SCARS Bermuda

I particularly enjoyed the local component to the training this time and it made the presentation more relatable to Bermuda. (BSOC Sept 2022)

This program may seem long but very informative. I believe every adult should partake in scars at some point in life. It would help to shape a better future for Bermuda’s youth. (April 2024)

Despite being 3 hours long, I felt that the content necessary to give deep understanding to participants and adequately prepare them for the protection of children was condensed excellently and discussed in a way that allowed the information to be concise and meaningful. well done and thank you! (July 2022)

The program is very eye opening, informative, helps with the awareness in the surrounding environment that is taking place without us evening being aware that its happening. With in doing this program again refreshes the alertness we should look out for our children. (September 2023)

I think your services and programs are very beneficial for Bermudian families and young people, and makes us - adults who have to work alongside these young people - better equipped and informed. Thank you for what you do! (BSOC Sept 2022)

Such valuable information shared in a respectable and safe environment. Thank you! (Sept 2025)

This was the fastest 3 hours of my life. The presentation was clear and engaging. Participantswere able to respond and give comments. This opened up scars I thought were healed and putfire under me to at all cost protect the children in my sphere of influence. I’m grateful for thetraining. You guys are amazing. (Oct 2025)

Thank you for offering this recertification online with different date options. This made it easier to find a time that would work for my teaching schedule. (Feb 2023)

Thank you for this PD! The online version is great as it allows SCARS to continually share the valuable information within a professional format. Establishing your expectations prior to the Zoom Meeting was great as well! (BSOC Aug 2022)

I thought it was very well done and the two hours went by quickly - it was good refresher and the content was applicable across a wide array of situations. (April 2024)

I enjoyed that the Beyond Stewards has incorporated the use of local persons and made it more relatable 'local' - this brings the subject matter closer to home and keeps it relative. (August 2023)

This SCARS training was very informative and personal. Two of my sons were sexually abused by individuals whom we trusted. This affected their lives tremendously growing up. Gaining knowledge and awareness is extremely important. I appreciated the honesty and transparency from our hostess. Thank you for providing us with this enlightening information. I felt powerless not knowing how to help them, but this course gave me my power back. (March 2026)

The information and the presentation of this very important information was excellent! Thevideos really helped me to understand the material presented from many different perspectives. (March 2025)

This was an eye opener for me since we have 4 children in our household it gives me more awareness on how to approach the situations specially the topic of sexual abuse.

It was a great refresher! (Sept. 2025)

Really valued the options for dates to choose from and level of organization offered. Thought Debi's incorporation of chat comments was great and allowed for a variety of perspectives (BSOC Sept 2022)

One of the most important things I learned from the SCARS training was the importance of creating safe environments where children feel comfortable speaking up. The training emphasized that protecting children from sexual abuse is not only about recognizing warning signs, but also about teaching children that their bodies belong to them and that they have the right to say “no” to anything that makes them uncomfortable. I also learned that adults who work with children must be intentional about maintaining appropriate boundaries and being alert to behaviors that could place children at risk. Simple practices such as avoiding situations where a child is alone with an adult, ensuring transparency in activities, and encouraging open communication with parents and supervisors all help create a safer environment for children. Another key takeaway from the training was the importance of listening to children and taking their concerns seriously. If a child expresses discomfort or reports something inappropriate, it is critical that adults respond calmly, believe the child, and follow the proper reporting procedures. Children depend on responsible adults to advocate for them and ensure their safety. Since I will be working with children this summer, the SCARS training has helped me better understand my responsibility in protecting them. It has given me practical tools to help create a safe, respectful, and supportive environment where children can learn, grow, and feel protected. (March 2026)

This three hour training course provided me with an understanding about child abuse and prevention that I previously did not have. It is a critical course that all adults should take and will benefit from and thus will help children. It was facilitated with expert knowledge, compassion and understanding. As a mother of two girls, age 6 and 9, I found it very difficult to hear the testimonials, but I am so grateful to all who shared their experiences in this training course, as they have given me the starting tools to look out for and care for my children and all other children. Thank you SCARS for the incredibly important work that you are doing. (SOC Aug 2022)

I began the training session thinking that I was fairly well-informed on the subject matter, but by the end of it I was very much humbled by my level of ignorance and by just how much my eyes were opened. I commend SCARS on the great service that you are doing for our small island community and beyond. (September 2023)

I was unable to pick the date I completed training as it wasn't available. I completed it yesterday morning (Saturday, July 16, 2022). I I also really enjoyed the fact that the recertification now has videos that are relevant to Bermuda. I believe it makes it more personable and held my attention more. Thank you again for an informative and critical learning experience. (July 2022)

