Together We Can Reduce Extremism
Extremists Target Young People
For Recruitment
Extremists want recruits and often target young people for recruitment.
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So what should we know? Well, the first thing to know is that extremists don't care about people.
They care about their cause, it's that simple.
Everyone is expendable, including themselves as they see the cause as the number 1 priority and
will put it before themselves, their families, and anyone.
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Targeting young people for recruitment, the ERW (Extreme Right-Wing) know what they are doing,
talking on forums, producing extremist online games and targeting young people to get involved.
This site isn't about scaring you, it's about giving you an honest insight into what extremism is and how it can impact people's lives. The stories we use are real, but in many of the videos we have created, we often use actors or animation, to protect the identity of the people we support.
Encouraging open conversations we want people to watch our videos, have discussions and think about not just why people get involved, but ways we can help people walk away from hate.
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HOW TO USE THIS WEBSITE
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Firstly be honest. When you watch our videos, think about how they make you feel, why did people get involved and what could be done either to stop people getting involved or how people can be helped to walk away from hate.
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If you are watching this video on your own, make some notes about what you think could be done and discuss with others once they have watched the video. If you are in a group, watch the videos together and then have a discussion about what you think.
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To start your journey, we have a couple of interactive videos, please play them and initially choose the decision you would make. Then why not choose a different decision and see what happens....................​
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Extremists Want To Use Young People
What You Need to Know
Looking to educate people on what being involved is like, next we have a set of videos, which are the genuine words of people who have been involved, but their parts are played by actors.
Understanding people's personal stories is so important.
Highlighting genuine change is possible, please watch these videos and use them to hold discussions about why and how do people get involved, but also how people can be supported to walk away.
Nathan's Story
Nathan is like most lads, he likes sport and but also spends a lot of time online.
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Find out what happened to Nathan and how do you think he could be supported?
What could his friends have done?
What about his family?
What do you think about what he said it was like being involved in extremism?
Ryan's Story
Ryan's story is like many, it highlights how people from all walks of life can get involved in extremism
Highlighting how people can change, Ryan highlights how support can make all the difference.​
In need of help, who do you think could have helped him?
How do you think he could have been helped?
What support do you think could really make a difference to Ryan's life?
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Karl's Story
Karl, like many people felt lost and found new friends online who at first he felt would always be there for him.
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But once the reality kicked in, his world really changed. Find how Karl felt and what happened by watching this film.
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After you have watched this film, discuss what you think.
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What do you think Karl must have felt like?
What do you think Karl's friends felt like?
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Joe's Story
Joe was a committed far-right activist, who supported a number of ERW organisations and as a result of involvement, one of Joe's friends went to prison. This was the wake-up call Joe needed.
Looking for a better life, what Joe actually wanted was purpose, a family and a good job.
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Here listen to how Joe got them all once he walked away from hate.
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After watching the film, discuss what life must have been like for Joe and what help he would need to change.
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Activists Stories
What You Need to Know
Seeking to get people to have honest conversations about extremism,
we have created several videos in a cartoon format, which is intentional to protect people's identities again.
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Encouraging open conversations please watch the videos and talk to your friends, your class and your lecturers about how the videos make you feel and what you could do to support someone who got involved,
it could be someone you know or even a friend because extremists are recruiting 24/7.
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Darren's Story
Darren's door into extremism is not uncommon, feeling lost and wanting answers, Darren went online.
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Find out what happened to Darren and have a think ho Darren could be supported today.
Please think about how do you think he could be supported.
What could his friends have done?
What about his family?
What do you think about why he said he got involved in extremism?
John's Story
Non-stop Fun
John's story is like many, active online, people changed the way they interacted with him and he needed a new start.
In need of help, who do you think could have helped him?
How do you think he could have been helped?
What support do you think could really make a difference to John's life?
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Josh's Story
First Look
Josh, like many people, became interested in the ERW (Extreme Right-Wing) via the online space.
Watch this video and see what Josh did and then have a discussion about how this video makes you feel and also if anything could have helped Josh.
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Discuss what you think.
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What do you think Josh must have felt like?
What do you think Josh's family and friends felt like?
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Friends Matter
Now you know how people get involved, what would you do in these situations?
Here we have 3 different scenarios.
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The first short film looks at what you should do if you see some racist material online.
After watching Storyline 1, what would you do?
Have a chat with your friends and discuss what actions you would take.
In Storyline 2, we have mixed things up a bit in this one.
In this film, we seek to show you what it is like, when someone gets involved in an extremist group,
via online engagement.
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Here you can either watch the film and have a discussion at the end or you can hit the pause button
and have a discussion about what you think.
In storyline 3, we see a little bit of a different approach, here we see how a young person, initially interested, doesn't like what he sees in the group and then things change.
Watch the video and talk about what you see.
What didn't the young person like about the group?
How did it make him feel?
What do you think about who he spoke to?
What do you think about what they said?
Do you have any thoughts or questions?
When friends hear people talking about extremism, it can often be worrying and talking about it with others is often the first step to helping friends, see the danger they are in and look for ways to help them.
