Photo : Sharyn Smart
Taranaki volunteers are getting behind the Big Brothers Big Sisters programme making it one of the biggest agencies in the country.
The Taranaki branch has 120 matches in the New Plymouth, Waitara, Inglewood and Hawera areas.
Programme manager Snr Constable Paul Lampe said the focus in Taranaki was on children aged 7 to 10 years who could stay matched until they were 18.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programme is for any child who wants and needs a mentor in their lives,” he said.
The youth mentoring programme focuses on children at an age when they are most likely to bond with the volunteer, creating a good friendship base and potentially life long friendships.
“The whole point about mentoring is for the volunteers to have fun with the young person that they are matched with,” Mr Lampe said.
Volunteers spend time being a big brother or big sister by doing things they already enjoy doing such as kicking a ball around, taking a walk on the beach, going to the movies or just hanging out.