Such a difficult and challenging subject handled so carefully and professionally. It is amazing what you are doing at SCARS, really changing things in an impactful way! Thank you! (Aug 2023)

Help to reinforce mandatory reporting, signs of abuse, advocating the importance of keeping children safe, and providing safe spaces for children to grow and develop while living their best lives. (October 2024)

"I am so thankful for this eye opening opportunity. This training is of utmost importance to create consciousness around our community to understand how child abuse can be so easily hidden without the proper understanding of how to identify the warning signs. This training needs to reach every parent and caregiver, SCARS is doing a phenomenal job. Thank you." (March 2022)

The training is some important and was well done as always. I've done it multiple times over the years and always learn new things and it's eye opening to critically think about all scenario's involving kids. This training is hugely important and I'm looking forward to the updated retraining that's coming next 🙂 Side note.. my son is attending Harrington Sound Primary in September and I was SO happy to hear that they actually require all parents who have children attending the school to do the SCARS certification! (June 2025)

This SCARS training was very informative and personal. Two of my sons were sexually abused by individuals whom we trusted. This affected their lives tremendously growing up. Gaining knowledge and awareness is extremely important. I appreciated the honesty and transparency from our hostess. Thank you for providing us with this enlightening information. I felt powerless not knowing how to help them, but this course gave me my power back. (March 2026)

We do already have a code of conduct for the work of our organization with minors, but this will certainly help us to improve it. (March 2025)

Thank you for your continuous effort to protect our children. I like how you have continued to upgrade in the different phases presented. A lot has happened in developing SCARS training from the beginning. Congratulations. (BSOC June 2022)

It was a sensitive topic which was beautifully illustrated and put in simple on how to recognize such signs , be a guiding light to find solutions to overcome and eradicate the world from child sexual abuse. Appreciate the facilitators dedication towards educating the community. Thank you! (Sept 2024)

It was an excellent presentation. I was particularly encouraged that the training has been adjusted to represent Bermuda's population and inclusive of a wide section of organizations along with survivors. The Bermudian involvement makes it far more relevant and I applaud you for making it our concern as a country. (June 2023).

The videos were effective in providing different perspectives from various community advocates. (July 2023)

I was very pleased to see that it was local professionals sharing their stories and points of view in this recertification training. This definitely helped to keep me more engaged. (June 2022)

Strongly recommend this training and retraining for those entrusted with other peoples children. Retraining reviews are very important. (BSOC Aug 2022)

I have children and have coached football over the last 20 years and I now know things Ishould look out for and things I shouldn’t do. (Sept 2025)

Great refresher!! Continue to do the great advocacy work that you do. Much appreciated. (BSOC Aug 2022)

I am much more informed and empowered to take bold steps personally and to encourage other individuals and and to take the necessary and bold steps to protect and support every and any child, and to be confident of the strong network of supporting systems of that are available, active and vigilant in this work. (August 2023)

The program helped me to see that what happened to me 50 years ago was not my fault and has given that hurting little girl in me some power to forgive herself. (October 2024)

I am happy I understood the different form of abuse and also that speaking up for children and protecting them is my responsibility. (Aug 2023)

Thank you for helping me to understand and open my eyes to many things and situations, that I would have totally overlooked without having the knowledge and experiences to identify the signs/warnings. Also to protect myself from things which may appear to look shady but are innocent. (Sept 2024)

My brother and I were 17 and 14. I did the training a year before and I was able to notice the signs of his sexual abuse. His molester is now behind bars! (September 2025)

"I really loved this training and wish that it was mandatory for everyone on the island to bring awareness and a safer environment. Thank you Helen and Debi!!! I really appreciated today and the words you said resonated with me. Knowing that I am not alone meant a lot and I will remember this for a very long time."

This was my first time doing the recertification and I really appreciated the materials that were covered. What I particularly appreciated was working through the scenarios, which not only showed us what to do if we observed those scenarios but also reinforced many of the little ways that a predator can gain access to a child or exhibit questionable behavior that the average person might not pick up on. (October 2024)

This training should be mandated for all who are in contact with children - Teachers, Pastors, Healthcare workers etc. (Feb 2023)

This has brought light to lots of examples to watch for. (July 2022)

"This session was thoroughly worth the 3 hours. The virtual environment was so calm and organized. The facilitators were so professional. During the whole experience, I learned a lot. I appreciate the virtual training kit, so much information. I think the Scars Training is an excellent program and should be implemented world to all who will work or enteract with children." (March 2022)

