Mentors Needed for BBBS Oxford Group Programs

Monday, 15 April 2024 07:59

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oxford County is looking for volunteers for the Go Girls, Game On, and All Play programs.

OXFORD COUNTY - It's Volunteer Appreciation Week and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oxford County is looking for more volunteers.

If you are 18 years old or older, live in Oxford County, and enjoy working with kids, they have the perfect opportunity for you. The organization offers in-school programs for elementary students called Go Girls, Game On, and a new program called All Play.

Go Girls is for girls aged 11 to 14 and it provides them with knowledge and support to make positive choices about active living, balanced eating, and feeling good. Game On is a similar program meant for boys in the same age group.

The new program All Play is for youth aged 7 to 11 and it provides these younger students with a safe space to learn important social skills, work on communication, and practice sportsmanship.

Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator Erica Hughes explains the time commitment for mentors.

"It's one hour a week for eight weeks. We're starting beginning of May, to the end of the school year in June. Kind of works around your schedule depending on which school we can get you into."

Each group has a total of six to 10 kids and they require at least two mentors. If you are thinking about joining, you can sign up with a friend as well

This opportunity is also great for college or university students coming home for the summer, and looking for something else to do. Hughes also adds where they are looking for these volunteers.

"All over Oxford county, so particularly Tillsonburg, we're looking for six individuals. We need you to be 18 years of age, so we can get that vulnerable checklist with the police department and that daytime availability, but also we're talking to college and university students, so if you're coming back home for the summer this might be an option for you."

She adds that they provide employment reference letters, it looks good on your resume, and provide a connectedness to services offered in Oxford.