Big Brothers Big Sisters Halton Seeks Volunteers to Address Youth Need

Big Brothers Big Sisters Halton, Hamilton, and Grand Erie (BBBS Halton) is urgently calling for community volunteers to address the increasing demand for youth mentorship services. The organization currently faces a growing waitlist for its programs, which aim to support at-risk youth at no cost to families.

BBBS Halton connects volunteer mentors with young people based on shared experiences and geographical proximity, ensuring consistent support. Executive Director Michael Treadgold emphasized the importance of a thoughtful matching process. “It’s a very intentional matching process,” he stated. “We want to ensure that the match is as successful as it can be and that we can support the real journey of mentorship all the way through, not just by working with the children but with their caregivers, parents, and guardians as well.”

Currently, BBBS Toronto has a waitlist exceeding 500 children, a trend echoed by branches across Canada. In BBBS Halton, there are 44 young people awaiting a one-on-one mentorship match. Treadgold noted that the actual demand may be even greater, as the local office paused client intake for most of the previous year due to staffing and volunteer shortages.

“I think most non-profit organizations are experiencing this in the wake of the pandemic,” Treadgold remarked. “The demand for service exceeds the supply of resources, whether those resources be financial, volunteers, or staffing. Organizations like ours can struggle to keep up.”

BBBS Halton addresses various issues affecting youth, identifying 14 different adversities that a child may face. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified existing challenges, including access to funding, mental health issues, and educational disruptions. Treadgold explained, “A lot of the challenges associated with the pandemic disproportionately impacted those who were already deserving of more.”

Research indicates that children matched with mentors demonstrate improved academic performance, increased school attendance, and better employment readiness for older youth. Treadgold elaborated, “The presence of a caring and consistent mentor can alter the brain chemistry of youth and reduce the impact of toxic stress they might experience. The mentor introduces them to new opportunities and shows that they care, which significantly impacts their long-term life trajectory.”

Currently, BBBS Halton boasts approximately 840 volunteers engaged in group and one-on-one settings, reaching around 100 schools in the region. However, the demand for mentorship continues to rise, with 70 nearby schools expressing interest in BBBS programs, including 27 in Halton.

To expand services and support more at-risk youth, BBBS Halton focuses on three pillars: maintaining adequate staffing for social service workers, securing consistent funding to sustain long-term programs, and increasing the number of volunteers. Treadgold urged community members to take action, saying, “Step forward and get involved. There’s a place here for everybody. Regardless of how much time, money, or lived experience you have, we have opportunities for mentorship, participating in committees, running events, and networking.”

In celebration of receiving approximately $256,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, BBBS Halton will host a barbecue on August 20, 2023, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at their Hamilton office located at 639 Main St. E.. This event aims to raise awareness about the organization and its ongoing need for volunteers.