I truly wish I had known about this program when I became a parent 20 years ago. It is incredibly valuable for equipping parents with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the challenges of parenting. I strongly believe that the SCARS program should be made mandatory for all parents, similar to how the development program is required. Every parent should be educated on how to recognize the signs of abuse, understand the impact it can have on a child, and be prepared to address it if it occurs. I believe we would see fewer cases of abuse ifall parents were required to complete the SCARS training. (April 2025)

Thank you for your valuable time and patience. While I have never experienced abuse of any kind. Attending this training for the second time makes me more aware of what is happening in Bermuda and I hope that I can help make a difference to protect children and vulnerable and potential victims. Thanks again. 🤗🌷🤗 (June 2022)

Always a pleasure attending this particular training session. It strikes a fine balance between presenting heavy, emotionally charged information and youth advocacy. Every time I leave this training session, I feel more and more empowered to protect the children around me. No child should have to carry the weight of trauma disguised as silence. Silence is compliance and silence is violence. I hereby pledge to become a better, more empathetic, and compassionate citizen not just in Bermuda but globally. Thank you for doing what you do. It is impactful and effective. (June 2025)

A great reminder to always reference policy to help us govern ourselves and help others. Great references to social media and it was great to see locally produced content. (BSOC Aug 2022)

Very professional presentation that was welcoming and non-threatening. (May 2023)

Keep up the good work! Thank you for keeping us informed and putting our children's safety and well-being first. (BSOC Sept 2022)

I am going to be honest I thought this might be just a repeat of the first training we did. I was mistaken. It was so well presented and I was captivated. Thank you to Debbie and Helen for making it a very worthwhile course. (Jan 2023)

I appreciated the training as this has been my 3rd time in SCARS training. Every time I do it, not only is the information presented differently, it is always updated and provided with improved engagement that allows me to participate and gather key takeaways. I am a strong advocate for children as a father and educator. The training helps reinforce the importance of being vigilant for the children but also monitoring my actions as a responsible adult to inform others also. This is particularly important now as I am a leader at my school. (August 2025)

I found the injection of Bermudian voices across several different realms a meaningful addition. Tailoring the training for Bermuda made all the difference. (BSOC June 2022)

Any community member and especially parents can absolutely benefit from this knowledge. 3 hours went quickly and was absolutely not wasted! Cheers to your continued efforts. (Feb 2023)

I thoroughly enjoyed the refresher certification course. It was insightful, thought-provoking and a fantastic presentation. As a middle school teacher, it was very difficult to listen to some of the information because I did find myself having flashes of different students who had suffered abuse. It also caused me to reflect on my own children and were they always protected and in safe environments. I was very surprised on how heavy I actually felt after the presentation. I think as an educator/teacher you can experience some sense of trauma or trauma from the experiences of your past students who suffered abuse. Fantastic presentation - thank you! (BSOC Aug 2022)

This SCARS training was really impactful and important. I have done several safeguarding courses over the years as a teacher in the UK but they were not nearly as well done and impactful. It was so important to learn about sexual abuse on its own rather than group all forms of abuse together as it allowed the depth and understanding to come from this. It was very well run and Debi and Helen were brilliant. Thank you very much (June 2022)

One of the most important things I learned from the SCARS training was the importance of creating safe environments where children feel comfortable speaking up. The training emphasized that protecting children from sexual abuse is not only about recognizing warning signs, but also about teaching children that their bodies belong to them and that they have the right to say “no” to anything that makes them uncomfortable. I also learned that adults who work with children must be intentional about maintaining appropriate boundaries and being alert to behaviors that could place children at risk. Simple practices such as avoiding situations where a child is alone with an adult, ensuring transparency in activities, and encouraging open communication with parents and supervisors all help create a safer environment for children. Another key takeaway from the training was the importance of listening to children and taking their concerns seriously. If a child expresses discomfort or reports something inappropriate, it is critical that adults respond calmly, believe the child, and follow the proper reporting procedures. Children depend on responsible adults to advocate for them and ensure their safety. Since I will be working with children this summer, the SCARS training has helped me better understand my responsibility in protecting them. It has given me practical tools to help create a safe, respectful, and supportive environment where children can learn, grow, and feel protected. (March 2026)

My wife and I got Scars certified back in 2014 before we had kids. Now that we have a 4 and almost 7 year old, I think it's vitally important that anyone in the same position be Scars trained. I had to get recertified because of a youth sports organization where I volunteer, but the training really resonated with me as a parent. I am already approaching certain things differently. (Feb 2023)

As a Grandparent, I thought I was keen in a lot of areas on raising children/grandchildren. Thisprogram has keenly sharpened my awareness on the gray areas on how sexual preditors targetchildren. Especially people you genuinely trust and operate in positions of trust. Many thanks for being "Valiant Shepherds" of innocent children. (September 2023)

