The co-founder of the Focus Counselling Service is the latest recipient of a CableVision Community Service Award.

Sandra (Sandy) Butterfield was honoured yesterday at a ceremony held at Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) attended by CableVision general manager Terry Robertson and Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler.

"It is so rewarding to be recognised with this award today," said Mrs. Butterfield, who has given 24 years to providing vitally needed drugs counselling services.

"My hope is that this recognition will bring awareness to the services and facilities available at Focus.

"We want everyone who needs it to get the help they deserve. We have an open-door policy at Focus and we turn our backs on no one."

Mrs. Butterfield's career started at the Montrose Substance Abuse Centre in Bermuda, which led her to work today as co-founder and counsellor at Focus, the only outreach-counselling programme on the Island.

Mrs. Butterfield also started the Camp Spirit relapse-prevention programme in 1999, which allows addicts the confidentiality to retreat to an island away from society and temptation to rehabilitate. This 120-day inpatient treatment programme is aimed at men who have experienced a relapse following previous treatment.

She has also created several other programmes within Focus to help addicts rehabilitate and cope with lives of sobriety.

Minister Dale Butler said Mrs. Butterfield was truly deserving of the recognition. "I would like to personally thank her for her dedication to faith-based rehabilitation and unconditional acceptance," he said. "I would also like to thank Bermuda CableVision for creating an opportunity to recognise individual who have given so much to Bermuda, through the Bermuda CableVision Community Service Award."

Mr. Robertson added: "The Bermuda CableVision Community Service Award was designed to recognise individuals who have selflessly made a difference in our community. Mrs. Butterfield shares these values every day and we would like to thank her for that."

The next Quarterly Annual Community Service Award will be presented in October. Members of the public are encouraged to nominate any individuals they feel are deserving of recognition for their outstanding commitment to community service.

Nominations can be emailed to Rollin Nathan at rnathan@cablevision.bm or mailed to the attention of Rollin Nathan, Bermuda CableVision, P.O. BoxHM 1642, Hamilton, HM GX. For further information, visit www.cablevision.bm