Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Cowichan Valley has announced that it has been forced to make the difficult decision to cease operations.
The organization has been working in the valley since 1972 and expects to fully shut down services within the next few months.
The organization says it is striving to minimize disruption to the families and children that rely on it’s services .
In-school mentoring and Group programming will conclude in School District 79 as of June 27, and the remaining staff are working to identify potential supports for mentoring matches in the Community Program.
The organization says it is having difficulty raising enough money to meet operating costs, and grants from government and private organizations have become fewer and much harder to get.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cowichan Valley says the lack of strong, stable alternative revenue streams means it cannot keep up with higher operating costs.
Shaun Mann, Chair, Board of Directors, BBBSCV, says they carefully considered all factors, including future developments, but concluded they could not sustain stable operations.
“With heavy hearts, we determined that dissolution was the best course of action. However, our commitment to the vision and mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters remains unwavering.”
Mann says while the BBBSCV’s local chapter will soon dissolve, the importance of mentoring youth remains paramount for the Cowichan Valley and they encourage everyone to continue to connect with young people, provide positive examples, and support other organizations helping youth.
