Seventy-five years ago, Lady Cubitt, wife of then-Governor Lieut-Gen. Sir T.A. Cubitt, was so distressed by the number of destitute, elderly people living in our community who, despite having worked hard all their lives, were unable to maintain themselves in old age that she was moved to found the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association (LCCA). Its purpose was the relief of poverty, suffering and distress of local families.

Incorporated by Act of Parliament in 1945, its focus also included the protection and care of neglected and needy children. As a result of this in particular, the Association became the only “approved society” under the Protection of Children’s Act, 1943 and received Government grants for use in this regard.

By 1956 the LCCA had 82 children under its care, five of whom were placed for adoption until, in 1970, Government assumed all responsibility in this regard.

Rev. Alton Thompson, who served as chairman of the now-defunct Cases committee for over 20 years, remembers those earlier years well.

“We had a lot of work to do with children — finding homes for them, and sometimes the decisions were very, very difficult, but the LCCA was fulfilling a great need, particularly with the children. I found it rewarding, so much so that when I scaled down some of my work with various organisations, I decided to stay with the LCCA because it was dearest to my heart, and still means a lot to me,” he said.

Today, the Association’s stated mission is to improve the quality of life, health and well being of those who are in medical, financial or emotional need, with particular care and compassion for children and the elderly, and it goes about its business in a very low-key way — a quality which not only Rev. Thompson, but also past chairman and board member Mrs. Denise Astwood found appealing.

“I had always known about the LCCA and often sold tags for it,” she said. “In 1992 I was invited to join, and I liked it, as well as the fact that it was low-key, and not absolutely specific to one cause. What we could do for each case was decided on its own merits. If we could help we would, but if we felt another charity could help better referred it on. Our guidelines are not rigid.”

Nevertheless, Mrs. Astwood points out that the registered charity has limitations on the amount of financial assistance it can provide, and it keeps pace with change by constantly updating its strategic planning.

As the wife of the present Governor, Sir John Vereker, Lady Vereker happily continues the tradition begun by Lady Cubitt of serving as the LCCA’s patron, as well as being an active supporter. Recalling that when she first arrived here she was inundated with requests to become involved with a host of organisations and charities, Lady Vereker said the LCCA was one of the first she finally selected to help.

“I thought it was right and proper that I should continue the tradition of previous Governors’ wives, and I also believed in the Association’s mission statement, which seemed to fit with my own feeling of what people should do in the community, especially being in the position which John and I are. The LCCA is a wonderful Bermudian organisation that is home grown in the sense that it has been here a very long time, and deals with local assistance,” she said. “There are many aspects to the LCCA. Its reach is wide, its dedication is strong, and Bermudians identify with it as a charity which helps the neediest.”

While many have no idea what the LCCA actually does, others commonly associate it solely with financially assisting patients going abroad for specialist treatment which they could not otherwise afford.

In fact, the LCCA provides two distinct programmes. One is the General Assistance programme and the other is the Patient Overseas Financial Aid programme, the latter of which it administers on behalf of the Government, Ministry of Health and Family Services.

Funding for the first programme comes from various sources including dues paid to the LCCA in lieu of union dues, bequests, its annual tag day and appeal to the corporate sector, as well as donations in lieu of funeral flowers.

Funding for the second programme is via a Government grant, an interest-free repayment plan, and insurance claims made on behalf of the patient.

In all cases, applications for assistance are carefully and thoroughly screened. In medical cases, the original application must originate with the patient’s doctor, and other requirements include approval of the application by Government’s chief medical officer, and an advance payment of 50 percent of the patient’s costs. A case manager works closely with each patient, the overseas hospitals, and others to provide a level of support too detailed to include here.

In general assistance programme cases, the LCCA also cross-checks with other helping agencies, including all Government services, before proceeding with any assistance.

Its newest initiatives are an initial funding of $250,000 towards the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s home care programme, which aims to move recovering patients to their homes rather than remaining in hospital beds — thus continuing a focus mainly on the elderly which Lady Cubitt started in 1932.

Envisaged is a programme providing funding towards a health service aimed at lowering health care costs, the objective of which would be reducing the high volume of emergency and low-level admissions at KEMH, and focussing on the uninsured, the indigent, and those with standard HIP insurance.

Meanwhile, sound fiscal prudence has allowed the LCCA to keep pace with the ever-growing demands placed upon it. Today, it has approximately 400 clients on its books, and disbursements from 2002-2006 were in excess of $350,000.

As cases and overheads have grown, so too has the charity’s office space and staff. Today, it occupies a small suite of offices in the International Centre on Par-la-Ville Road, with executive director Mrs. Betty Peterson at the helm of an office staff of two.

A former personal banking officer at the Bank of Bermuda who also worked in an overseas bank for many years, the born Bermudian has converted her original “trial basis” approach into a 13-year stay, during which she has worked prodigiously to incept a series of office procedures and systems which now makes the charity an efficient and professionally-run organisation.

“The significance of what the LCCA stood for appealed to me, and I saw that I could utilise my skills to enhance its operation,” she said. “I have enjoyed the experience and support I have received from the board members which has allowed me to carry on the ideas of the founder, Lady Cubitt.”

In addition to a new logo, a series of events is planned to mark the 75th anniversary which will be in keeping with its standard, low-key approach. The first will be morning worship at the Anglican Cathedral on Sunday conducted by its honorary patron, Bishop Ewan Ratteray. A special luncheon for invited guests, donors and interested members of the public is anticipated with, it is hoped, a keynote speaker; as well as a reception at Government House. As always, the annual tag day will take place.

Continuing Lady Cubitt’s charity work