In 1981 as a young 15 year old, I joined an organisation that stood against the IRA. Watching the IRA on TV made me angry. One day after school, I was handed an anti-IRA leaflet; it asked a very simple question: ‘Do you think terrorism is right or wrong?’ and if you think it is wrong, it's time to do something about it.
Proud to be British, I joined only later to find out it was a front for a group of National Front (NF) supporters.
As a young teenager with a mother dying of cancer, I was impressed with people who I thought cared. I was wrong.
Members of the group drove my mum to hospital, they offered me help and supported me whenever I needed it. They became part of my family and it gave me a sense of security. I thought that they were good people and very quickly I was sucked into their world.
But I was too young to understand what I was getting myself into. I wasted my youth, leafletting, recruiting, attacking left-wing marches and joining organisations such as the National Front, British Movement, NSPUK (the UK’s Nazi Party), Combat 18 and even a racist church called the Church of the Creator who advocated RAHOWA = RAcial HOly WAr.
By the time I opened my eyes, I had lost my mum, dad, wife and many old friends all because of the far-right’s hateful rhetoric which I had sadly embraced.
Looking back now I know all those years achieved absolutely nothing other than violence and racism in the communities I was brought up in and cared about passionately.
As a 15-year-old I walked unchallenged into the world of far-right extremism and this is why I founded Small Steps to stop people from getting caught up in the manipulation and lies of the far-right movement.
Since 2015, our small but dedicated team has delivered countless workshops and mentoring sessions across the UK to raise awareness of the dangers of far-right extremism, racism and violence, as well as helping hundreds of people walk away from hate.
Our courses are tailored to specific groups such as schoolchildren, frontline service professionals and community leaders, providing training and advice on how to tackle the issues that draw people to far-right narratives. We help expose the flaws within the far-right and highlight the signs of far-right activity and radicalisation.
Tackling extremism through education, compassion and understanding, isn’t everyone’s way to reduce extremism, but it’s ours and it works.
If you believe there has to be a better way, then get in touch and together, let’s see how we can reduce extremism and build a better country for everyone.
Nigel Bromage, founder.
Email: info@smallsteps.ltd
Our team includes former members of numerous far‐right organisations and professionals who help people walk away from hate so we understand what it is like to be involved in extremism or have someone you love, become an extremist. Using our unique inside knowledge we provide a no holds barred insight into the far‐right and use our lived experiences to provide training to others to reduce extremism.
Supported by people from all walks of life, we couldn’t do our work without our amazing Small Steps volunteers.
Coming from all over the country, from many different backgrounds, our volunteers work in a variety of roles to help us bring communities together. Their commitment to Small Steps and raising awareness of the far right is remarkable and one we are very grateful to everyone for their support.
If this interests you please visit –https://www.communitychampions.info
The far right has become increasingly visible in recent years – online and on the street. Promoting a divisive narrative, far-right groups exploit the general public’s anxieties about the rise of Islamist extremism, deprivation and global conflicts.
We help organise events and provide specialist speakers for communities, educational establishments and professionals who are tackling far-right extremism. We also provide information, educational items and offer one-to-one guidance and advice through our confidential support services.