, with the strong support of The Galway Advertiser, to gain more male volunteers for The Big Brother Big Sister programme here in Galway. It is a very worthwhile and beneficial programme and one whose success depends exclusively on volunteers.
The ultimate aim is to gain 30 new male volunteers in 30 days. So why launch a campaign for male volunteers? It has numerous young people, especially young males, who have been on a waiting list to get a Big Brother/Big Sister for quite a while. Traditionally, recruiting male volunteers has been an issue. Over the next four weeks Big Brother/Big Sister will highlight the numerous benefits that Galway’s men can gain from being part of the programme. It will also introduce other ways people can get involved and volunteer apart from mentoring.
Over the next three issues of The Galway Advertiser there will be updates on the progress in gaining new volunteers. So on January 27 Big Brother/Big Sister starts with “0” but with your help looks forward to seeing that number grow ever closer to the target of 30.
By picking up the phone you can arrange to meet one of the Big Brother Big Sister project officers Alan, Ciara, or Finghin, and become part of a simple but powerful volunteer programme that can have a huge impact on a young person’s life and at the same time help you rediscover the fun of youth. So call one of the numbers below and go along to an information evening to find out more.
Alan- 086 8524920
Ciara- 087 7996268
Finghin- 086 7741623
Although this campaign is aimed at recruiting male volunteers, female volunteers are always needed.
