BECOME A BIG

Bigs in our Community-Based program are volunteer mentors, 21 years or older, who live in Cuyahoga County and want to be a one-to-one mentor for a “Little” (aged 8-17 years old).  All Bigs are interviewed, screened and trained. 

Bigs have diverse backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, nationalities, experiences, and careers. You don’t need a special degree or to be in a specific career. All of our Bigs have in common the desire to positively impact their community and make a difference!

Start by filling out an online application! 

Our Enrollment team will e-mail you once we’ve received it, and set up a time within two weeks for you to complete a virtual orientation and interview.

You’ll then do a free, virtual mentorship training.  We will check the references you provided and conduct a criminal and driving history background check. Once these steps are complete, we will reach out to you to let you know if you’ve been accepted! 

Because we match based on best fit, not first-come first-serve, we don’t have an exact timeframe. However, many matches are typically made within six weeks from being approved into our program. Please note that due to various factors, such as demand, availability, and preferences, it can take up to six months to be matched. We greatly appreciate your patience as we  find the best fit for you.

We get to know you during the enrollment process, and children/families complete a simliar enrollment process.   We  look at factors such as interests, hobbies, personality and backgrounds. Great care is taken to ensure the compatibility of the “Bigs” and “Littles,” based on the information we gather.

As a Big/Little team, you decide when you want to get together and your Little gets approval from their Parent/Guardian.

We recommend you keep a consistent schedule of outings and meet on a regular basis. Your goal is meeting two times a month that  (4-6 hours total per month). The outing frequencies also depend on the comfort level and schedule of your Little’s Parent/Guardian, your Little, and you.

The meaningful time you invest with your Little is more important than the amount of money you spend. Good friendships are about just that - the quality! That’s why we don’t encourage spending much money on your outings and discourage buying gifts outside of birthdays or holidays.  Bigs do often pay for meals when taking their Little out to eat, if that is a barrier we encourage packing a picnic, planning activities outside of mealtimes, or talking with your Match Support Specialist about having your Little bring some pocket money. 

If you are going to spend money, we encourage you to seek out low-cost activities, especially in the beginning.  We sometimes have donor-supported group activities that are a great way to meet other Bigs and Littles. As a Big, you will also receive notices via email for free tickets to cultural and sports activities for you both to enjoy!  BBBS also has a fund to sponsor match outings directly for activities with a potentially prohibitive cost - your dedicated Match Support Specialist will talk to you about this once you’re matched. 

Share an activity that gives you something in common to talk about! That may be visiting a nature center or going for a walk, visiting a local library or museum, playing a board/card game, or playing a sport together! Depending on the season and your interests, you and your Little might enjoy putt-putt, an art class, disc golf, drawing/painting, building a snowman or having a snowball fight, going to a festival, getting produce at a farmer’s market, or going to a local sports game. You want to select activities that give each of you a chance to learn more about one another. 

Remember, it’s the quality of time spent that matters most. For children, playing can be learning. Most important: keep it simple and enjoy yourselves!  We also use the app Group Me for Bigs to communicate with each other to share ideas and invite others on outings - you’ll get invited to join once you’re matched.

Relationships require dedication and clear communication. It's no different between Bigs and Littles! The time it takes for you and your Little to open up to one another can vary. Be patient with yourself and your Little. Explain to your Little why you became a Big, and get to know things about them. Don’t forget to get to know the Little’s Parent/Guardian, too! They may be able to offer helpful insight.

Remember, your Match Support Specialist will give you a call each month to check-in and provide feedback! 

We love that you have supportive people in your life! With that said, it’s vital for you and your Little to get to know each other one-on-one, especially in the beginning. Trust, safety, and confidence all take time to build. 

However, over time it can be valuable for your Little to get to know the people who are important to you! As long as this is okay with the Little, their Parent/Guardian, and your Match Support Specialist – you may ask to bring someone special along for a visit. We ask that you just keep in mind that your friendship with your Little should always be the main focus.

Once you are matched with your Little, your designated Match Support Specialist will be in touch so that you two can get to know each other. During the life of the match, your Specialist will call you each month to provide assistance, answer questions, and give feedback. 

They can also help you with ideas for activities and guidance for handling different situations that may arise.

No - Littles have a parent, guardian, or another important adult in their life already. 

What they need is a Big to spend quality, one-on-one time with them. Someone to have fun with and build a positive mentoring relationship with -  someone like you!