NEW PROGRAMME: EMPLOYER-SUPPORTED VOLUNTEERING

This pilot programme is in partnership with local primary schools and businesses. We're proud to be part of a community where so many people want to help - and hope this programme will give them a way to do so.

Partner businesses will be matched with nearby local primary schools.  Once a week during the school term they will release an employee or two during work time to mentor at the end of the school day. The mentor picks the young person up when school finishes, hangs out with them for an hour or two, and then drops them back to their home.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

• Local businesses and local schools sign up to partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawke's Bay to be part of the Employee-Supported Volunteer programme

• Children aged 6-11 years old are referred to the mentoring programme by partner schools  

• They are matched with a mentor volunteer from a nearby partner business.  All mentors are interviewed by BBBS, police vetted, referee checked and trained

• Both mentor and mentee commit to the programme for a minimum of 12 months. 

• Once a week during the school term, the mentor meets their mentee at the end of the school day. Together they spend an hour or more having fun, experiencing new activities and the child is able to form a trusted friendship with a positive role model.

• All matches are managed and supervised by trained Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor Coordinators who check in monthly with the child, the school and the mentor. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Employer benefits: Businesses can build and strengthen close relationships with their local school communities, and know that they are contributing to a proven and effective programme happening locally. Empowering employee volunteering is one way to bring business values to life, and improve job satisfaction and employee retention.  They are more likely to be top-of-mind as product or service providers for the hundreds of families that are part of those school communities.

School benefits:  Partner schools can help link students needing extra support to trusted adult role models. Schools report better engagement and attitude from students enrolled in the mentor programme.

Taiohi/Young person benefits: Improved relationship skills, social awareness, increased self-confidence and hope and optimism about the future. Better engagement and performance at school.

Tuakana/Mentor benefits: Joy in establishing and developing a positive relationship with a young person. Fulfilment reaches into other areas of their lives. They also gain insight into challenges faced by others.

Wider community benefits: Benefits for the mentor and mentee also benefit whānau, peers and the wider community, leading to a greater level of family and community connection, safer homes and communities and improved resilience. Research from the Boston Consulting Group found that every $1 invested in Big Brothers Big Sisters generated $18 in social return on investment

PARTNER WITH US

For more information on the programme and to discuss the benefits to your school or business, please get in touch with us! We'd be delighted to talk to you