Befriending Services
026 - BIG BROTHERS OF SARNIA-LAMBTON
519-336-0460
| 193 George St., Sarnia, ON N7T 4N6 | Fax: (519) 336-0477 |
| Petrolia: (519) 882- 8788 | |
| Forest: (519) 786-2334 |
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Staff work flexible hours to accommodate both the clients and volunteers.
| Fees: | No fees |
| Area Served: | Lambton County |
Big Brothers of Sarnia-Lambton provides responsible guidance in the development of life skills to the children of our community through companionship with adult volunteers. Caring adult male volunteers (Big Brothers) or a couple help a boy on an individual basis.
After being carefully screened and trained by agency professional staff, these volunteers share three to four hours per week of their time and friendship with a boy in need. The focus is on fun and sharing interests, with an overall goal of providing guidance, support and enhancing self-esteem. The boy must be living in a single-parent, mother-headed family and have limited contact with his father or any other adult male role-model. The youngest boy accepted into the program is 5, while the oldest is 14. Once a child is matched in the program, he can remain involved until his eighteenth birthday. There are no specific referral requirements for a boy interested in this program. Self-referral is possible.
In-School Mentoring Program
The In-School Mentoring Program is a collaborative community project coordinated by Big Brothers of Sarnia-Lambton. It brings together male and female volunteers from the community to help at risk youth in the elementary school system. Volunteers, who are screened and trained by Big Brothers, commit to one hour per week for the duration of the school year. This is not a tutoring program. Activities may include games, computers, cooking, gym activities etc.
Girls and boys are referred to this program by the staff at the school, teachers and social work staff. Children referred to the program are felt to need one-to-one attention to help them achieve their potential. The program is run during school hours on school property.
