Taking the First Steps

Does your boy need Big Buddy?

If you’re the female carer of a 7-17 year old boy whose dad is not in his life, Big Buddy may be able to help find a good man to spend some time with him.

When we say 'boys without dads in their lives', we generally mean boys who have no contact at all with their fathers. The reason why their father is not around doesn’t matter so much; how we can help make his son’s life better does matter.

Mums, Aunties and Grans do an amazing job of raising boys without their dads around, but some women report that their boy needs a good male influence, and that’s where a Big Buddy can help.

Big Buddy recognises that boys of different ages have different needs, so we have developed two programmes of support for boys depending on their age.

Big Buddy One-2-One matches one boy with one volunteer male role model, a Big Buddy. This programme supports boys aged between 7 and 14 and is set up to be a long-term match (minimum one year), but often last many years, sometimes a lifetime.

Big Buddy Group is a new programme for teenage boys aged 14-17. Big Buddy Group matches a group of boys to Buddies in a safe and supportive group setting over 8 weeks.

What to expect when you apply.

Once you have read about the different programmes Big Buddy offers and if you feel we could be right for you and your boy then fill in the form below and we will be in touch to discuss things further.

If we can help we will organise a visit to you and your boy to get to know you. This is a vital part of the process as we want to ensure we are a good fit for you and your boys' needs. Then we can discuss the Big Buddy programme that your boy is eligible for and the process we go through to set thing up.

Please note there is a waiting list for Big Buddies but we are continually working hard to reduce the list to match as many boys as we can.

The Big Buddy Screening and Matching Process.

All men who volunteer to be a Big Buddy have to pass the stringent Big Buddy Screening Process. This is one of the most rigorous Selection Processes of any agency or club in New Zealand. This is because the safety of our boys is paramount to what we do.

Once your boy has been accepted we start the exciting journey of the Matching Process to find a Big Buddy that is just right for him. We have a proven track record of making good matches for boys, their families and the Big Buddies, but please be aware it can take some time.

How much does it cost?

Big Buddy is a charitable trust that is funded by sponsors, grants and donors so there is no charge for your boy being included in one of the Big Buddy programmes. However please note it can take time to find the right match for your boy, and it can be a long process.