New project supports families affected by extremism

Faith Matters has launched a new project called SAFE - Supporting Affected Families from Extremism - to support those whose family members have turned to extremism. It will be led by Michael Evans, the brother of Thomas Evans who went to fight with the Islamist Jihadist group, Al Shabaab in Somalia. Thomas was killed by Kenyan security forces in 2015 during a raid on a Kenyan village. Many families who have lost sons and daughters to extremist groups and those who may have concerns around the radicalisation of their children can access SAFE. Through discussions with such families, it became clear that many do not know where to go and who to access, whilst others want advice and someone to talk to, but not necessarily the police or statutory services. Others have suggested that when stories are broken around their sons or daughters, they have also become further victimised and pressured and having to cope with the knowledge that their loved ones have become involved with an extremist group, whilst managing significant press interest into their private lives. SAFE will provide direct advice, casework support, signposting, media advice and access to theological support for patents. It will support families affected by all forms of extremism and SAFE also works with statutory agencies, where appropriate, to ensure a wide array of support services are available to families who are affected by extremism or who have lost family members by joining extremist groups. Michael Evans, who joined Faith Matters to lead the national project, said: “Leading on this project reaffirms the importance of supporting families at a time when they feel alone and isolated. I want to provide the support and guidance to families that I feel was missing when I was going through the trauma of losing my brother to extremism. Families often feel like they have no voice and face stigmatism within their local community, I want them to know that SAFE is here to support them and that we do care about what they are going through.”