Big Buddy works on the simple philosophy that boys develop more confidence and resilience when they have a positive male role model to learn from.
Welcome to Big Buddy
Some boys don't have a dad in their lives. So Big Buddy finds kind-hearted mentors to spend a little time with them each weekend. We are a free, secular charity that thoroughly screens men from the community, then matches them with a Little Buddy between 7 and 14 years of age. This small commitment makes a huge difference...to both lives!
Find a mentor
Are you mothering or caring for a fatherless boy between 7 and 14 years of age? When fathers are missing from boy's lives, women usually take the full responsibility of bringing sons up alone. They do a courageous job, but boys benefit greatly from time with a man of good character who can actually 'model' maleness.
Become a mentor
Are you a kind-hearted man who wants to make a difference to a boy whose dad is not in his life? Do you have a drivers licence, a spare 2 or 3 hours a week, and the ability to commit to that for at least a year? Read on and become one of over 800 men already making a positive impact on boys' lives today.
Become a supporter
Big Buddy is incredibly grateful to all the people and businesses who support us in bettering fatherless boys' lives. If you'd like to support this incredibly worthy cause there are many ways to do it. You can become a donor, a sponsor, leave a bequest or simply spread the word to help us find mentors and funders.
Gabriel and Greg side by side since 2010
Big Buddy; straight from the horse’s mouth
The journey to being a Big Buddy
A little about our radio ads inspired by 'Jimmy'
In summer 2019, with the help of a very kind donor, Big Buddy was able to commission a Mediaworks radio ad set to help more boys without dads. The Mediaworks team were a great help in working with us on a script inspired by an anonymous poem from our archives. The voices are all fresh from the Big Buddy community: Little Buddy Aidan Morrison is Jimmy; his Big Buddy and regular radio-pro Roman Travers does the man's voice over; and BB Media & Communications Coordinator Sally Webster dusted off her voice for the female part. Listen to the studio recordings below.
Why mentoring matters
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY
48,669 Boys AGED 7-14
living in solo parent families in New Zealand
WE ESTIMATE THAT
8,030 Boys HAVE NO
contact at all with their father
(16.5% of all solo parent families)
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY
780 Fatherless Boys IN THE
WELLINGTON REGION
and 4,725 boys living in solo parent families
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY
893 Fatherless Boys IN THE
WAIKATO REGION
and 5,412 boys living in solo parent families
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY
2,618 Fatherless Boys IN THE
AUCKLAND REGION
and 15,867 boys living in solo parent families
“My son has a Big Buddy and I couldn't speak more highly of this organisation. They are making real differences in the lives of so many young boys. I adore the happiness and confidence that our Big Buddy brings to my son. Definitely worth the reward if you are someone who can give a few hours a week to make a massive difference in some boy’s life.”
LIANNE MORRISON
#3lifelessons reveals the simplicity of mentoring
In 2018 Big Buddy picked five of our smashing mentors to showcase the #3lifelessons they aim to leave their Little Buddies with through life. One of Big Buddy's brilliant screening psychotherapists, John Bryant, points out that a lot of these lessons are learnt subconsciously, as part of a 'walking alongside' model of mentoring, rather than a 'fixing' approach. This is exactly what these good men reiterate in a variety of takes on their #3lifelessons.
A huge thanks to Builder and Mentor, Alan Ball; Client Service Manager and Mentor, Peter Dix; Lawn Mowing Contractor and Mentor, Bern Green; Procurement Manager and Mentor, Eugene Lowrie; and Truck Driver and Mentor, Gavin Sheehan.
Look out for these guys on Facebook, Instagram at @bigbuddynz.