Absolutely eye opening and phenomenally done. Everyone is aware that there are people ie strangers, family and close friends that prey on kids. Unfortunately, there are people like that in the world, but this course sheds a whole new light on what to look for, how to approach children when our radars go off or how to respond to their approach when they disclose something as such. The safety of children is paramount and I for one learnt a great deal from this course. (September 2025)

I'm happy I made the decision to be trained with SCARS. I am the father of a nine year old son and I function as a single parent, and I would do everything within my power to keep him safe. My biggest takeaway: the benefits children gain outweighs any risk I must take to protect them. (July 2023)

I believe every adult should take this training. It should be mandatory as a citizen of Bermuda. (Sept 2025)

Applaud SCARS for their work in helping the community become more aware of what signs victims of abuse may display and that survivor still need support. The presentation also helps the community feel more empowered to speak up and report cases. (March 2024)

As I sat and listened, I was soberly reminded of the situations and things that we innocently and trustingly did as children and as parents. Mercy.... Continue on your quest to educating adults and future parents to save our children from this awful trauma. (BSOC Sept 2022)

I came out of the training with a wealth of knowledge and ways to help if ever needed. (Nov 2024)

I have been a teacher for over 11 years and every year I complete child safety training. This was by far the most interesting training I have completed. The trainers were absolutely amazing and you really felt a connection after them sharing their own experiences. Really brought it home. (September 2025)

The course definitely enriched my understanding and highlighted how important the training isfor everyone in an organization that deals with children. (Oct 2025)

I became a parent since attending my first training in 2012 and this information hits differently. I feel equipped to better engage with the organizations that care for my child and feel empowered to challenge and ensure her protection/boundaries are in place. (April 2024)

I thoroughly enjoyed this process. It gave me a different perspective on how children may be perceived and how certain little actions can build up to something that has a serious impact on someone's future. (September 2025)

I was glad to renew my SCARS Training not just because it’s one of the requirements for mywork but because I have a responsibility to the children I work with in safe guarding their safety. (Sept 2025)

As a survivor myself I was nervous about taking the class and relieved to be able to do it online from home, as I was feeling quite emotional afterwards. I am happy that I did it though and very happy that those affected by this today do have support available. I will definitely sign up my staff to take the training too! (August 2025)

I thoroughly enjoyed the session and it was so informative that I truly didn’t notice the length of time . The facilitators kept me interested and wanting to continue on … I thank you for this program and will certainly encourage my circle of friends and family to participate. (March 2024)

Presentation was informative, well-paced, and interactive. (July 2022)

Thank you, and as upsetting a conversation as it is, it’s necessary to make people aware and teach as much preventative measures as possible. Thank you again. (September 2023)

Just want to commend you on the facilitation of the program and the upgrades you have made. My biggest take away today was remembering to get young children’s permission when doing something with or to them. (Sept 2025)

This virtual session was not only informative but very educational. A country is only as strong as its children, and it shed light on how important it is to not just nurture but prepare for the unfortunate events of life. (Feb 2023)

I have previously undertaken safeguarding courses but always want to know more about how to keep children safe. This training mentioned some things that I had not even considered in the past that I am so so happy I know now because I can be even better in my role of protecting children. So thank you to the trainers. I absolutely love what you're doing and hope that this will change the island for the better for eternity. Thank you again. (March 2025)

Invaluable information for everyone involved in safeguarding. Our youth face unprecedented challenges today, and this training ensures we are prepared to offer the support they need. (March 2026)

The training awakens my awareness on all the ways how to provide support for children. Also, it reminded me of how to implement policies about safeguarding children. It also reminded me of the red flags to look out for in various situations. (Jan 2023)

Facilitators were highly efficient knowledgeable and were warm and receptive to all the attendees’ comments/questions. (SOC Aug 2022)

For a small community like Bermuda where people do help each other/share lifts/wait for students to be dropped off I think this information is crucial for both facilitators of camps/organizations and parents. (October 2024)

This program and training is well worth the retraining. This education and awareness cannot be taught enough. (April 2025)

This course was very informative and as a teacher, the topics discussed are areas I need to be aware of and will help me (and any child) in case I come across any suspected abuse. (BSOC Aug 2022)

The stories told were real eye openers and it made me view a lot of my troubled students differently as far as their behaviour. I would like to better understand them and be more lenient with them just in case they are secretly hurting from trauma. (SOC Sept 2022)

Even though I had taken the in-person training before, I found this format even more impactful,and the presentation more concise. Distraction from comments of participants was absent and allowed for fuller personal impact and efficient transfer of information. (March 2025)