Having a Big Buddy is knowing there is always someone in your corner. LB, Gabriel (11) and his BB, Greg have been matched since 2010 and have been quite the pair since. Losing his father at a very young age and having two adult siblings who live abroad, Gabriel’s mother, Gay thought it very important …
One of our well known mentors shares the gradual journey from new dad to Big Buddy. Auckland’s Eugene Lowrie has been a committed role model for two different boys in the last three years. First, he was Big Buddy to young Sam, then when Sam and his mother moved down to the Waikato, Eugene took …
Many will recognise our Big Buddy Gavin Sheehan for his part in our current #3lifelessons poster, Facebook and Instagram campaign. But probably very few will realise the other great work that Gavin is doing in his local community; has been preserving street plaques that commemorate local Auckland men who gave their lives in WWI. This Sunday, you …
Join Big Buddy Gav to remember lost WWI soldiers this Sunday Read More »
Ken Turner may have left the police force to study engineering like so many other men in his family, but he still fosters a strong care of duty towards others. Ken is now a Big Buddy mentor to 11-year-old ‘fatherless’ Wellington boy, Ollie. The impetus came when the ex-sergeant moved to Porirua – as a …
Kapiti local and mentor Pete Hobbs, 72, is testament to the more recent wave of thinking that suggests one should put the concept of retirement on the backburner and keep on keeping busy. Pete works full time as a painter-decorator and spends a few hours each week mentoring 9 year-old Sean Burkhalter. He says …
Pete’s wisdom of years perfect for mentoring Sean Read More »
Big Buddy has almost 400 mentors working with boys today, and the same again of retired Big Buddies. June 2018 marks the start of our regular Big Buddy Interviews that share with you the valuable experience and insights of our everyday mentoring heroes. A big move to New Zealand ten years ago also signalled a …
From UK financial markets to Te Awamutu Big Buddy Read More »
As Little Buddies absorb the often-subliminal lessons taught to them by their mentors, it’s not uncommon to find a Big Buddy feeling that his young charge occasionally has the upper hand. Our Wellington coordinator, Dave Burcher, recently took an amusing call from one of his area’s mentors. Whilst out exploring Wellington’s south coast, Big Buddy …
July 2018 marks the start of our regular Big Buddy Interviews, where we share the valuable experience and insights of mentors from Auckland, Wellington and the Waikato. Auckland’s Roman Travers combines a pharmaceutical industry role and time with his young-adult family with writing, radio and TV …
We lose count of the number of mentoring relationships that make a difference. But in the case of Little Buddy Teina Kanohi and his Big Buddy Laurence Stanaway, we can definitely point out two occasions that the impact of their long-lasting relationship has had on readers. Firstly in 2014, reporter Cherie Howie wrote about them: …
Mentoring withTeina and Laurence hits headlines….twice! Read More »
Being a part of the Big Buddy program has not only provided the means for confidence and adventure but it has also bridged the gap between young and old. LB, Codey Dixon (15) and BB, Brandon were matched early 2014 and have never looked back. They have been on many adventures together: biking, kayaking, jet …