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This isn't about getting your friend in trouble, its about getting help for a friend, you care about who is being used and putting themselves in danger.
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Let's have a look about how this impacts friends with someone they care about.........
How Would You Help?
Now that you know how people get involved, we want you to look at the next set of videos and see how you might help someone.
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The videos will explain the story of Steve, a young person still at school/college.
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He has a friend called Becky, they get on really well. They trust each other and have known each
other for ages.
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But Becky has a secret, she has become involved with some people online, and now they get her to recruit others. As the story develops, think about what is happening to Ste, but also have a think about Becky, how did she get into this?​
People Don't Wake Up Extremist ............................
People get involved in extremism in many ways. Looking specifically at how young people get recruited, the next set of videos show how "Ste" is recruited by a friend. Please use these videos to learn more and also to think about how people getting involved in extremism can be helped to walk away from hate.
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After each video, take time to have a discussion and share your ideas about what is happening, how people can become extremists and how they could be supported.
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Ready to start? Just click on the next video...............................
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Having seen how easy it is to get exposed to extremism, what should Ste do? Below we have differnt options you can take. What one will you choose? Click on the option video you think Ste should take.
OPTION 1 - Talk to a family member or friend and get support
OPTION 2 - Get support from someone at school/college
OPTION 3 - Meet someone from the group Becky is involved in.
Continuing Ste's journey into extremism, in this video we see Becky trying to get Ste involved by talking to him at school. Click on the video below, to continue Ste's extremist journey.
Continuing to try and recruit Ste, in the next video we see Becky bringing in support to recruit Ste. Click on the video below to find out more.
Having recruited Ste into extremism, in this video we see Ste getting further involved...............
Now fully committed to the cause, is Ste into deep? Find out by clicking the next video.....................
Enough Is Enough!
Having seen Ste recruited into the ERW (Extreme Right-Wing), we have seen how easy that journey can be. Building on that understanding, we need to find out why people get involved, what the ERW offers people and build barriers to stop people getting involved and assist people to leave.
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Not easy, it can be done and with support, people can change. To highlight this, let's listen to one person who changed.​​
Darren, a founding member of the English Defence League,
realised being involved in extremism solves nothing and with support left. Highlighting how people can change,
Darren is a great example of how people can turn their lives around and become a positive role model.
Extremist Impact On Families
What You Need to Know
Now you know how extremism impacts individuals, how does it impact families?
Here we have 3 videos which show you how:
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2 moms feel - Sarah's & Nicola's story
A mom feels on her own - Emma's story
How a dad feels - Gavin's story
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All the stories are different, so please have a look and discuss with others how each video makes you feel and what support the families need.​
Sarah's and Nicola's Story
Non-stop Fun
Sarah and Nicola both have had sons involved in extremism, listen to their stories and see what was similar
and what wasn't
How does this video make you feel?
How do you feel about what each mom said?
Can you see the similarities?
How do you feel about each mom's story individually?
First Look
Emma's Story
Emma's story shows what it is like for a mom when she discovers her son is involved with extremism.
How can Emma be supported and what does she need?
Do you think her son knows how she feels?
How worried must she be?
Once your group has had a discussion, feedback to others and let's see what people think and how people like Emma can be supported.
A Gaming Classic Comes Back Even Better Than Before
Gavin's Story
When Gavin and his family discovered that their son was in a Nazi group, they were devastated and totally against everything they believed. Lost for words, they felt they could not talk to their family or friends,
because they wouldn't understand or might even judge their son or their whole family.
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How must that feel?
What could the dad and the mom have done to get their son away from extremism?
Where could they get help from?
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What do you think?
Extremism Can
Impact Anyone
Having looked at the stories outlined you can see how people can be impacted by extremism and this can be anyone.
Today there are no stereotypes as to who is an extremist.
They could be -
The Activist
Chris
It could be a young adult who spends time online and gets interested online in extremism and becomes an activist.
The Vulnerable
Alexa
Not everyone who gets involved with extremism is male, a growing number are female, sometimes seeking protection from extremists because they have been hurt.
The Recruiter
Mark
It could be someone who has a good job, but away from work is an extremist recruiter who uses multiple profiles to trap people like Chris.
The Damaged
Neil
People don't just become racist or extreme, there has to be a need or a trigger. Often people who have suffered reach out to extremists because no-one is there for them.
* To protect the identity of people involved, models are used in our publicity material and their inclusion does not indicate their political opinions
Extremists Use People, Don't Get Caught.
If In Doubt, Speak to Someone You Trust
Want To Know More?
Seeking to help people, if you are worried about someone or need help yourself,
we always recommend you speak to someone where you are receiving your education. The best person to speak to is your
Designated Safeguarding Lead or DSL if you have one,
if you dont know who they are, just ask a teacher or one of the admin team,
they will be able to help you.
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Wanting to offer a clear understanding of what extremism is and what Prevent is,
below are a couple of helpful booklets. Just click on the pictures to open them up.
Young Persons Handbook
This booklet outlines who Small Steps are and what services we offer.
What Is Prevent?
This simple booklet explains what Prevent is and how it can help.