A Message from our Executive Director Tim, on Agency Growth

 As we look ahead to 2023, we want to ensure that we continue to meet and exceed the expectations of our kids, families and volunteers. We know that changes will need to be made along the way, but that these changes have the opportunity to leave an everlasting impact.

In 2023 we want to build on our growth in 2022 and find ways to reach even more children and families in Prince George and Northern BC while supporting and enabling the existing mentoring relations to flourish and amplify.

As we reflect on growth I am still blown away by the support that has allowed our agency to grow. Whether it is our volunteers, our partners or our donors, time and time again you all step up and help us ignite the power and potential of our communities’ youth. When I started as Executive Director in 2013 we were serving 150 children annually and year to date in 2022 we have served 474 children and that number will continue to grow. For the first time ever, our agency should serve over 500 children which represents a 233% increase or an average annual increase of almost 26%.

Looking ahead to next year we already have some exciting things already in the works. We will be opening two new child care centres in Spring 2023 and welcoming 50 new families and almost 10 staff to TeamBigsNBC. We are also going to continue to find ways to expand our before and after school care offerings to help meet the growing demand. As we look at our Mentoring Programs, we will continue to expand our program offering in Prince Rupert through our partnership with Friendship House and build relationships with other stakeholders and rightsholders in order to serve even more kids. In Prince George, we will continue to expand our Connect Programs providing new opportunities for kids while also continuing to grow both our In School and Teen Mentoring Programs.

A primary focus for us along this growth journey is ensuring that the growth is sustainable. We don’t want to be expanding programs and then needing to restrict or cancel because we don’t have the resources to keep them running. This will remain a priority in 2023. We will continue to find ways to amplify our voice, grow programs and make sure we are growing and expanding in a sustainable way. This will ensure our agency is around for many years to come.

September 27, 2022
Tim Bennett, Executive Director