A fresh appeal for youngsters to sign up for an anti-abuse programme was made by a child protection charity yesterday.

The Coalition for the Protection of Children appealed to primary and middle school pupils to join its Safety Matters classes as April – child abuse protection month – neared a close.

Kelly Hunt, the executive director of the CPC, said: “Our goal is to reach every child in Bermuda to create a halo of safety in homes, schools and communities.

“We encourage parents to sign their child up for virtual Safety Matters and encourage their child’s school to become a Safety Matters school.”

She said: “During a time when people are highly stressed by the uncertainty that persists from this pandemic, it remains critical that people know what to do and where to get help when it comes to protecting our children from abuse.

“Preventive education will be a key element of ensuring that children are equipped with the right information to empower them to speak up and be safe.”

The Safety Matters programme was launched in 2018 to teach children about the four main types of abuse – physical, emotional and sexual, as well as neglect – and how to deal with them.

All the age groups are taught how to recognise a “safe adult” that they could confide in and older pupils are educated on internet safety.

Ms Hunt said that the goal of the programme was to give young people confidence and remind them of adults’ responsibility to keep them safe.

She added: “In addition to students receiving prevention education, parents or guardians are separately encouraged to discuss safety issues with their children.

“These are not always the easiest conversations to have, but they are important.”

The CPC has set up virtual Safety Matters lessons this month and May and each will last for between 35 and 55 minutes.

To register, click here or visit the CPC website at www.coalition.bm.