In a show of Government support, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Hon. Alexa Lightbourne, JP, MP, and the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors the Hon. Tinee Furbert, JP, MP, attended the Family Centre’s Open House last Thursday to commemorate the charity’s 35th Anniversary.
Also in attendance were His Excellency the Governor Andrew Murdoch, US Consul General Antoinette Hurtado, and Deputy Police Commissioner Naimah Astwood.
The Family Centre plays a vital role in Bermuda by providing essential support and resources to children, teens, and families facing challenges. Its services are designed to foster resilience, emotional well-being, and stability, ensuring that young people have the tools they need to navigate life’s difficulties. In addition to direct services, the Family Centre advocates for systemic change to improve the lives of Bermuda’s youth. By working with policymakers and community leaders, the Centre helps shape initiatives that promote the well-being of children and families.
Thursday’s Open House provided an opportunity for Minister Lightbourne, Minister Furbert and invited guests to explore the Family Centre’s history, mission, and therapeutic spaces, where children, teens, and their families have found hope, healing, and connection for over three decades.
The two Cabinet colleagues engaged with the Centre’s Community and Counselling team members to gain insight into the organisation’s counselling services, community outreach programmes, and advocacy initiatives, which have played a vital role in strengthening Bermuda’s families.
Reflecting on the importance of the Family Centre, Minister Lightbourne said, “The Family Centre is a key stakeholder in our community providing crucial services to our families for the past 35 years. As we celebrate their milestone, we honour their legacy, and their commitment to offer services that heal our community and provide hope to our island’s most vulnerable.
“Government cannot do it alone, and we were never meant to. Our third sector partners, like the Family Centre, are essential in the shared mission of building a fairer, more prosperous Bermuda. The true measure of our success is found in the wellness of our people. That is why this Ministry is deeply committed to strengthening our collaboration with organisations who are embedded in community and committed to bringing relief to all Bermudians.
“Every child and family deserves to feel safe, supported, and have access to essential services. That is the standard we are holding ourselves to, and that is the standard the Family Centre helps us to achieve, they are to be celebrated by us all.”
Minister Furbert added, “What makes the Family Centre truly remarkable is not just the services they provide, but the way they walk alongside families through some of life’s most difficult moments. For 35 years, they’ve offered more than counselling, they’ve offered connection, dignity, and a sense of belonging. That kind of impact can’t be measured in numbers alone; it’s felt in the lives they’ve helped to heal and the communities they’ve helped to strengthen. As a Ministry, we are proud to partner with organisations like the Family Centre who share our commitment to protecting the well-being of every generation, from our youngest children to our most vulnerable seniors. Their legacy is one of heart, healing, and hope.”
And Dr. Sandy De Silva, PsyD, Executive Director of the Family Centre said, “Family Centre’s anniversary coincides with Bermuda’s Heritage Month where we celebrate our stories, our people, our resilience. Family Centre is proud to be part of that heritage. We are proud to be more than a human services nonprofit; we are a reflection of Bermuda’s deepest values: care, compassion, and community. We believe every child and family deserves the opportunity to thrive and live life to its fullest potential.
As we look ahead to the next 35 years, we do so with hope, vision, and a continued commitment to our mission: to strengthen families and transform lives. The needs may evolve, but our dedication remains the same.
“We are deeply grateful to all who joined us for our 35th Anniversary Open House celebration. A heartfelt thank you to Minister Lightbourne and Minister Furbert for their words of encouragement and their visible support. It is this kind of collaboration that gives families across Bermuda the strength to move forward.”
The Open House is one of many events planned in celebration of the Family Centre’s anniversary. Upcoming events include the Family Centre’s Annual Public Meeting on June 11, 2025, the Family Centre Cup Match Tag Day on July 30, 2025, and the Family Centre 35th Anniversary Signature Event set for April 2026.
For more information on the Family Centre’s services and anniversary events, please visit The Family Centre.