Mentoring relationships are a shared opportunity for learning and growth. Many Bigs say that the rewards they gain are just as substantial as the ones gained by their Littles.
Wondering if you have what it takes to be a mentor?
The answer is yes!
To apply to be a big, you must be over the age of 18 and able to commit a few hours a couple times a month for at least one year. The team at BBBS are happy to answer any questions you may have about becoming a Big.
Aged 18 or older
1 Year Commitment
2 Times per month
3 hours per hangout
Genuine interest in getting to know a young person
Mentoring tells a young person that there is someone in their corner. It lets them know they matter.
We’re always looking for people eager to positively impact a child and improve their community at the same time. And right now is no different. Mentors are in high demand, so decide to make a difference today.
Big Futures Mentoring supports high-school students to thrive in high school and succeed on any post-secondary path with mentorship from trusted mentors like you and transformative experiences provided by our community partners.
Our community-based program is our traditional match in which adult mentors are paired with children ages 7-12, and agree to see each other for three hours, a couple of times a month.
BBBSEM’s gender-intentional programming creates safe, nurturing, and inspiring spaces where girls can build self-esteem, cultivate resilience, and develop the skills necessary for success in their academic, personal, and professional lives.
Thanks to our College Partners, we’ve teamed up with colleges and universities across Eastern Massachusetts to bring children who live in some of our harder-to-reach areas, and who may need Bigs the most, to college campuses. This innovative program is transformational to many Littles.
It may sound obvious, but sometimes the best place to help a child realize their potential is at school. Kids enjoy having their Bigs meet with them there, whether it’s in the classroom or on the playground. And parents and guardians know what a positive impact it makes.
Commitment is an essential part of a successful match. Every Little in our program is looking to be matched with a caring adult mentor for a minimum of a year! To ensure you are having an impact, we ask for 2 to 3 outings per month, but we acknowledge that there are circumstances that can impact this commitment: travelling, holidays, health, etc. It’s important to make sure to inform your Little and their family ahead of time if you must cancel or reschedule an outing. Also, let your Little and BBBS know in advance if you are going to be traveling or are aware of any upcoming events that would impact your commitment. We ask for volunteers to create and maintain a clear line of communication between them and the Little’s family to ensure match success!
Other than providing your enthusiasm and some of your spare time, the cost of being a Big is nominal. The focus should be on doing everyday activities with your Little. We often provide Bigs with free tickets you can use to take your Little to sports games, museums, cultural events, etc. You’ll also receive newsletters that let you know about low/no-cost events in the community. Plus, you may be able to claim an itemized tax deduction for any out-of-pocket expenses you might incur.
HERE is a list of free/low-cost activity ideas and a list of local partnerships who offer BBBS discounts!
We encourage free to low-cost outing experiences. Matches typically enjoy going for walks in their community, going to the park, attending museums, and even engaging in local community events! BBBSEM has several partnerships in the greater Boston area, Cape and Islands that offer discounts to Bigs & Littles. Many YMCA locations are accessible within our partnerships for Bigs & Littles to take advantage of for free!
HERE is a list of activity ideas and local partnerships.
Yes, we try to match volunteers who don’t have cars with children living close to public transportation. We also offer a Zipcar discount to our actively matched Bigs, so be sure to ask us about it!
"My Big helps me with goals and reminds me that there is more than one way to try something – even if it doesn’t work out the first time"
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