Are you, or is someone you know, in crisis? Please call or text 1737 for 24/7, free and confidential support from a trained counsellor (New Zealand only).

For general support, including guidance for situations of suspected abuse, you can contact the Olive Leaf Network for confidential care and referral to wider services.

The Olive Leaf Network

Aid, advocacy and awareness for former members of high-demand religious groups

About the Olive Leaf Network

The Olive Leaf Network is a collection of people dedicated to supporting former members of high-demand religious groups.  In particular we are experienced with supporting former members of the Exclusive Brethren (Plymouth Brethren Christian Church). 

Why the name? In the biblical story of the flood, a dove holding an olive leaf flew to those shut in the ark, to communicate that new lands were just beyond the horizon.  And so the olive leaf has come to be a symbol of hope beyond destruction, peace after chaos, and a promise of new beginnings.

Through our network, we seek to connect religious abuse survivors and leavers of high-demand religious groups, with wider support. In doing so, we extend an olive leaf to those who may be afloat on the difficult seas of religious trauma, abuse, or excommunication.

What We Do

We provide aid and advocacy for former members of high-demand religious groups, with a particular focus on supporting former members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (PBCC).  We also raise awareness and educate wider society about the experiences of leavers of high-demand religious sects.

If you are thinking of leaving a high-demand religious group and would like support, check out our resources page here or contact us using the form below.

AID

We connect former members of high-demand religious groups with wider support people and organisations.

ADVOCACY

We advocate for the well-being and rights of those who have left high-demand religious groups.

AWARENESS

We raise awareness about the experiences of former members from high-demand religious groups.

Get In Touch

We’re here to help! Please send us a message using this form, or go to our contact page for more ways to get in touch.

Please be reassured that all communication with the Olive Leaf Network will be held in strict confidence. Your personal information will only be shared with others beyond our network with your permission, unless you or others are in danger, in which case we will inform relevant authorities.