Who the trust is for#
The Family Survival Trust describes its mission as helping to prevent coercive control, cultic behaviour and psychological manipulation, and supporting those affected. It is run by a small team, many of whom have experienced cultic abuse themselves or in their families; its trustees include people raised in closed Christian groups. Its focus is unusual: it is there especially for the friends and family of someone in a group, whether that person is still inside or rebuilding life after leaving, and survivors are always welcome.
It uses "cult" broadly. A cult, it says, is not necessarily religious: the same control can run through therapy, political, business, self-help or sports groups.
Joining the support group#
The trust runs a monthly online support group on Zoom for friends and family of people affected by cults and exploitative groups. You cannot just turn up: you email the support group address on its support page, fill in a short form, and are then sent the link. Sessions open with material on how coercive groups work, then move to discussion, led by experienced facilitators, some of them former members. They are confidential and not recorded, cameras stay on, and it asks you to join from somewhere you will not be overheard. It suggests a donation of £5 or more but says not to let money stop you coming.
For anything else, use the contact form. The trust can also send a list of therapists and counsellors who understand cultic dynamics.
The resources page#
The trust publishes nothing on names. Its resources page is its most practical offer for someone leaving. It opens by saying that leaving a controlling group can be one of the most difficult and dangerous steps a person takes, then lists help by need:
- housing and homelessness services, including councils' homelessness teams;
- free legal and money advice, including Citizens Advice, Law Centres, LawWorks clinics and Advocate;
- stalking help, for anyone worried about being followed or traced;
- help with honour-based abuse and forced marriage, and LGBTQ+ support;
- groups for people leaving particular communities, such as GesherEU and Faith to Faithless.
It also campaigns to extend the criminal offence of coercive control, which today covers domestic and intimate relationships, so that it can reach the leaders of groups.
If you leave and take a new name#
Some survivors want a name the group never knew, or the one they had before. A deed poll made with GOV.UK's free wording, signed before two adult witnesses, is private: it is not registered anywhere unless you choose to enrol it, and enrolment publishes the change with your address in The Gazette. Who can see my former name? explains the difference.
If you fear being traced, plan the records that follow. Keep off the open electoral register, think about the address on the deed itself, and see keeping your address off your records. Choose your two witnesses with care: they must be 18 or over, and GOV.UK notes that some organisations will not accept a deed poll witnessed by a close relative or by someone living at your address, so a friend or colleague is safer than the relative helping you leave.
This page describes what The Family Survival Trust publishes on its own website, read on 26 October 2026. The trust has not reviewed it, and listing a charity here does not mean it recommends this handbook or any deed poll service.
