A specialist Faith to Faithless group supporting women leaving high-control religions was recognised in London this week as part of the 2025 London Dangoor Awards, also known as the Faith & Belief Forum Community Awards.
Faith to Faithless won in the category of ‘Supporting Women’ at the awards ceremony, for its outstanding work in pursuit of women’s freedom of religion or belief.
The group offers a unique service to women fleeing high-control religions and cults who may otherwise have nowhere else to turn. It provides a safe, caring, judgement-free, and empowering space for women who have left high-control religions and have experienced patriarchal and misogynist abuse in their former religious communities.
Receiving the award, Terri O’Sullivan, Services Development Coordinator for Faith to Faithless, said:
‘This award is a huge honour and a testament to the courage and solidarity of the women in our community. Many of whom have overcome profound levels of religious coercion, abuse, and misogyny, and yet they turn to support each other in their recovery. Our group gives them space to connect, make friends, rebuild trust, and gain confidence to self-advocate and lean in — and this recognition means the world to all of us.’
The Women’s Group meets monthly online and offers peer support, discussion sessions, and community-building for women navigating life after leaving their religion. For many, it is the only space where they feel fully understood.
Faith to Faithless volunteer Zoe, who hosts the group, said:
‘Our group has grown from being a group of women who share a particularly hard start in life, to a group of empowered women who support each other through discussions on life, work, love, and relationships. We can go from talking about oppressive purity culture in one moment, to job interviews, books, dating, and gardening in another moment.’
Humanists UK and Faith to Faithless are grateful to the Faith & Belief Forum and to David Dangoor CBE, who presented the award, for recognising the importance of supporting people who leave controlling or abusive religious environments. We also extend our thanks to our volunteers, facilitators, and the women who attend the group — this award belongs to all of them.
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For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 0203 675 0959.
Faith to Faithless is a programme of Humanists UK which works to raise awareness of, and address the issues faced by, those who leave high-control religious groups. Deciding to leave a high-control religion can often mean rejection from your family and community, with little understanding of where to turn next. ‘Apostates’, as these people are sometimes called, may end up homeless, isolated, and at risk of abuse. Faith to Faithless provides support through facilitated peer support groups and social groups, provides a platform for apostate voices to be heard, raises awareness of the issues they face, and trains statutory and support organisations like the police, social services, and mental health organisations to better understand the issues, and the sorts of policy and practice implications this might have for them.
Read more about Faith to Faithless on our website.
The London Dangoor Awards celebrate outstanding community projects that promote understanding, inclusion, and support across diverse belief backgrounds.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.