What's The Difference? Prevent, Act Early & Exit Hate?

Disengaging from involvement in an extremist group, or supporting someone who is involved, can feel like an impossible challenge. However, it is crucial to understand that support is available, and disengagement is possible.

The journey is multifaceted, and thankfully, a crucial network of programmes exists including —Prevent, Act Early & Exit Hate each playing a vital, distinct role in ensuring that help is always at hand.

This holistic, collaborative approach means that regardless of a person’s current stage of involvement, or the concerns of their loved ones, a safe, non-judgmental pathway to help exists.

So lets have a look at what support is avaliable............................

1. Prevent (Early Intervention and Safeguarding)

Prevent is a UK government strategy designed to stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism by providing early intervention and support to vulnerable individuals. As part of the CONTEST strategy, it aims to reduce the risk of radicalisation across all types of terrorism. Concerns can be reported via local police or Get help for radicalisation concerns - GOV.UK.

Key aspects of the Prevent strategy include:

●      Focus on Safeguarding: It focuses on supporting people susceptible to radicalisation (sometimes called extremism).

●      Channel Process: A multi-agency process that provides tailored support for people identified as at risk of being drawn into terrorism.

●      Prevent Duty: Specified authorities—including schools, universities, health services, and local councils—have a mandatory duty to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.

●      Types of Threats: Prevent addresses ALL forms of terrorism, including Extreme Right-Wing and Islamist extremism.

2. Act Early (Immediate Concern and Family Support)

Act Early UK is a specialist website and safeguarding resource run by Counter Terrorism Policing.

It is designed to help friends, family, and frontline workers identify and support individuals who may be at risk of radicalisation or exploitation by extremist groups.

The initiative focuses on early intervention to move vulnerable people away from extremism before they commit a crime.

Core Services and Support

●      Advice Line: A confidential hotline (0800 011 3764) staffed by trained specialist officers is available 24 hours a day.

●      Spotting the Signs: Guidance on recognising behavioural changes that could indicate radicalisation, such as increasing intolerance, secretive internet use, or isolation from family.

●      Prevent Support: Referrals made through ACT Early can lead to support from the Channel programme. This voluntary scheme provides access to mentors, mental health professionals, and educational or vocational opportunities to help the individual choose a different path.

●      Online Safety: Practical tips for parents on staying safe online, including setting up parental controls and discussing "fake news" or extremist content with children.

3. Exit Hate - www.exithate.com

Exit Hate is a registered charity (No: 1197666) dedicated to reducing extremism through education, compassion, and understanding.

Founded in 2016, our organisation is largely run by "formers"—individuals with lived experience in extremist movements—and families who have been impacted by radicalisation. So we understand what it is like.

Core Services

Looking to reduce extremism via education, compassion and understanding our charity focuses on providing non-judgmental, confidential support to help people safely leave extremist environments. Set up by former far-right activists, we also help others walk away from other forms of extremism if we can.

Our support includes:

●      Online Support Programme: Developed by Former activists and family members, outraged online support programme is now our main focus of supporting people to walk away from extremist involvement.

Offering a focused online support package, with differeing modules for both individuals involved in extremism, who want to leave and families with a loved one involved this allows people to access advice and guidance, whenever they need it, at a time when it is convenient for them, thus removing the need for booked appointments, which can be missed, but now people can work through our support programmes, at their own pace, without any pressure.

●      Education: Developing lots of educational items including - videos, PDF booklets, podcasts and more, we create and provide vital free resources for individuals involved, families and frontline staff to help people recognise signs of extremist grooming/manipulation and peacefully challenge extremist narratives.

●      Individual Mentoring: Provided by people with lived experience our one-to-one support, is avaliable via email ( both our main email - info@exithate.org and our encrypted email service - exithateuk@protonmail.com) This support is designed to help people walk away from extremism and manage the aftermath of that decision.

●      Family Support: Providing specialist guidance for families worried about a loved one's involvement, we help help families understand radicalisation and how to hold and navigate difficult conversations and support their loved ones, through this traumatic time. This can be done via - Online meetings, telephone or email.

●      Public Awareness: Seeking to raise awareness of the danger of extremism and its impact on individuals, families, our communities and the victims of hate, we believe one of the best ways to do this is to develop collaborative work, creating educational materials which showcase the issues to people and this has resulted in us, consulting on extremist storylines for EastEnders, Hollyoaks, Screws and other avenues to spark wider discussion.

Support Philosophy

Exit Hate treats involvement in extremism as a "life lesson, not a life sentence". We provide a "safe space" for people to ask sensitive questions about society without fear of being immediately labelled and we seek to bridge the gap that extremists often exploit.

The Power of Collaboration and Safe Spaces

Working side by side, the combined effort of Prevent, Act Early, and Exit Hate ensures a seamless continuum of care.

Simply put, if someone is identified as vulnerable they can be supported (Prevent), while their family can get advice on how to handle developing concerns, (Act Early) ultimately leading to a structured path out if involvement occurs via people with lived experience, (Exit Hate)

The core ethos across all our work is offering of a safe space.

Dis-engagement from involvement in extremist groups can be difficult, however, it is not impossible. There is support available not only for those that are involved, but also for their family, friends, and loved ones.

The outlined programmes can offer a safe space that is free from judgment and places where those affected can get much-needed advice, guidance, and support.

This work is fundamentally about providing people with an alternative, safe ear to talk to. Extremist groups deliberately prey on peoples fears and even vulnerability— including feelings of loneliness, anger, injustice, or a search for identity and belonging. They offer a false sense of community and purpose.

When individuals have access to non-judgmental professionals and trusted mentors through programmes like Prevent, Act Early, and Exit Hate, they do not have to turn to extremists to discuss their worries. These support networks provide genuine understanding and constructive pathways, directly addressing the underlying needs that extremist groups would otherwise exploit.

Remember: People do not join extremist groups because they are inherently evil or hateful; they join because they are seeking something that is missing in their lives and have concerns about society.

Important lessons we should all know

People only get used by extremist groups: Often people join extremist groups, because that have idealism for a better future, or they have a concern or there is a vulnerability, and their sense of alienation is then weaponised and manipulated to get people to embrace extremism.

Offering a safe alternative, there is a comprehensive, and collaborative network of support out there.

No one is alone and if you need help or support, you can reach out and we can ensure that every person has an exit route, a voice, and a future free from hate.

All you have to do is reach out.

Sarah

Exit Hate Support