One of the island’s leading services for young people and their families has commemorated a milestone with Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, and other officials.

The open house for Family Centre to mark its 35th anniversary last Thursday kicked off a string of upcoming events, including its annual public meeting on June 11, its tag day for Cup Match on June 30 and a “signature” celebration planned for April 2026.

Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs and Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, also attended.

They were joined by Antoinette Hurtado, the US Consul-General and Naimah Astwood, the Deputy Police Commissioner.

Family Centre supports children, teens and families and advocates for systemic change to improve the lives of Bermuda’s youth,

Guests explored its history, mission and therapeutic spaces at its headquarters on King Street in Hamilton.

Ms Lightbourne called Family Centre “a key stakeholder in our community providing crucial services to our families for the past 35 years”.

She added: “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.”

Ms 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.”

Sandy De Silva, the executive director of Family Centre, said its anniversary coincided with Bermuda’s Heritage Month, in which “we celebrate our stories, our people, our resilience”.

“Family Centre is proud to be part of that heritage,” she said.

“We are proud to be more than a human services non-profit; 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.”