A coalition of care-giving charities continues to expand its scope of services to help those in need.

Henry Smith, Deputy Chairman of The Council Partners Charitable Trust, last week addressed guests at the group's Advisory Board meeting in the Hamilton Princess.

One of the highlights of the Trust's recent success was the $74,841 raised in the "Get with the programme'' telethon held on September 14, said Mr. Smith.

And the different bodies under the Trust's umbrella remain active in the fight against drug abuse.

The Bermuda Life Skills group have donated a series of CD-ROMS to the Bermuda Youth Counselling Service and, in partnership with the Community Education and Development Programme in Warwick, will host life skills prevention workshops next month.

Mr. Smith also said The Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse will soon begin implementing plans for a Prevention Resource Centre.

And the Fair Havens Christian Care Association has adapted building plans for a new facility on Verdmont Road in Smith's Parish.

"The programme will include a new transitional phase in which women almost ready to be discharged can live independently in a self-contained apartment unit while re-entering the work force,'' said Mr. Smith.

Meanwhile, Focus Counselling Services brought a motivational speaker to the Island to speak to both adults and students.

And the service has also begun offering meals to reach out to people struggling with addiction.

"The concept is this,'' said Mr. Smith. "The more people they can encourage to step through their doors, the more chance they will have of pointing them in the direction of recovery.'' PRIDE continues to target young people at all school levels and recorded its twelfth successful Youth to Youth conference last month.

Finally, The Family Learning Centre announced that the service is looking to increase the number of families they currently aid from 30 to 50 once more staff are trained.

Also speaking was Julie Dunstan, the Research Officer for the National Drug Commission (NDC).

Dr. Dunstan outlined the NDC evaluation strategy and individual prevention and treatment programmes.

And Cathy Belvedere and Judith Burgess of The Prevention Partners explained that housing the Bermuda Life Skills Group, CADA, the Family Learning Centre, and PRIDE in a single building had strengthened the member groups via such issues as shared costs, communication, organisational development, and volunteer coordination.

CLUB CLB