Video: BELCO Launches Community Programme

BELCO in conjunction with helping agencies Age Concern, Family Centre, and The Coalition for the Protection of Children today [Mar 18] launched a community partnership outreach programme.

The programme — called Neighbours Helping Neighbours — is funded by BELCO and delivered by the three agencies to raise funds to alleviate the stress of abrupt financial hardship.

The objective of Neighbours Helping Neighbours is to target donations to the agencies’ respective hardship funds which they will then apply as a safety net to help people who find themselves in financial crisis due to unemployment, underemployment, illness or other life changing circumstances.

The programme is intended to bridge an immediate gap so that people suffering an abrupt financial hardship can work with the helping agencies to achieve longer-term, sustainable solutions.

In partnership with Age Concern, Family Centre, and The Coalition for the Protection of Children, BELCO developed the Neighbours Helping Neighbours programme and will fund an awareness campaign for a minimum of 12 months.

BELCO is also donating $20,000 to each of the respective agencies to apply, at their discretion, matching funds in instances where hardship includes energy, and to also cover administrative costs associated with programme activities.

BELCO President and Chief Executive Officer Walter Higgins said, “Age Concern, Family Centre, and The Coalition for the Protection of Children are well run, respected community agencies that provide hands-on services and outreach programmes to Bermuda’s most vulnerable: specifically; seniors, families in need, and children.

“While BELCO provides annual sponsorship support to a large number of community organisations, those contributions are applied to yearly operating expenses.

“We believe that Bermuda’s current economic climate requires greater partnership, coordination and action to help a growing number of individuals hit by hardship to overcome immediate crisis and receive assistance in preparing to meet what could be longer, on-going challenges,” Mr. Higgins said.

Age Concern, which focuses on seniors, approached BELCO over a year ago about establishing a hardship fund, after members of the community donated funds to the agency, specifically earmarked for seniors facing electrical disconnection for non-payment.

Since that time, Age Concern and BELCO have been working together to apply the funds to true hardship cases. Before granting relief to individuals, Age Concern and BELCO’s customer care representatives review pertinent circumstances, and Age Concern visits the home to ensure the funding is being allocated based on genuine need.

Family Centre and The Coalition for the Protection of Children are also receiving donations earmarked for hardship cases and similarly are applying funds to assist with food, energy and essential items for clients working through their programmes.

“As one of Bermuda’s largest local companies, we believe BELCO has a social responsibility to lead where it can and provide an example of how business can work with local helping agencies to deliver tangible relief, particularly in areas that are core to the supporting business,” Denton Williams, Chief Operating Officer said.

“So, in instances where funds are deployed to energy costs, we are providing a contribution for matching funds. In addition to launching and supporting the Neighbours Helping Neighbours campaign, BELCO will also provide a dedicated customer care representative to work with the agencies’ clients on personalised payment plans.

“We will provide energy efficiency educational materials and when requested by the assisting agency, BELCO will provide a visual energy audit at the client’s premises,” he said.

Neighbours Helping Neighbours goal is to provide a safety net, effectively and hand-up to people who find themselves in financial crisis due to unfortunate changes in life circumstances.

It is a limited benefit, granted at the discretion of the participating agencies for food, energy and other essential items, and is not to exceed three payments.

The programme anticipates a three-month period to clear immediate financial requirements and stablise pressing household needs to provide time for individuals to prepare to obtain further, long-term assistance if needed.

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