An initiative to keep Bermuda’s young students safer is off to a flying start, with the hoisting of a “Speak Up, Be Safe” banner to launch the campaign at Victor Scott Primary School.

Ultimately, the programme from the Coalition for the Protection of Children, aimed at stopping bullying and abuse before they occur, will target more than 1,400 youngsters at six preschools and seven primary schools across the island.

With help from HSBC and the Department of Education, the programme delivers “cutting-edge preventive education”, according to Coalition executive director Kelly Hunt.

“The Subs programme teaches skills that equip children from Preschool-P6, as well as their adult community.”

School counsellors will be enlisted — and trained — to assist, as workshops are held until March 2019. Subs will be implemented at a different participating school each term, to cover all years participating.

“The goal is to play a significant role in the prevention or interruption of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect and technology based crimes,” Ms Hunt said.

LeeAnn Simmons, the counselling manager for the public school system, hailed the partnership as giving youngsters extra skills “to navigate a sometimes unsafe world”.