Westminster Bridge terror survivor launches project to counter radicalisation and support victims
Travis Fairn hopes that it can 'stop even one person from being radicalised'
A survivor of the Westminster Bridge attack has launched a platform featuring the voices of terror victims in the hope that it can "stop even one person from being radicalised".
Travis Frain, 23, started the Resilience in Unity Project while working from home during the coronavirus lockdowns.
"If there is only one person who views this website and that one person is at risk of being radicalised - of going down that path towards committing an attack - and that person reconsiders or decides to re-engage with safeguarding and with local authorities, if all of our life stories are only viewed by that one person it will still have been worthwhile," he said.
As part of the project, he has launched a platform that hosts the testimonies of more than 30 survivors of terror attacks from 15 different countries.
The platform will also include an interactive mapping tool exhibiting survivors' testimonies.
Its content will be available for use in educational settings as well as in combating radicalisation.
Travis added: "Even just stopping one person from being radicalised, stopping one attack from happening, will make a massive difference to hundreds of lives.
"We too often forget the community impact that terrorism has, in dividing and reaching out along generations and networks of family members, in addition to the geographical spread."
'We were all incredibly lucky that we survived'
Travis was just 19 when he was injured in the Westminster Bridge attack on 22nd March 2017.
He was in London on a university trip to visit the Houses of Parliament when he was struck by a car driven by Khalid Masood.
His leg was broken in the incident, but he has since recovered.
"I was down in London, I was only 19 at the time, and I was on a university trip," he said.
"I was quite badly injured as were several other members of the public."
Despite his injuries, Travis considers himself to be "incredibly lucky" to have survived.
"We were all incredibly lucky that we all survived," he said.
"That has really led me to where I am today."
Life after the Westminster Bridge attack
At first, Travis said he didn't want to feel like the attack had changed who he was or what his goals were.
However, as time passed, he said he decided that he needed to play his part in preventing future attacks from occurring.
"For a long time I didn't want to feel like being involved in the attack had changed me or changed my focus," he said.
"But I think, having been through this, I was keen to feel like I had done my part to prevent other attacks in future and to improve things for people who come after me.
"The sad fact is that terrorism won't be going away any time soon, and there will be future attacks."
Building resilience and unity
Travis also hopes that the project can help build resilience and unity for the public in the event of another terror attack.
"In my mind, it's important that we build that resilience before an attack occurs," he said.
"That we are ensuring that the country is resilient and unified and that it has the right support in place for these people before it's even needed because that's the way we bounce back from these issues."
The platform was launched at an event in the City of London attended by 200 people, with more than 50 survivors present.