00:04Hi Nick, my name is Jamie. I'm here to listen to you and support you, I'm a mentor, and
00:11here to help.
00:12Hi Jamie.
00:13To get to know each other, would it help if I tell you a little bit about myself before
00:17we get started?
00:18Yeah, that would be great.
00:20To start, I'm a former activist myself. I got involved in the far right at 16, because
00:27a lad I knew at the footy told me about how immigrants were taking all the jobs, and were
00:31also taking all our benefits. At the time, my dad had just lost his job, so hearing this
00:37got me really annoyed. It may sound daft, but that one conversation lead to me spending about
00:43eight years in the far right.
00:45That sounds rough, Jamie. Funnily enough, I learnt about the far right through football too.
00:50Sadly, footy is commonplace for recruitment. What team do you support?
00:54I support my local side, mate. How about you?
00:58I follow my local team too. We aren't much good, but it's my team.
01:03Talking about football, I had a good away day there a few years ago at your team. I remember
01:08the pies were fantastic.
01:11Funny you should say that. They come from a baker's down the road owned by a Turkish guy
01:16called Mehmet. He was actually in my year at school.
01:20Really? They tasted so good. I thought they were proper, locally cooked British pies. I'd
01:26have thought they would be spicy if they were made from someone from Turkey.
01:30I can see where you're coming from. However, Mehmet was always fantastic in food tech. He really
01:37bought into British cuisine and aimed to perfect it.
01:40Well, tell him from me he has. I wish more immigrants were like him.
01:45You'd be surprised how many immigrants actually do buy into British culture and traditions.
01:51Mehmet's sister actually owns the village post office and before his dad retired, he was
01:56a milkman for years.
01:58Well, I would never have guessed that they would be the job roles they would go for, but it's
02:03good to hear. They are all things we need in our communities.
02:07You never know what people do until you sit down and listen to people. I only found all
02:13of this out after I left the far right. When I was involved, I would have never believed
02:18that they had those types of jobs either. It's not what the far right tell you.
02:22You're right there.
02:24When I was involved, all the far right groups sent me was negative propaganda about immigrants.
02:30But the more you look, the more you see past what they say.
02:33Yeah. I get where you're coming from. I see a lot of that sort of stuff too.
02:40Really? What are you seeing now?
02:43Loads of rough stuff, mate. The propaganda like you said, but also some gore stuff as well.
02:49What sort of gore stuff do you see?
02:52Horrible stuff. Sickening things. Videos of people dying or getting seriously injured.
02:58How do you feel when you see that sort of thing?
03:01Sick. Like sick to the pit of my stomach. Just knowing they are real people really plays on my mind.
03:09I don't mind horror films. As you know, it's all acting. But those videos aren't acting. They are real.
03:15Wow. That sounds awful. What does the rest of the group think about it?
03:19Some almost celebrate it, mate. Especially if it's someone who isn't white is getting hurt. It's really tough to watch.
03:28Would they be upset with you if you didn't watch the videos?
03:31Yeah. They can tell who has seen a video. And if they notice that people haven't watched it, they will
03:37tag you. So you are pressured to watch it.
03:40Wow. You deserve a better life than that. Have you ever thought about getting out and starting a life away
03:47from the far right?
03:48Yeah. I really don't like that element of the groups. And it does make you think about things.
03:54Is there anything else you don't like?
03:56Um. Well, I don't really like it when they are negative against gay people.
04:01Is there a reason for that?
04:03Well. Um.
04:06You don't have to talk about anything if you're not comfortable doing so.
04:09No. It's fine. I don't like how anti-gay they are as well. I often question my own sexuality too.
04:17First of all, thank you for sharing that. I'm here to help and appreciate you being open and
04:22honest with me. I won't say I know how hard it can be as I've never been there, but I
04:27can only
04:28imagine how tough it is to be a young man talking about this. Secondly, how do you think the far
04:33right would react if they found out about this?
04:36They would kick me out, take the mick, and some might tell my family. To them, I'd be a traitor.
04:42That's tough. You deserve a better life than that. If they can't accept you, for who you
04:48are, then they aren't you real friends, and you deserve better.
04:52Thank you, Jamie. That means more than you will ever know.
04:57What does your family think about your far right involvement?
05:00They all absolutely hate it. I am always having arguments with my family, and a lot of my friends
05:07have stopped inviting me to hang out with them now too.
05:10That's horrible. I remember when I was involved the exact same thing happened to me. It is a feeling
05:17of loneliness that is like no other. I even at the time I felt I deserved it for the things
05:22I believed
05:22in. It felt self-inflicted.
05:26Wow. You actually get it. That is exactly how I feel.
05:30Yeah. It's horrible. However, your friends and family will come back. I will be honest,
05:37it will take a while, but give them some space, be open with them, and they will come back.
05:44It took me almost two years to sort things out, but you can do it. I am now on really
05:51good terms
05:51with all my family. And when we go to the football, we always enjoy one of Mehmet's pies,
05:57and I don't feel guilty anymore, like I used to. It's great.
06:03I wish I could have that. It sounds so much better than how I live my life now.
06:07You can, but you have to decide to change the life you have. I can help you leave the far
06:14right
06:14and show you how to rebuild your relationships. It will be tough, but you can do it.
06:21Is this something that you think you would like to do?
06:24If I am honest, I have been thinking about leaving for a few months now.
06:29This world just isn't for me. The only reason I haven't left is because they are the only mates
06:35I have now. But are they really your friends? If they were your mates, they wouldn't make you
06:41watch videos you don't like, and they would accept you for the person you are.
06:45I never actually thought about that before. You have got a good point.
06:51As with many of the sessions we have had, today's session has really gone well,
06:55and our time has nearly run out. I'm not here to pressure you to leave the far right.
07:01I'm here to listen and give you options. It's your choice what you do. But personally,
07:06I think you are worth more than wasting your life in the far right.
07:10So, if you are interested in having another conversation with me next week, we can then
07:15look at ways to help you to leave. As I said, it won't be easy, but you deserve better,
07:22and I can help you move on and get the life you deserve.
07:26Jamie, thanks for your time and listening to me. It really means a lot. Thank you.
07:31No problem. It's what here for. Have a great week Nick and I will see you next week.
