There’s always a lot going on at Big Buddy. We are active in the media – in print, television, radio and Facebook – sharing our mentoring stories and news about everything from expansion plans to funding successes. Many of our stories come fresh from the field via coordinators, Big and Little Buddies, and mothers. They are always a good read!
We’d love to hear your stories about mentoring – please send them to us (here).
Through kind sponsorship, Big Buddies occasionally get to develop their own confidence on an Outward Bound course, at a fraction of the cost most people would pay. Recently, Big Buddies Eugene Lowrie and Terry Dawson were lucky enough to take up this offer in The Marlborough Sounds. Terry’s letter of thanks, below, shows us the …
Growing confidence through the spirit of adventure Read More »
Here’s a great reminder of what Big Buddies do best, from the 2016 archives: A year is a long time in a 13-year-old boy’s life and a lot can happen. Especially if you are LB Mikaere and go on all sorts of adventures around Wellington with BB Tony. Here’s a report from the mentoring field …
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 …
FROM THE 2015 ARCHIVES We all remember doing speeches in school, and we all know the best kinds of speeches are the ones about the things we like the most. So, LB Jaden chose to do his speech on his BB, Graeme, and the Big Buddy programme. These are his words: “Hi, today I’m talking …
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 …
Sometimes it pays to simply tell a story as it is. Early this year we received this heartfelt account of Sarah Tizard and son Koria’s journey to finding Big Buddy Wes. Read more about how it has transformed their lives. ‘Koria and Wesley were matched just over a year ago. It has been the best …
Family adversity healed through having a Big Buddy Read More »
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 »
While finding kind-hearted male mentors to improve the lives of boys whose fathers are not around is a beautifully simple proposition, staffing and operating such a charity in Auckland, Wellington and Waikato requires a great deal of thought and coordination. South and East Auckland is no exception – areas that collectively require at least 30 …
From teaching men’s anger management to finding mentors for boys Read More »