Autumnal scene As the days shorten and we approach the end of the year, catch up on the latest news from our Surrey and West Sussex programmes. In this issue we feature: A tribute to Graham Meheux, West Sussex Mentor Coordinator who sadly passed away earlier this year How we celebrated Kinship Care week earlier this month Spotlight on Julie, one of our recently matched mentors who shares how she is building a relationship with her little sister Highlights from our mentor's

Mentoring Quote by Chelsey Baker, CEO & Founder of National Mentoring Day Today is National Mentoring Day (Tuesday 27 October) and we are celebrating all the mentors that are making a difference to people's lives across the world.🌎 We fully believe in this powerful statement by Chelsey Baker, CEO & Founder of National Mentoring Day - it perfectly sums up the lasting impact that mentoring can have on a person and their wider community. At Big Brothers Big Sisters we are extre

We are proud to stand alongside Kinship to shine a light on the vital role of kinship carers – relatives and friends who step up to raise a child when their birth parents are unable to. Kinship carers play a crucial role giving children, most of whom would otherwise be in the care system, safety, stability and belonging. Across England and Wales, more than 141,000 children are being raised in kinship care, growing up in loving and stable homes that keep them connected to the

We were delighted to welcome Julie to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Surrey mentoring programme earlier this year, where she was matched with H, a ten-year-old girl who has experienced significant challenges in her young life. With an unstable home environment and sporadic contact with her father, H was identified as a child who could greatly benefit from having a trusted, consistent adult in her life. Through mentoring, she has gained exactly that. Since being matched, Julie a

Birthday cupcake with two candle Last month, two of our longest serving West Sussex mentors, Francesca and Lucy, celebrated a very special milestone; two years of being matched with their Little Sisters. This anniversary is about so much more than marking time. It reflects their dedication, trust and commitment - values that sit at the heart of the Big Brothers Big Sisters West Sussex programme. Over the past two years, Francesca and Lucy have shared countless laughs, created

Meet Stu, one of our amazing volunteer mentors. In his own words, he shares why he joined the mentoring programme and how it’s changed his life, his family’s life, and the life of his little sibling. Man and boy playing together What were your motivations for joining the mentoring programme? My name is Stu, and I have two children currently studying at University and College. Having always been actively involved in my kids lives and supporting numerous clubs and activities ov

Child feeding a goat …is often found in the simplest moments. Below are just a few highlights from our West Sussex and Surrey mentors following recent outings with their ‘little’s’, including some who are new to the programme. “We went for hot chocolate and then had fun picking out outfits and doing the catwalk in the shoe department at Next.” “We played nine holes of golf at Rustington Golf, only losing one ball each and finished each hole. I talked B through various ways to

Big Brother Big Sisters Surrey Mentors Meet some of the amazing volunteer mentors from our sister programme in Surrey! We’re so proud to see both our West Sussex and Surrey mentoring programmes growing—reaching more kinship children and making a real, lasting difference in their lives.

Volunteers thinking about joining our mentoring programme often wonder what kinds of activities they might do with their ‘little’ once matched—do they need to be expensive or involve travelling far? In our experience, children greatly value simple, everyday moments spent with their adult mentor, and these often cost little or nothing at all. Activities can be shaped around each child’s individual interests and hobbies, which could mean a relaxed trip to the park, garden centr

Joanne Marchant is one of our newest volunteer mentors and here she shares her motivations for joining the programme. "I had been looking for a new initiative for myself and had not quite found the right thing until I saw the Big Brothers Big Sisters advert. It really resonated with me and I felt compelled to find out more. As a parent to two teenagers, my role as ‘mum’ has been evolving and I am not needed in quite the same way. I have loved being a mum, focusing on giving m

Pictured: Volunteer Mentors, Aimee Hiett and Francesca Erdelyi To mark Volunteers’ Week this week (1st-7th June), two volunteers share how mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters has changed their lives and those of the children they mentor by building confidence, resilience, and encouraging healthy relationships. Aimée Hiett and Francesca Erdelyi both volunteer as mentors with the West Sussex based one-to-one mentoring programme, supporting children and young people that are

This is one of the questions we hear most from our amazing volunteers. The short answer? Absolutely not. We know life is busy, so initially we recommend keeping meet‑ups simple and local — think community settings like a park, and for no more than an hour to start with. Mentoring isn’t about spending money. In fact, the best moments often come from the simplest things like a bike ride, a kickabout in the park or taking time to just chat and play. These everyday experiences

What motivated you to want to become a big sister? I’ve been looking to volunteer for quite some time but struggled to find something that was ‘me’ or I could relate to. Mentoring for Big Brothers Big Sisters seemed like the perfect fit as I felt I could give so much to the role - patience, warmth and care, to name but a few things. I am a big sister and growing up I was always nicknamed ‘mother hen’ by my three younger siblings. My youngest sister has a terminal illness and

Big Brothers Big Sisters America hosted their 6th Annual Youth Safety & Well Being Summit last week. Leading US Paediatrician and pioneer in the treatment of toxic stress, Dr Nadine Burke Harris, led the keynote address, looking how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and chronic stress affect developing brains and bodies. She explored why safe, stable relationships are one of the most powerful buffers to protect against the effects of childhood adversity. Drawing on scienc

We are proud to support the National Autistic Society's World Autism Acceptance Month this April. A 2024 report published by Kinship , England and Wales’ leading voice for kinship families, revealed compelling and astounding insights into the experiences of kinship children with special educational needs, including Autism. The findings showed: • Nearly 50% of kinship children in England were reported to have a special educational need or disability (SEND). • Over 33% of

Human mind with speech bubbles Mentorship is more than advice-giving; it is a relationship built on mutual trust, respect, and a genuine interest in another person’s growth. Here we explore several key traits that great mentors and role models combine to create safe and supportive environments for child mentees to grow and thrive. Patience – children should be encouraged to develop at their own pace and they may sometimes suffer setbacks. Patience is vital for helping mentor

Hands forming heart shape While mentoring a child who has experienced some type of trauma in their lives is extremely rewarding, it can also come with challenges. Here are some common obstacles and how to overcome them. Building Trust Establishing trust takes time, especially with young people who may have experienced instability in their lives. Be patient, consistent, and open. Building a strong relationship is a gradual process. Navigating Difficult Conversations Mentors ma

Meet Francesca, one of our mentors, as she shares why she became a Big Sister, what mentoring has meant to her, and why she’d encourage others to take the leap. From dog walks and hot chocolates to building trust and confidence—Francesca talks about her experience of volunteering as a mentor and why supporting young people matters. What motivated you to want to become a big sister? I had been looking at doing something like this for a while. I’ve worked with families with Wes

Mentoring is more than just a word; it’s a powerful commitment that can transform lives. At Big Brothers Big Sisters, the impact of mentorship is profound, creating lasting relationships that foster growth, confidence, and resilience in young people. If you’ve ever considered becoming a mentor, now is the time to take that step. Here we explore the importance of mentorship, the benefits of becoming a big brother or sister to one of our ‘littles’, what impact it has had on the

Mentoring is a key part of what we do at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Many of the children we support have experienced trauma at a young age and are facing challenges no child should have to deal with. Our mentors build strong relationships with their ‘littles’ and their families, providing both parties with unconditional support. This collaborative approach has been shown to help children rebuild trust in adults and improve long‑term outcomes. The 5Cs model is a holistic frame