Two charities and a government department have proved the quality of the service they provide by becoming accredited by the Bermuda National Standards Committee, Culture Minister Dale Butler said yesterday.

He told a press conference that the Women's Resource Centre, the Sunshine League and the Government's residential treatment services unit from the Department of Child and Family Services were all accredited for the first time in 2007.

The process involves organisations producing a comprehensive report on their activities and undergoing a site visit by an overseas team trained by the Council on Accreditation in New York.

Two other organisations whose services do not require accreditation — P.A.L.S. and Raleigh International — went through a similar process last year and became the first charities to be certified by the BNSC on the Island.

Mr. Butler said: "The Bermuda National Standards Committee is delighted to have had another successful year with accreditation and both I and the BNSC consider the expansion of accreditation to include government services a very important landmark."

He said two other social service departments within Government were seeking accreditation and four more charities were pursuing certification.

The BNSC was set up to increase accountability within "human service" organisations and is funded with public and private cash.