The Bank of Bermuda Foundation donated nearly $500,000 to local charities it recognised as working to improve residents' quality of life.

The organisations were given financial assistance to ensure they are able to continue with their efforts, which the Foundation recognised as being of long-term benefit to the island.

Age Concern, the Bermuda Cricket Board, the Bermuda International Film Festival, the Festival of the Performing Arts, the Women's Resource Centre, the Wesley Methodist Church, the Bermuda End to End, the Family Centre and the Bermuda National Gallery received "significant donations totalling $492,000", with the funds distributed at the end of 2007 and the beginning of 2008.

The Foundation has donated more than $39.3 million to local charities since 1989.

"The charitable organisations chosen to receive grants from the Bank of Bermuda Foundation all have one thing in common: improving the quality of life for the people of Bermuda," said a bank spokesperson.

"Age Concern's mission is to create an environment that betters the lives of Bermuda's older citizens. Through advocacy on key issues, referrals to other agencies and by providing information and education to the island's older citizens, they look to meet the needs of the growing senior population in Bermuda. Age Concern is currently managing the STATS programme (Seniors' Test for Ageing Trends and Services), an individual assessment of the needs of every senior in Bermuda, which will then be used to create a database in order to match seniors to service providers who can meet their needs."

The Foundation singled out the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) for its scholarship fund established to aid promising young cricketers.

The scholarship enabled Grey Maybury (pictured) to head to Oakham School last month. A prestigious institution in the United Kingdom, it has "an outstanding cricket programme with a first-class indoor facility and excellent coaching led by former England cricketers Frank Hayes and David Steele".

The hope behind the scholarship is that recipients will reach an academic standard that secures them a place at one of the six University Centres of Cricketing Excellence in the UK.

The Bermuda End to End was recognised as one of the island's "largest and most successful one-day charity fundraising events". The bank spokesperson said the Foundation was particularly impressed by its efforts to encourage youth participation as residents walk, paddle, dive, or cycle across the island.

"Through the Youth Invasion, the Bermuda End to End encourages youth participation in an event that brings together a large cross section of the community in support of a range of charities while encouraging physical fitness and good health."

Three artistic endeavours also came in for praise. The Bermuda International Film Festival was highlighted for its Kids Film Festival, monthly Film Series, school screenings and an eight-week, summer film production camp for children. The Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts was commended for its efforts to "inspire our youth, enrich the community and enhance our culture".

The Bermuda National Gallery was noted for advancing the visual arts and an upcoming exhibit of one of the most important British photographers of the 20th Century ¿ Bill Brandt.

Wesley Methodist Church was selected as a recipient amid efforts to restore, preserve and enhance its Casavant pipe organ.

"The organ has played an instrumental part in the life of the Church and has not had a major restoration for over 40 years," continued the bank spokesperson. "The organ is not only used by the church congregation but by other musical organisations including the Ensemble Singers, the Bermuda Philharmonic, Bermuda School of Music, the Bermuda Regiment Band and others."

The Family Centre and the Women's Resource Centre were each recognised for the dramatic impact they have made on Bermuda society.

"The focus of The Family Centre is on strengthening and protecting children through the Caring for Families programme, which provides therapeutic family based support to vulnerable children. The Family Centre is able to impact the fibre of society by reaching people in relation to how they are parenting and organising the care and development of their children.

"The programme has serviced an average of 100 families per year through interventions that engage an average of three people per family. The Family Centre is expecting capacity to increase by one third in 2008 as a result of adjustments made to programming to allow for more varied levels of care.

"The Women's Resource Centre provides individual counselling, parenting classes, a 24-hour crisis hotline, education in the public schools, police training, protection to victims of domestic crime through the Courts, ten-week public information seminars and education to community groups who request services."

As part of the Sexual Assault Response Team, the Women's Resource Centre provides incredible assistance to females, the spokesperson added.

"The Women's Resource Centre is the only organisation that provides professional counselling services free or at a nominal fee to women and currently sees over 300 clients annually. The Women's Resource Centre is looking to bolster their resources by hiring a full time clinical supervisor to provide individual counselling, parenting programmes and group and overseas programmes."