Big Brothers Big Sisters
Our Approach
The young people we support are growing up with adversity such as family instability, financial hardship, or other challenges beyond their control. These experiences can affect confidence, wellbeing, and opportunities as young people grow.
We match tamariki aged 6 to 12 with a carefully screened adult volunteer mentor and professionally support them throughout the lifetime of the match. Because lasting relationships create the greatest impact, our mentoring matches can continue until a young person turns 18 or they graduate because the friendship becomes naturally sustainable.
One-to-one time
Through regular one-to-one time together, mentors provide encouragement, guidance and a trusted relationship that helps young people build confidence, resilience, and a stronger sense of belonging.
Research and our own programme results show that mentoring leads to real and measurable outcomes. Our taiohi/young people develop stronger self-confidence, better decision-making skills, improved relationships with peers and adults, and greater engagement at school and in their communities.
Our Impact
Plus, the impact reaches far beyond the individual. When a young person feels supported and believes in their potential, the benefits ripple outward to their whānau, schools and the wider community.
Through these relationships, tamariki and rangatahi discover their strengths, expand their horizons, and begin to see a future full of possibility.
Why the Big Sheep Trail Matters
The demand for mentoring in Christchurch continues to grow and Big Brothers Big Sisters doesn’t have the resources currently to meet this need. Every week we hear from whānau asking for support for young people who would benefit from having their own mentor. Right now, there are many more tamariki waiting for a match than we have mentors available. The Big Sheep Trail is about changing that. By bringing together artists, businesses, schools and the wider community, this woolly awesome event will help raise the funds needed to grow our mentoring programme. The goal is simple. Raise the funds to recruit more mentors, create more matches, and ensure more tamariki and rangatahi have a trusted adult walking alongside them. Because when a young person has someone in their corner, it can change the course of their life. And when we support our young people to thrive, the benefits ripple through whānau, communities and the future of our city.
The Gala Auction is a key part of the Big Sheep Trail as it’s the major fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Christchurch.
Proceeds from this night will help to expand their mahi, creating and supporting more mentoring matches, enabling all young people realise their full potential. In other words, the fun of the trail helps create real and lasting impact for young people in our community.
