Impact

Over the past year, we have had to respond quickly to the new challenges each and every one of us is facing, and we have been adapting quickly to the needs of our community. We have been amazed at how quickly we have been able to pull together our efforts with all of our partners and for that we thank each and every one of you. If we did not have people like you in our lives, none of this would have been possible. Because of you, we have been able to serve our children and families in new ways to meet their needs during this very challenging time.

Impact

Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters (BGCBigs) is a community-supported organization committed to the healthy development of children, youth, and their families by providing safe places, positive relationships, services, and opportunities to develop personal strengths and interpersonal skills that enhance their long-term success in life. BCGBigs Mentoring and After-School programs seek to support vulnerable children and youth challenged by the impacts of poverty. The organization also works in partnership with other community organizations to develop and deliver programs geared to specific populations, such as the immigrant and refugee community, the Indigenous community, and other vulnerable groups (e.g. LGBTQ youth).

Mentoring

Mentoring has been shown to be an important component of wraparound community services to support a child’s success in school. Mentoring is defined the relationship between a caring more experienced or wiser volunteer (e.g. adult or older teen) and a child or younger youth. Through participation in educational, recreation and social activities with a volunteer mentor, a mentoring relationship provides a child with support, friendship, guidance, and a constructive role model.

Children with a Mentor are:

27%

less likely to start using alcohol

46%

less likely to start using drugs

37%

less likely to skip a class

52%

less likely to miss school

78%

of former “littles” or mentees who came from a social assistance background don’t rely on social assistance as adults

2x

Boys with mentors were two times more likely to believe that school is fun or that good academic performance is important. They were also two times less likely to develop negative behaviours such as bullying, and less likely to suffer from peer pressure anxiety (e.g. what others might think of them).

4x

Girls were found to be four times less likely to bully others than those without a mentor.

4000+

Children & Youth Served

2023-2024

2000+

Volunteers gave their time

2023-2024

138 Staff

Questions?

Main Switchboard

All BGCBigs Staff

P: 780.424.8181
E: communications@bgcbigs.ca