Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawke's Bay

The potential of our region is closely aligned to the potential of our youth. When we guide them in the right direction, we all win. With you on our side, we will.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hawke's Bay is a registered charity matching young people with supportive adult role models. We are committed to establishing and supporting long term, consistent and meaningful mentoring relationships, making our community safer and more connected for youth.

HAWKE'S BAY IS AT A TIPPING POINT

The rest of New Zealand envies our lifestyle and enormous potential. We’re renowned for our fertile soils, excellent climate, world-class Port, and the talented and entrepreneurial people who live here.

At the same time, we locals must concede that Hawke's Bay is a community in crisis. Levels of family violence and drug and alcohol abuse are frightening. Meanwhile, thousands of young people are not in employment, education, or training, yet employers struggle to find reliable and motivated staff.

The Police statistics are grim in Hawke’s Bay, we consistently have one of the highest rates of family harm incidents per 10,000 population in New Zealand and there seems no sign of this abating.

WILL YOU JOIN US IN TURNING THINGS AROUND?

Your donation helps by placing a BBBS mentor in a young person's life. Big Brothers Big Sisters is committed to maintaining and supporting the vital mentoring relationships we create to support our most vulnerable youth.

BBBS matches children (aged 6 - 11 years) with volunteer mentors. We believe every child should have the opportunity to reach his or her full potential.

By changing the course of young lives, we can in turn be changing the course of our community’s future. Serving as role models, our mentors teach by example the importance of giving and giving back, of staying in school, and of having respect for family, peers, and community. Each time we match a child with a mentor we start something incredible – a life-changing relationship built on friendship, trust, and empowerment.

BBBS mentoring programme provides a young person with a role model and a friend to talk to and share the experiences of growing up with. Through regular outings, a relationship is developed between the mentor and the mentee that is built on trust and common interests and is supported by our experienced Mentor Coordinators. The result is a life-changing experience for both the mentor and the mentee. The programme strives to do the following:

• provide a role model and a friend,

• promote the importance of staying in school and healthy relationships with family and peers,

• instil trust and self-confidence in order to make healthy decisions,

• encourage leadership skills and independent thinking,

• and above all, make a difference while having fun.

Thank you for your support in helping that child to raise their head to face the world with a smile on their face.