Understanding the impact of extremism on individuals, families and loved ones

Developing on the hard work which we have been able to do with the support of the National Lottery Community Fund, a lot of work has been done and as we near the end of the project in January 2026, we want now to consolidate that work with a series of articles, to complaint the support given to people and develop a legacy of this project.

Seeking to do this, we will post a number of articles until mid-January 2026, when the funding ceases, providing insight and advice from a lived experience perspective.

We will be adding new AI videos created as part of this project to our discussion resource page 2  to help people understand the impact of extremism on people involved and their families.

And continue to post up support links on our Facebook page at - https://www.facebook.com/exithatetrust/

In this series of articles, we are going to revisit and discuss how society can offer support to individuals involved in extremism and to their families and loved ones. 

We will offer lived experience support from a non-judgemental, supportive, safe space which seeks to help people look beyond labels and look at people, as people.

Promoting kindness, compassion and understanding, our way of challenging extremism is different, but violence, counter-protests and name-calling simply don't work.

Understanding the issue from a unique perspective, we know that being involved in extremism and having a loved one involved, you can find yourself so overwhelmed by what is going on within your life, it can be difficult to find clarity.

Individuals feel lost, angry, unheard and without value, and that has to change.

Families also often feel like they bear the responsibility, and many believe that they should rectify the situation, but they are not responsible, and even though they are not to blame, many still harbour feelings of guilt and shame.

It's time for a different approach

Understanding extremism is designed to create division, chaos and turmoil. We know its focus is often to take advantage of and manipulate people's fears and insecurities.

It relies and thrives on silence and division.

So how exactly can we challenge and reduce it?

The answer, while not glamorous, is one person at a time,  offering them a safe space, listening to them and making sure they do not feel alone; instead, we need to make people feel valued, listened to and respected, even if we do not agree with their views. If we don't, extremists will step in, offer a space to be heard, and people may be lost for years in an extremist world, where nothing is positive.

Inaction - is not an option -  silence destroys lives, and we seek to not just raise awareness, but support people in real need, so no one is alone.

Please enjoy this series entitled - Community Trust articles. They will be honest, raw and from people who have been through hell, but escaped to live a life they deserve.

Sarah

Exit Family Support

Community Trust article.

*Please note, the opinions expressed in these articles are those of the individual author and do not represent the official position of the Community Trust or Exit Hate. Looking forward, we know that working in partnership is crucial, and this is just the start. If you want to support Exit Hate on this journey and can help in any way, please get in touch, and together we can reduce extremism.