Participants in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Casey initiative enjoy a recent day out at Luna Park. The program is expanding its horizons and is now helping children and mentors living in Greater Dandenong and Cardinia Shire.By Liesel Rickarby
DISADVANTAGED kids in Dandenong and Cardinia will soon be able to get a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) extending its City of Casey operation to the broader outer south east Melbourne region.
BBBS is a community based mentoring program which involves adult volunteers committing to spend quality time with disadvantaged children aged between seven and 17 who are in need of a positive role model.
The program aims to provide friendship and support to young people who are affected by loneliness, isolation, poor social skills, low self esteem, inadequate adult relationships or limited life opportunities.
Each match between a big brother or sister and a little brother or sister costs BBBS $2000, which covers interviews and assessment of the child, volunteer screening and training, support of the match throughout the year and planned group activities.
Thanks to a grant from the Helen MacPherson Smith Trust, BBBS has successfully operated in Casey for the past two years in a collaborative partnership with YMCA Victoria.
To date BBBS in Casey has made 56 matches and has 80 young people waiting to be paired with big brothers and big sisters.
It is due to the success of the Casey program that BBBS has expanded its operation.
However, a lot of fundraising needs to be done before more kids can be paired with mentors.
A Big Brothers Big Sisters business dinner will be held on the 8 October at Birches Restaurant in Dandenong to encourage local businesses to support the charity.
For more information about the program and dinner contact Rebecca Wolstenholme on 9705 5033.
