An island charity charged with the protection of youngsters has earned certification.

The Coalition for the Protection of Children earned the first of a two-phase process with the Bermuda National Standards Committee.

The charity hopes to achieve the second part of the process, accreditation, by 2021.

Kelly Hunt, the executive director of CPC, said that clients and donors deserved to know the organisation operated with “good governance and accountability”.

She added: “Those who invest in us should be assured that best practice is a core value.”

Ms Hunt said that the being awarded the first phase of a two-part certification process was “an exciting prospective”.

She added: “We have an amazing team of specialised workers, as well as a passionate board of directors.

“We are very fortunate to have such dedication. We offer some of the most experienced social workers and counsellors on island, and they are committed to serving vulnerable families.

“Our services help to address the need for child protection, and family support which is critical for our community.”

Ms Hunt said that keeping children safe was “paramount and must be a focus for Bermuda”.

She added: “Meeting high standards, with the necessary policies and procedures in place, means that we can ensure the delivery of an internationally recognised level of service provision that makes a difference.

“As agents for change, our goal is to achieve positive outcomes that have a measured impact in the lives of Bermuda’s children.”

The BNSC offers certification and accreditation to non-profits and Government services to help ensure compliance with international best practice.

David Lang, chairman of the BNSC, congratulated CPC for completing the process of certification and “for choosing to participate in these demanding processes to ensure that the quality of care and responsible use of resources in our community are accountable and effective”.