Argus Group Donates To The Family Centre
The Argus Group today [Apr 15] announced a donation to Family Centre for their counselling programme in the Youth Development Zone [YDZ].
The YDZ is a community initiative launched in 2011 in response to the growing problems affecting the youth population in Bermuda. In the YDZ, Family Centre provides school-based counselling as well as child and family counselling for people living in North East Hamilton.
Most referrals to Family Centre are through word of mouth and family and friends. Counselling services are offered to children aged four to 14 years as well as to parents, grandparents and caregivers.
In addition, Family Centre coordinates the YDZ among community partners, including Bermuda Police Service, Bermuda Economic Development Corporation [within the North East Hamilton Economic Empowerment Zone], Bermuda Coalition, Workforce Development and a church representative in the area. Through the YDZ, Family Centre aims to make social services more accessible to residents living in the North East Hamilton area.
Martha Dismont, Executive Director of Family Centre, says: “Argus has been a longstanding partner of Family Centre and we are thankful for their ongoing support. We are pleased with the results to date of the Youth Development Zone programme.
“There is greater use of the services available to North East Hamilton area residents and, as a result, the community is getting healthier. We are happy to report that families who have completed counselling and been discharged from our services have been able to maintain healthier behaviours over six months We encourage anyone in the North East Hamilton area, with a child between the ages of 4-14 years, who needs counselling, to contact us.”
Alison Hill, Chief Executive Officer of the Argus Group, says: “At the heart of the insurance business is the concept of prevention of loss, be it financial loss or loss of health and well-being. At Argus, we believe that prevention of problems that impact the youth is the most effective tool in creating a healthy society.
“Family Centre is a safe place for families to receive important counselling services that can help them to develop coping skills and to build healthy relationships. Ultimately, when children and families have access to the social services they need, they are better positioned to thrive.”
In 2014, Family Centre provided counselling for 69 families in the YDZ. For more information about Family Centre, visit www.tfc.bm.
