Big Brothers Big Sisters Manchester

There are many ways you can support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Manchester. Your donation positively impacts a child's life, not to mention it makes you part of something big. Start Something™ now.

The safety and well-being of the children we serve is Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Manchester's highest priority. We strive to achieve the highest quality possible in matching a child to a caring volunteer Big, and in providing ongoing professional support services to our children, parents and volunteers.

To help ensure child safety, Big Brothers Big Sisters National Standards of Excellence require the following steps to be taken:

Each volunteer must complete a thorough screening process that includes:

Completion of a formal, written application
A criminal history background check
A motor vehicle driving record check
Reference Checks
An in-person interview
An assessment of their home environment (for community-based mentoring)
A professional assessment of their appropriateness to volunteer with a child
An orientation and training process that outlines the individualized needs of your child and provides information and resources on how to encourage your child's healthy development

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Manchester also provides child safety tips to you and your child, and we welcome your questions and feedback. Throughout the life of the match, our professional staff will be in ongoing communication with you, your child, and your child's Big. Our staff and your child's Big, with your support, are committed to the healthy growth and development of your child.

September 2011 Newsletter
August 2011 Newsletter

MENtors Needed!

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Manchester needs male mentors for Community Based and Site Based matches. Only 1 out of 10 new volunteers at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Manchester are men, which means that plenty of young boys are match ready and waiting for some good men to step forward. Being a “Big Brother” requires no special skills – just a desire to be a friend to a child.

Community-Based Mentoring - In the Community Based program Bigs and Littles typically meet 2-3 times a month, for a minimum of one calendar year. We recommend that you keep a consistent schedule and that you see each other on a regular basis. Share an activity that gives you something in common to talk about. You want to select activities that give each of you a chance to learn more about one another. Buy a comic book to read to each other, play a board game, or take a ride in the car with the radio on and discuss the music! For children, playing can be learning. Most important - have FUN!

Site Based Mentoring - Our Site Based program allows Bigs and Littles meet once a week in schools, childcare centers and community after school sites, to talk and have fun. Bigs and Littles typically meet 45 minutes to one hour a week, throughout the school year, to read together, play sports or computer games, or simply talk about life and personal issues – just as friends do!

Please tell a friend, brother, co-worker to give us a call at 669-5365, x201.

Match Story

There aren't too many people that don't already know what our match is like. I talk about it all the time. We met 4, almost 5 years ago. I was very pleased to meet a beautiful, I mean really beautiful, young Mexican girl. She was very shy and not the first one to speak out in her class. Within that first year, she became an excellent student. She began to "fix" her hair, dress with style, and socialize. We since have learned how to make bead jewelry, hook rugs, crochet, color velvet pictures, I lose many games, and we always find some sort of craft for each holiday. I feel that I have only skimmed what we really do.

My little has made me very proud. She is a high honor student for 3 years running. Just this past year, has been chosen to be a mentor for incoming students to Junior High. She is a fabulous example! I love her so much!

A couple of years ago, we decided to begin a great way to reward her-we collect really neat bracelets that we add a special charm for each of her accomplishments. She now wears 2 bracelets!

Anyway, if more people could see how little effort it takes to make a HUGE difference in someone's life, there would not be a waiting list of children to be matched. Spread the word and make a kid smile. It's easy.

Very proudly,
Ruth Witherspoon
School-based mentor program
& Community-based program