About volunteering as a One-2-One Big Buddy

Q: I have my own children can I still become a Big Buddy?

A: Absolutely. A Little Buddy needs to know that his Big Buddy has regular time for him. If you feel you can commit to meeting with a Little Buddy most weeks (averageing 3 out of 4 weekends a month) for 2-3 hours we’d love to hear from you and we can discuss this with you.

Q: I’d like to volunteer to become a Big Buddy but does my relationship status, age, occupation, religion or sexuality/gender make a difference?

A: No, these factors don’t make a difference. All our volunteers go through the same stringent Selection Process to ensure the safety of the boys.

Q: What sort of backgrounds do the boys come from?

A: The boys come from all walks of life. Some boys come from safe and stable homes, but others come from a more challenging background. The one thing they all have in common is that they don’t have a good male role model in their life and the boys are choosing to have a Big Buddy and the mum/caregiver is motivated and supportive.

Q: How do you decide who to match a Big Buddy with?

A: The Big Buddy Mentoring Managers are experienced at matching Big and Little Buddies. Throughout the application processes they will get to know you, the boys and their whānau. Based on personality and interests they will make a match that they feel works best for all parties.

Q: Can I talk to someone about becoming a Big Buddy before I apply?

A: Yes of course. The first step to becoming a Big Buddy is to register your interest on our Become a Big Buddy page. Once we get your details we contact you to discuss what is involved in more detail before we send you the application pack.

You can also hear first-hand from some of our Big Buddies in our Hey Buddy videos.

Q: Is there a cost involved with becoming a Big Buddy?

A: There are no charges for being part of the Big Buddy programme.

However, if you part of our One-2-One programme, when you go on outings with your Little Buddy, you’ll need to consider any costs that maybe incurred, and what you can afford in the same way you would for any activity. The Little Buddies mother or carer will expect to pay for her boys share but we advise you discuss this in advance of any outing.

Q: How long do the Big Buddy relationships last for?

A: For the Big Buddy One-2-One programme we require a commitment of a minimum of one year. However most Big Buddy relationships last for several years, many last a lifetime.

For the Group Programme, the boys and Buddies are initially matched as a group for the length of the 7 week programme – including the Adventure Weekend. The ongoing connection following the programme will be based on the groups desire to stay in touch, support each other and stay involved in the Big Buddy community.

Q: Does my partner need to be involved if I become a Big Buddy?

A: Your partner doesn’t need to be involved in Big Buddy. However, in our One-2-One programme, we often find that partners become involved in various ways with the wider whānau and Little Buddy.

For mums and caregivers of boys:

Q: How do you ensure the safety of my boy?

A: Big Buddy prides itself on our stringent Selection Process that all Big Buddies must go through before they are matched with a boy.

Q: How do you decide who to match my boy with?

A: The Big Buddy Mentoring Managers are experienced at matching Big and Little Buddies. Throughout the application process, they will get to know you and your boy. They also get to know the men who are expected to be Big Buddies and pass our stringent Selection Process. Based on personalities and interests and will make a match that they feel works best for all parties.

Q: What are the costs involved?

A: There are no charges for being part of the Big Buddy programme.

However, if you are part of our One-2-One programme, when your boy goes on outings with his Big Buddy you’ll need to consider any costs that may be incurred, and what you can afford in the same way you would for any activity your child takes part in – this should be discussed with your Big Buddy.

Q: My boys' father is not a good role model and is only very occasionally present in his life. Will this disqualify him from the programme?

A: We operate based on providing Big Buddies for boys without dads, except in exceptional circumstances. If your boy has limited contact with his father, we may still be able to help. Please enquire and we can discuss this in more detail and a decision will be made on case-by-case basis.

Q: My son’s father is alive, but he has little or no contact with his son. Does my son qualify for a Big Buddy?

A: If your boy has no contact with his father he may qualify for the Big Buddy programme. Depending on the amount of contact your boy has with his father, we may need to contact him and will discuss this with you first to gain your permission.

Q: I would like a Big Buddy for my daughter who has no father; is this possible?

A: No, unfortunately, Big Buddy’s experience and expertise are in matching boys.

Q: How long do Big Buddies stay matched to their Little Buddy?

A: When we recruit volunteer Big Buddies for our One-2-One programme we stipulate that they commit to at least one year. However, many Big Buddy relationships last for several years, some last a lifetime.

For the Group Programme, each group will be a little bit different. We will help each group facilitate a way to stay in contact with each other – however it will depend on the group, how regularly they may catch up or stay in contact following the programme.