WRC & CAA Charities Strengthen Collaboration
The Women’s Resource Centre [WRC] and the Centre Against Abuse [CAA] announced the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU], strengthening a longstanding partnership dedicated to ensuring clients are connected to the most appropriate support and services.
A spokesperson said, “While the signing of this agreement marks an important milestone, the collaboration between the two organisations is not new. This partnership dates back to 2015, when the Women’s Resource Centre made the strategic decision to transfer its crisis intervention services to the Centre Against Abuse in response to evolving community needs. Since then, both organisations have worked in close coordination to ensure survivors receive timely, specialised, and compassionate care.
Juanae Crockwell, Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Centre and Laurie Sheil, Executive Director of the Centre Against Abuse.
“The newly signed MOU formalises this collaboration, establishing a clear and coordinated framework for referrals, information sharing, and service delivery. It ensures that clients are seamlessly connected to the most appropriate support at the right time, while maintaining a trauma-informed, client-centred approach across both organisations.
“As outlined in the agreement, the Centre Against Abuse will continue to serve as Bermuda’s primary provider of crisis response, advocacy, and safety planning for survivors of intimate partner abuse and sexual assault, while the Women’s Resource Centre focuses on therapeutic, post-crisis support services that promote healing, stability, and long-term wellbeing.
“The MOU also strengthens collaboration through clearly defined referral pathways, coordinated communication, and shared guiding principles centred on client safety, dignity, and choice. Both organisations have committed to ongoing staff training, information-sharing protocols in alignment with the Public Access to Information Act [PATI], and continuous review of the partnership to ensure it remains responsive to the needs of the community.”
“This step represents more than a formal document – it reflects years of collaboration and a shared commitment to supporting survivors in Bermuda,” said Juanae Crockwell, Executive Director of the Women’s Resource Centre.
“We view this MOU as a living agreement – one that will evolve alongside the needs of the community and continue to strengthen Bermuda’s coordinated response to abuse.”
A spokesperson added, “The partnership also aims to better educate and support the public in navigating Bermuda’s social support ecosystem, which can often feel complex and overwhelming. As part of the agreement, a joint public awareness campaign will highlight the distinct but complementary roles of each organisation.”
“For many years, there has been some confusion in the community about the roles of CAA and WRC. This MOU helps clarify our distinct services while strengthening how we work together to support clients with complex needs,” said Executive Director Laurie Shiell.
“Through this partnership, women will be connected to the right support at the right time. CAA will continue to focus on safety, crisis response, trauma-informed counselling, and community education, while working closely with WRC to ensure a more coordinated system of care, so no woman falls through the gaps.”
A spokesperson added, “The goal of this collaborative effort is to reduce duplication of services, establish clear pathways to support clients, and ensure that women receive not only immediate crisis intervention, but also the ongoing care and resources needed to heal and rebuild their lives.”
