At Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central and Southern Interior (BBBSCSI) our mission is to enable life changing Mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people, and our vision is for all young people to realize their full potential.
Our Mentoring agency’s existence goes back over 50 years and was created in direct response to community needs. The Programs and Strategies we offer are research and evidence-based, accessible to all students, and delivered in partnership with local schools during school hours.
The benefit to today’s community in the Central and Southern Interior of British Columbia is even greater as the demands on our children and youth have changed. Healthy development of children and youth is critical to the continued well-being of our communities. Children and youth are our future. The quality of their early lives and their healthy integration into civil society is important, not only to the on-going process of social health and renewal but also to our safety and security.
All of our staff members are professionally trained, with a degree and training in Social Work, Education, Health Sciences, or the equivalent. Our agency partners with local schools, community volunteers, and practicum students.
Information for Schools and Parents/Caregivers
Did you know that one positive Mentor can make a significant impact on a child’s life? At BBBSCSI, we believe unlocking a child’s true potential creates a future where anything is possible. We offer programs and services that meet our communities’ needs as well as follow BBBS Canada’s National Standards. To ensure quality programming and child safety, we work in direct partnerships with local schools. To register a student, class, or school, contact us by email at central.southern.interior@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca or by phone at 1-800-404-4483.
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to some common questions we get asked about our programs.
We look forward to hearing from you!
CHAMPIONING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF YOUTH
SERVING CANADA’S COMMUNITIES
This year alone Big Brothers Big Sisters impacted over 41,000 youth in over 1,100 communities across Canada.
REPUTABLE AND ACCOUNTABLE
Providing life changing mentoring experiences since 1912, Big Brothers Big Sisters was named One of MoneySense Magazine’s top 10 youth charities in 2019.
IMPROVING SOCIETY
Every $1 invested in our programming returns between $18-$23 to society through taxes, higher incomes, volunteerism, and charitable donations.
VISION
Every Child in Canada Who Needs a Mentor, Has a Mentor.
MISSION
We commit to Canada’s young people that we will be leaders in providing them with the highest quality, volunteer based mentoring programs
STRUCTURE
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is a Federation comprised of 102 member agencies servicing more than 1,100 communities across the country.
ISSUE
Many children and youth in Canada struggle with societal barriers and face adversities in their lives.
IMPACT
Facing prolonged adversity creates toxic stress in the brain that can negatively impact development.
SOLUTION
With the support of a mentor, these risks can be reduced or even avoided, and youth can reach their full potential.
Our Solution
Many children and youth in Canada struggle with societal barriers and face adversities in their lives like detrimental living conditions, family violence, risk factors for mental health, school issues and identity challenges.
These circumstances have nothing to do with the value of who they are or who they can become, but because of these situations, children and youth risk not having the opportunity to live up to their full potential.
Even worse is the possibility that these children and youth will get stuck in cycles of poverty and crime or will be unable to access treatment for mental health issues.
This comes at a cost to the young person and to society.
With the guidance and support of a mentor, these risks can be reduced or even avoided, and youth are reminded they can be anything they dream of being.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada is a Federation comprised of 102 member agencies servicing more than 1,100 communities across the country. Together we mobilize over 20,700 volunteers who in turn mentor 41,400+ children and young people. That works out to nearly:
2.1 million volunteer hours each year
Each Big Brother Big Sister agency provides direct service to children by matching volunteers and youths in quality mentoring relationships. Our agency staff members are experts at screening volunteers and matching them with a mentee having similar interests.
The national organization provides services and programs to our member agencies to assist them with their work with parents, mentees, and volunteers. Ranging from staff training workshops to our leading Child Safety Program, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada works diligently to ensure we have superior quality programming in all parts of the country.