A social worker passionate about giving back to the community has been offering her time and expertise to a charity that provides transitional living for young men.

Colleen English DeGrilla has been volunteering as a board member with the Sunshine League since 2011.

“I think everybody can teach something to someone and they just need to find what that is and be able to help,” Ms English DeGrilla said. “Even if it’s a kid reading a paper to a grandmother, sometimes five minutes of your time can make somebody’s day and I think that everybody can give five minutes.

“As a social worker, I knew I wanted [to do] something in the social services field.

“I also used to work in some residential facilities in the States, so I wanted to do something to help people and children in Bermuda.”

As vice chair, the 51-year-old devotes about ten hours per week and at least one weekend a month to ensuring that the charity runs smoothly.

The Hamilton Parish resident, who grew up in Cape Cod, New England, and moved to Bermuda 11 years ago, has been the clinical supervisor of the social work department at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for nine years.

“As the only social worker on the board, I do a lot of liaising with the executive director to answer social work questions regarding the young men we have in the programme,” she explained.

“I’m kind of the social work sounding board when they need it, but I’m also the vice chair, which makes you a co-signatory for the bank and you get the board running and stand in when the chair is gone.

“But we are a very working board — we try to have everybody involved in the events and fundraising and different parts of the charity.

“I think it’s important when you are on a board to be available and accessible and visible.”

She explained that the Sunshine League launched its “Pathways to Independence” programme in April last year, having closed its doors in 2011 because of a lack of funding.

The charity had been a residential facility for young children and the team spent several years revising their strategic plan. “We decided that the Island needed something more for older boys, from 18 years of age and up, kids ageing up from foster care, or kids in that 18-to-25-year age bracket that didn’t really have anywhere to go and needed independent living skills,” Ms English DeGrilla said.

The programme offers education, employment, residential stability and healthcare assistance to men between the ages of 18 and 25 and the charity accommodates three full-time residents.

Ms English DeGrilla, who is heavily involved in the interview process, said: “I’m very invested in the programme and when young men succeed and when they don’t do so well.”

She added that they hope to expand their services further by taking on men and women who don’t require the living part, but want to work on their independence, education or other skill sets.

But funding is critical to the operation and success of the charity and Ms English DeGrilla works tirelessly behind the scenes to raise money and to come up with new innovative ways of doing so.

She teamed up with a local restaurant, for example, by asking people to add a dollar to their bill for the charity.

She also took part in this year’s Triple Challenge — the Sunshine League was one of eight recipients of the funds raised — and she is now organising a fundraising gala.

But her efforts are not confined to one charity alone, and in May she will be captaining a team for Relay for Life — a 24-hour event held this year to raise funds for Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre’s radiation therapy initiative.

Ms English DeGrilla, whose first degree was in hotel and restaurant management, said she started volunteering while working in a hotel because she felt like she needed more.

After working with teen parents and substance abusers, she soon realised that social work was her calling.

“I’ve always liked the feeling of helping others or giving back where I can,” she said.

“For me it’s euphoric — and I think that’s probably why I am a social worker, because I just like helping people.

Before she moved to Bermuda, Ms English DeGrilla also volunteered for a suicide hotline for three years, helped host activities for people with learning disabilities and was a Special Olympics swimming co-coach.

• For more information on the Sunshine League visit www.sunshineleague.bm

• Do you know an Unsung Hero who deserves recognition? Call Lisa on 278-0137 or e-mail lsimpson@royalgazette.com