Mentor alongside his kid. Photo by Janet Tufts
Hundreds of kids facing significant difficulties are waiting to find a match with a volunteer through Big Brothers, Big Sisters of London.
“We’re dealing with a major shortage of volunteers,” said Janet Tufts the executive director of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of London.
The agency was doing well during the pandemic with lots of volunteers and a lower number of people on the waitlist.
Things took a turn however once the COVID-19 restrictions were removed. “Employers are placing such high demands on individuals post-pandemic, that nobody has the extra time beyond their work world to volunteer.”
“In my four years I have never seen it like it is now,” added Tufts.
According to Tufts, the agency has been trying to keep the number of people on the waitlist to 60, but now with the shortage of volunteers, there are nearly 200 individuals, waiting to be matched with a caring adult.
“The children and youth that we serve are facing some pretty intense adversity in their lives, so they really need this support.” Tufts says, “It’s heartbreaking that we are not able to give them another caring consistent adult in their lives, who can spend time with them each week,” Tufts concluded.
The program matches their volunteer mentors with young individuals called kindly “littles” who share similar interests and hobbies, and they meet somewhere in the community. The meetings happen once a week for 2-4 hours and last for at least a year.
“Responsibility and commitment are so important for us because these meetings tend to be what these kids look forward to the most every week,” Tufts says that they are very careful and picky with their volunteers to ensure that they are committed to it and will be there for those individuals in need.
In addition, she adds that the program has been very successful in the past and will continue to be regardless of the shortage.
“Anyone makes a great mentor, anyone who has a heart, who cares about kids, anyone who is reliable, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, can partake in this journey.”
For more information go to: london.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.
https://twitter.com/Felipe13436267/status/1616173833077014537
Comments