Thank you: it's the only payment that most volunteers in the mentor charity Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS) ever hope to receive.

Very often it is the one thing forgotten by the mentee while being taken to playgrounds, during teary telephone conversations, (they just don't understand me) and while trying to absorb all the lifeskills advice from the mentor.

But today is 'Thank Your Mentor Day' a day to rectify that. Celebrated worldwide, it is a day to recognise the people who have made a difference.

The Royal Gazetterecently spoke to three top volunteers at Big Brothers & Big Sisters.

The three Corville Hylton, Alan Titus and Shannah Butterfield were recently named 'Bigs of the Year'.

The three were nominated by letters written by their mentees.

Kids need to know that people care about them according to Big Brother of the Year, Police Constable Corville Hylton.

He has been a 'Big' for three years, and has two 'Littles' Marcus Stevens, 16, and Cameron Jeffers, 9.

Cameron wrote the winning essay.

"As a Police officer I am concerned about young people in society," he said. "I think they are wonderful but they need the proper guidance in order to become useful citizens in the community.

"If I help them I think it will make our job easier. That was what motivated me as well as my love for people and children."

He has seen many kids brought into the Police Station.

"A lot of them are from good families," he said. "They are brought up in the right way but have the wrong influences."

He said there are positive things going on in the community, but the kids often don't know about them.

"For example, if they are interested in sports there are so many different things they can do including tennis, football and cricket, to name a few."

He said his older 'Little', Marcus, enjoyed being part of the under-16 national cricket team.

"We do everything together," he said. "We go fishing. We do mini golf. We go on the driving range. We play Wii at home."

PC Hylton is also teaching Cameron to play the piano.

"Sometimes I help him with his homework," said PC Hylton. "We go to the park and go swimming."

He said because he had two 'Littles' he sometimes combined activities, but he also had to make sure they each got one-on-one attention.

PC Hylton is married with two small children of his own, but they live for most of the year in Jamaica.

He was visiting them at Christmas, and missed the the special BBBS Christmas lunch where the 'Big of the Year' awards were handed out.

"I would have loved to have been there," he said. "But I did get a copy of the letter. It was wonderful to see I'd made an impact on his life."

To other people considering becoming a 'Big', PC Hylton said the best time to do it is right now.

"I would tell other people being a 'Big' is one of the most rewarding things they could ever do," he said.

"You are impacting the life of a child. I don't think there is anything more satisfying or fulfilling than to see yourself making an impact on a child's life, and to see how they have progressed."

It's okay to be yourself, is the message that 'Big of the Year' Shannah Butterfield tries to get across to her two Littles.

Miss Butterfield has been a 'Big' since 2008. She works in human resources.

Her 'Littles' are Dajanae Iris, 9, and Jalon Symons, 6. Dajanae wrote the winning essay.

"I just try to get across to them that it is okay for them to be themselves," she said. "I want them to feel comfortable around other people. The youngest one is more open, and is a free spirit.

"I let them know they can talk to me about anything, which they do.

"I love children," she said. "I have always wanted to give back to the community. I figured Big Brothers and Big Sisters was the best option for me in terms of meeting those needs."

She usually sees her 'Littles' every weekend, if her schedule permits.

"I usually give them the options about what we do together," she said. "When I ask them, nine times out of ten they say they want to go to the playground, whether it is raining, winter or whatever."

She also takes her 'Littles' to the movies and to the Aquarium.

"I have a family member with a swimming pool so they love to go there," she said. "Sometimes I will take them to family functions. My family love them as well."

She said at the Christmas lunch, she was very emotional when she was called to the stage.

"I was completely shocked," she said. "It took me awhile. I was like, 'did they call my name?' I wasn't expecting it at all. I don't look for any sort of recognition or accolades for it."

Like PC Hylton, she was very concerned about the plight of young people on the Island.

"My initial thought is that a lot of the problems on the Island stem from parenting or the lack thereof," she said.

"They are growing up in a society of 'haves'. Children have every opportunity to get everything they want. They don't see it as something they have to work for.

"If they can't get the toys and clothes they want, sometimes they will try whatever means necessary to get it.

She said more of the many latchkey kids in the community needed to be introduced to more positive activities.

"It's better than letting them entertain themselves," she said. "That is where the mischief comes into play. They grow up thinking people don't care about them as much as they really do.

"With Big Brothers and Big Sisters, children get a sense of security and a feeling that the community has a genuine interest in them progressing in life."

You are never too old to be a Big Brother believes 'Big of the Year' Alan Titus.

Mr. Titus is 69 years old. His 'Little', Khalil Burch, is 16 years old.

Mr. Titus is American and his wife is Bermudian. They decided they wanted to volunteer in the community when he retired and they moved back to the Island a few years ago.

"When we came down here we were both interested in getting involved," he said. "We went to Centre on Philanthropy and found out there were 500 different charities on the Island.

"We both ended up involved in different charities, although both of us are interested in education, young people and the community."

Mr. Titus is on the board of the Centre for Talented Youth programme. He is also on the board of the Bermuda National Trust, and on the board of the college he graduated from in the United States, Bodin College.

"BBBS appealed to me," he said. "We are on the Island about eight months of the year.

"Your obligation is roughly three hours a week."

He was told by BBBS that when he was not on the Island, he could maintain contact with his 'Little' in other ways such as through telephone calls or e-mails.

He was given five potential matches, and he chose Khalil who was then 12 years old.

"I chose him because he wanted to one day be a marine biologist," said Mr. Titus. "I live on Harrington Sound and I have a boat."

Not only did he swim and snorkel with Khalil, the two went to the Aquarium where Khalil volunteered.

"Every weekend we would go and clean the animal cages," said Mr. Titus. "Then they put a new rule in saying until he was 14 he couldn't work there anymore even if I was there."

Now that Khalil is a teenager, Mr. Titus has to be more flexible about the time they spend together.

"At this stage they are developing their own personality and friends," he said. "Often I say I am around this week and these are the things we could do. If he isn't interested, he has a job to do, or he wants to hang around with his friends, then I let him.

"I want him to know I am there for him, but he is not obligated to hang out with me."

He often takes Khalil to lectures at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

"I would say at least once a week we have a conversation," he said. "Every two weeks we will get together. I have been very involved in his education."

Mr. Titus liaises with Khalil's teachers to make sure he knows exactly where Khalil is at.

And the extra attention has paid off for Khalil, who has been on the honour roll while in school.

Mr. Titus also helped to fund a scholarship so that Khalil could take part in the Waterstart programme at the Bermuda Institute for Ocean Science (BIOS).

This is a summer programme where young people get to take part in real science projects and experiments.

"My reward is seeing him develop in a way that is positive," said Mr. Titus. "Someone on the board of my own college said sometimes you don't see the results immediately. You will see them as the person you are working with, as they get to better appreciate what you have done together some years into the future."

There are currently many children like Khalil, Dajanae and Cameron on the waiting list at BBBS. For more information check out their webpage, www.bbbs.bm, telephone 232-2802 or e-mail esme.bbbslogic.bm.