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Since Tanya McMurtrie became a mentor last year to nine year old Ashlee, a special friendship and bond has developed between them, one that is re-warding to them both.It all began when Tanya, a successful career wom-an and Wealth manager with the ASB Bank had been looking at ways of contributing something back into the community. A friend suggested she look at Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) an organi-sation that matches young people between the ages of six and eighteen with mentors in a profes-sionally supported one -to-one relationship.The young people served by Big Brothers Big Sis-ters are some of the more vulnerable children in our communities who it’s been shown will benefit from the positive and lasting input mentor’s have on their lives.After following up on the suggestion and learn-ing more about the scheme Tanya applied to be a mentor. With the child’s safety a number one pri-ority she had to go through an interview process and background check to ensure she was suitable, followed by a short mentor training course.Making the right match between mentor and child is important and a lot of effort goes into this to ensure the right match is made. Tanya praises the length BBBS goes to getting to know the child

and the mentor to make sure it is.“When I went through the training I said I wanted a young person who was respectful, who would give anything a go, active and creative as well be-cause I am quite creative and Ashlee’s all of that.”Tanya and Ashlee were matched last year and as Tanya says, they “hit it off straight away.”With a choice of two forms of mentoring school based or community based available, Tanya opted for community based, where Ashlee comes to her home and they spend time together. “We do all sorts of things such as making cup-cakes, cooking, art and craft activities, and going out perhaps to a movie or in the summer lots of swimming.”Tanya also has supportive friends who are very happy for Ashlee to visit them with her, some-thing Ashlee enjoys.“Last week we visited Tanya’s friends house and we did flax weaving and made cupcakes. Tanya introduces me to lots of people; I now know her Mum and her sister and lots of her friend’s.”Tanya is very keen to see others consider the pro-gramme and become involved. Big Brothers Big Sisters are keen to hear from people interested in the mentoring programme or if you would like further information call 548 9059.

More than just a ‘Big Sister’, programme brings pair together

Tanya McMurtrie with ‘little person’ Ashlee. The pair spend quite a bit of time together as part of the Big Brother Big Sister programme. Photo: Barbara Gillham.