Human service providers “play a vital role in Bermuda — and the loss of even one can have a significant impact on the people and community it serves”, said the head of a charity.

Sandy De Silva, the executive director at Family Centre, spoke after news broke at the weekend that Teen Haven and Teen Services, based near Fort Hamilton in Pembroke, would be closing its doors at the end of the year.

The organisation stands alongside Age Concern, Family Centre, the Centre Against Abuse, Transitional Community Services and the Women's Resource Centre as a prominent helping agency.

Teen Services went public two years ago over “a crisis” when its trustees, dissatisfied with its debt and financial oversight, served the shelter for vulnerable women and their children with an eviction notice for October 31, 2024.

The courts granted Teen Haven a temporary stay that November.

Among the key services for young people was sexual and reproductive help. In particular, Teen Services pioneered support for at-risk young women — including pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers.

Dr De Silva said this week that birthrates among teenagers had “encouragingly” declined globally.

She added: “Unicef reports that the birthrate among young women aged 15 to 19 fell from 67 births per 1,000 in 2000 to 39 in 2023, which is a decline of over 40 per cent.

“Bermuda’s 2025 statistics also shows fewer births to mothers under 20, with 14 recorded in 2015 compared with two in 2024.

“These figures are encouraging, but the young people and families who need help must continue to have access to appropriate support.”

Dr De Silva said Family Centre, which offers counselling services at no charge to families with children and young people aged 4 to18, was “in the midst of expanding our counselling services to 24 years old and this service will begin in 2027”.

“We remain committed to helping young people and their families navigate challenges and strengthen their emotional wellbeing.”