Support has poured in for football coaches Andrew and David Bascome after their revelation of suffering sexual abuse as young players.

Numerous community members yesterday rallied around the brothers by backing a Facebook campaign urging them to post: “I stand with the Bascome brothers”.

Activist Dwayne Caines, who launched the social media drive, praised the Bascomes for breaking a local culture of secrecy, and expressed hope we could now hear more voices against sexual abuse and finally move toward a healing process.

On Monday, Andrew Bascome’s disclosure about being molested for several years in his younger days came with a call for tighter security around sports clubs and those working with young people, to curtail sexual predators.

Reacting yesterday, shadow sports minister Michael Weeks, a well-known figure in the local sporting scene, said the issue had been “concealed beneath the surface for generations”.

Also yesterday, police asked for other victims to make their story known to authorities, thus enabling investigations to proceed.

Mr Caines told The Royal Gazette that in recent times social media and online connectivity had made it easier to stop “sweeping things under the rug”.

“The local culture kept silent simply because we are afraid that exposing our secrets will bring shame and guilt on our family and community,” he said.

“We are now seeing a united voice in the world against abuses of children, men and women.”

Among those to “stand with the Bascome brothers” was Guilden Gilbert, who posted: “Men of great courage and character.”

Richard Scott wrote: “I believe we’ll begin to see more men come forward with their experiences. The healing process has begun! This story has the potential to break the back of the enemy’s scourge over the island.”

Kim Minors stated: “May God bless them for their bravery. Because of their openness, the healing can begin for them and many others who also were afraid to tell.”

Andrew Bascome could not be reached for comment yesterday, but he posted on Facebook: “Thank you Dwayne Caines. #endthesilence #footballmatters.”

Mr Bascome had earlier posted: “I had to speak my truth. Thank you for your support.

“Grateful for the support from the BFA. All I want to do is just teach football and just try to help that one kid that might not have any hope.”

The local revelations have mirrored confessions in the UK during recent weeks by numerous former players who said they had been abused by persons in authority. British media reported yesterday that 30 clubs in London alone were now under investigation, including four in the Premier League.

Last week, local coach Maceo Dill drew a comparison to Bermuda, saying that sexual abuse was “rampant” on the island.

Emphasising that his call online included female victims, Mr Caines said too many adults were “broken, trying to put together the fractured pieces just to cope”.

“Over my lifetime I have admired the Bascome brothers, who have represented their community and country with the highest of standards. They have showed men in this country what happens when you work hard, stay focused and remain dedicated. When I heard what happened to them, immediately I felt that it was my responsibility as a Bermudian male to stand in solidarity and communicate to them and other victims of abuse that we stand with you and support you. This is the first of many steps in breaking the culture of silence that has been the gasoline that fuels the secrets and the lies.”

Mr Caines, who is at present the acting assistant Registrar General during a six-month leave of absence from police, said he was speaking to “all organisations that cater to children, to create safe spaces for our young, ensure they are supervised and educate our community on how to keep our children safe”.

The statements by the Bascome brothers were commended by the charity Scars, which offers training on child sex abuse awareness, and calls for “drastic” legislative change. Mr Caines said that the island’s culture was “changing slowly — it happens one person at a time, one conversation at a time”.

“We must create a culture of accountability at every level, and have tough conversations in our own personal spaces.”

In a society that “judges every move”, Mr Caines said it was imperative to give “members of our community, who have been taken advantage of, the chance to become whole”.