SiriusPoint Makes $25,000 Donation To IAC
The Inter Agency Committee for Children, Families and the Community [IAC] has received $25,000 from SiriusPoint.
A spokesperson said, “The Inter Agency Committee for Children, Families and the Community – a nonprofit that unifies and strengthens social sector agencies to serve children, families and the community in Bermuda – has received $25,000 from SiriusPoint. This will directly support over 70 social sector professionals to attend the Compassionate Care Series of trainings during another challenging Covid-19 pandemic year.”
Nicola Paugh, Executive Director of IAC, said, “SiriusPoint stepped in at a critical time for professional mental health after the Covid-19 pandemic led to increased demand: with member agencies reporting 200% for hardship needs; 170% for family support; 66% for food aid and meals; and 35% for domestic violence support.
“Simultaneously, furloughs or redundancies have resulted in professionals being stretched to capacity and having their mental health tested, often without the training budgets to access useful tools to cope.”
The spokesperson said, “Compassionate Care addresses this by helping to develop positive, nurturing, healing and resilience-building relationships between professionals and clients. It has five key themes in practice: practitioner emotional intelligence, a client-centred approach, a restorative trauma-informed approach, a growth and empowerment focus and a commitment to quality of service.”
Mark Nash, Chair of the SiriusPoint Bermuda Charitable Donations Committee, said, “SiriusPoint appreciates the role that IAC plays in providing training and development, advocating for the third sector, and fostering collaboration through networking and relationship building.
“As the practitioners in Bermuda’s social and helping agencies rise to the challenges of meeting the increased needs brought about by the pandemic, it is important that they continue to receive support for their own mental wellbeing and that of their clients. The healing centered nature of the Compassionate Care Series which delivers important practitioner trainings to provide this support.”
Nicola Paugh, Executive Director of IAC, said, “IAC will be training 70 professionals on healing centred engagement, racial and social justice, LGBTQ+ sensitivity and youth worker personal development with the support of SiriusPoint this year.”
The spokesperson said, “Our Healing the Practitioner: Critical Conversations on Race and Social Justice will raise awareness about social justice and racial equity issues to strengthen social sector services. It is delivered by Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda [CURB] and will open for 12 participants this April.
“Our Healing Centred Engagement Certificate will help professionals to identify, engage and heal underlining adverse childhood experiences, trauma and multi-general trauma at the root of client needs. It will be delivered by California-based Flourish Agenda and will open for 20 participants later this spring.
“Our Youth Development Worker Series empowers youth development workers with interpersonal skills and tools to build meaningful and purposeful relationships for positive youth outcomes. It is facilitated by Jeanene Todd from the Mirrors Programme, and will open for 20 participants this fall.
“Our LGBTQ+ Sensitivity Training provides social sector professionals with an opportunity to explore, discuss, and strengthen their multicultural competence, as well as increase their awareness of the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community. This training will take place later this year and will open for 20 participants this year.”
Mr. Nash said, “SiriusPoint is committed to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion, both within our businesses and the communities in which we operate. We are excited to see the slate of trainings expanded in 2022 to include sessions focusing on racial and social justice and meeting the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.
“With close to half of IAC’s membership having no budget for training and development, we’re proud to partner with IAC to provide the opportunity for organisations and individuals to participate that may not otherwise have been able to, thereby helping to strengthen the entire third sector, particularly those working with children and families.”
The spokesperson said, “The support from SiriusPoint means that the cost of these important professional development opportunities are 80% subsidized for IAC members. To learn more about IAC, become a member or register to attend the Compassionate Care Series at a subsidised rate, visit www.iacbermuda.org or email programmes@iac.bm.”
