A social services package announced by the Premier and Minister of Finance has been applauded by a charity that supports helping agencies on the island.

The Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda said the $25 million boost signalled “an important commitment to addressing" challenges faced by many people in the community.

It added that the organisation had advocated for increased social funding to better serve those in need and to address increasing social and economic difficulties.

David Burt told the House of Assembly on Friday that the investment package would provide “significant additional resources to tackle mental health” and that interventions to address antisocial behaviour would be expanded.

He added that the Government was allocating funds to extend trauma counselling services to break intergenerational cycles of violence and that the bundle also supported additional rehabilitation programmes for inmates.

Nicola Paugh, the Nonprofit Alliance’s executive director, said today: “It is more effective and cost-efficient to prevent issues before they escalate, rather than facing costly remedies.

“Research in prevention science has consistently demonstrated the economic benefits of early social investment.

“Social investment plays a vital role in reducing vulnerability and disparities, while fostering wellbeing, equity and unity within communities.

“Therefore we welcome the news from Premier Burt on this significant social investment.”

Details about the spending were provided by Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, and Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, this week.

They included that more funding was earmarked for the Department for National Drug Control’s grants to Pathways Bermuda, an addiction treatment provider, and Focus Counselling Services.

Ms Wilson pledged programmes to address mental health issues with compassion instead of stigma after the supplementary estimates announced by the Premier included a $2.29 million for the health ministry’s mental health support.

She also said that the ministry would continue with financial support for the “vital work” of organisations such as Age Concern, Family Centre, the Women's Resource Centre and Teen Services.

Dr Paugh said: “We are particularly pleased to see the Government’s recognition of the critical role that non-profit organisations play in delivering essential services on our island.

“This recognition is meaningful.

“We look forward to hearing further details about the allocation of specific grants to the non-profit organisations highlighted.

“Such funding is crucial to ensuring that the sector has the resources needed to deliver quality professional services.

“Congratulations again to the Premier and his Government on this historic investment.”

The Nonprofit Alliance said that a White Paper it released in July highlighted that “despite existing social supports, there is a consistent trend towards greater disparities in health, education and economic opportunity on the island”.

It added: “The paper provides an analysis of problematic health and social indicators, including a 20-year trend towards widening income inequality between blue-collar and white-collar workers.

“The paper argues that underinvestment in social supports and services is part of the problem, which has left non-profits to fill critical gaps while they struggle to meet a growing and unsustainable level of need.

“The paper advocates for deeper social investment, including greater funding for Bermuda’s non-profits.

“The Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda believes it is important to establish a national social plan that prioritises participatory discussion and action.

“Such a platform will assist greatly in maximising the best use of the resources we have available; formalising a shared purpose and setting clear expectations of roles and responsibilities.”

• To learn more about the Nonprofit Alliance of Bermuda visitnonprofitalliance.bm