By Glenn Hicks

Big brothers needed in P.A.

Nov 21, 2017 | 1:00 PM

Prince Albert boys are in need of big brothers. 

The Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Prince Albert mentoring program currently has 30 kids matched with a volunteer adult, but 30 more are on the wait list and by far the biggest need is for the boys.

“It’s estimated that 80 per cent of mentors are women,” development coordinator Natasha Thomson told paNOW, urging more adults to come forward. “[The boys] just need sometimes a little bit more support in their life, somebody who they can talk to and hang out with which encourages them to succeed.”

Thomson was speaking after their second annual Music Unites Us fundraiser which was aimed at boosting their community matching and in-school matching efforts. She said the program has taken off locally but it costs $1,500 per mentor. The money helps pay for a professional case worker.

“[That person] screens the volunteers, trains them, and regularly interviews the child, parents and volunteers,” she said. “They just make sure everything is going okay.”

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Thomson also hoped to secure another 20 mentors for their in-school program.

While there is a cost to each matching, Thomson said the outlay is worth it in the long run as each dollar invested in their mentoring gives back 18 dollars in social return.

“It helps children to become more successful all the way around,” she said. “They’re more likely to finish post-secondary education, more likely to be employed, and basically become leaders in the community.”

Anyone over 18-years-old can volunteer and apply to join the program which matches them with a boy or girl aged six to 16.

A mentor is expected to hang out with their brother or sister between an hour and three hours a week. Thomson said that could be doing things like going to a Raider game, paddle a canoe, or learn to tend a garden.

“These small things enrich their lives today and strengthen our community tomorrow. We want people to know their support of our programs is having lasting positive impact.”

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter. @princealbertnow