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Mermaids Press

Statement in response to social media activity by the Charity Commission

On Thursday 11 April, we were made aware that the Charity Commission has allegedly liked and reposted gender-critical content on its official X account, including potentially defamatory content about Mermaids.  In response to an email from us, the Commission confirmed that this appears to have been accidental activity during monitoring. We recognise that accidents do happen, however vigilance is required to ensure that these are addressed as soon as possible. As a public body, the Commission must appear to be scrupulously independent and unbiased across its work, including its activity on social media, and it is disappointing that it has…

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Mermaids Press

The Cass Review: Mermaids’ response

Everyone deserves access to timely, supportive and holistic healthcare. However, across all of the UK, the NHS is failing trans youth, with appalling waiting lists of more than six years, virtually no first appointments offered for over a year, and increased politicisation of the support offered to children and young people.  Trans youth tell us they want services which are accepting and respectful, which offer supportive spaces to explore their gender, and provide access to medical transition if and when they need it.  The Cass Review, an independent review of NHS England gender services for children and young people, published…

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Mermaids Press

The Cass Review: What Was It and What Does It Mean?

What is the Cass Review? In 2020, NHS England launched an independent review of children and young people’s gender services in England, led by Dr Hilary Cass. The review had a massive scope, including: They also commissioned a set of research from the University of York. Mermaids has regularly engaged with Dr Cass, most importantly through platforming trans children and young people’s views directly to the team through a series of focus groups. We have, however, been disappointed with the review’s consistent engagement with groups who deny the existence and legitimacy of trans youth. What did the Interim Report say?…

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Mermaids Press

NHS puberty blockers policy change: Mermaids’ statement

NHS England has today (12 March 2024) announced that from 1 April they will no longer routinely prescribe puberty blockers. They will be available in the future, but only through a mandatory research trial. This announcement is deeply disappointing, and a further restriction of support offered to trans children and young people through the NHS, which is failing trans youth. There were virtually no first appointments offered in 2023, with ever-growing waiting lists of over five years. Those currently prescribed puberty blockers won’t see any changes to their treatment, and this is a pause on prescribing – not a ban. It’s also…

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Mermaids Press

Mermaids appoints Lauren Stoner as permanent CEO

Lauren Stoner has been appointed permanent CEO of Mermaids on a two-year fixed term basis.  An experienced charity professional with a background in health and social care, Lauren (she/her) joined the charity as Interim CEO in December 2022 and has successfully steered the organisation through challenging times. Her leadership will see us into our 30th anniversary year in 2025.  On Lauren’s appointment, incoming Chair of Trustees Kathryn Downs (she/her) said: “Lauren has demonstrated impressive leadership, implemented new working practices and, in particular, begun the crucial process of improving the culture at Mermaids. “Her leadership on EDI matters has been strong…

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Mermaids Press

Statement in response to the Prime Minister’s comment in Parliament today

Rishi Sunak’s shameful and heartless comment today (Wednesday 7 February) at Prime Minister’s Questions demonstrates just how little his Government thinks of trans young people and the important people in their lives.  Words spoken in Parliament have real-world consequences for people like the late Brianna Ghey, and so to have made a joke like this, in front of her mother who was invited there, is just downright cruel.  Trans young people need their politicians to build supportive school environments, to fix our broken NHS and to protect them from violence. They are tired of being spoken about, rather than listened…

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Mermaids Press

What does the proposed trans schools guidance really say? A Mermaids Explainer

Content Note: these proposals are upsetting and scary for our community, particularly those with lived experience of transphobia in school. Please take care when reading.  The Government is consulting on its proposed trans guidance for schools and colleges in England, closing on Tuesday 12 March.  All young people deserve an accepting and supportive school environment to learn and be their authentic selves. Not only would this guidance make schools unsafe for trans children and young people, it actively seeks to deny their existence. At no point does the guidance offer any advice on how to include and support trans young…

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Mermaids Press

A message of support for our community

We know that many of you may be feeling anxious or upset by the UK Government’s absurd draft schools’ guidance published this week. You are not alone in this feeling, and we want to reassure and remind you: The guidance is only a draft and will be out for consultation until March 2024 In the New Year, we will do everything in our power to make sure any final guidance is supportive of trans children and young people. We’ll also share with you ways that you can get involved in making change. All trans students deserve to be accepted and supported;…

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Mermaids Press

Trans youth need supportive schools

All young people deserve an accepting and supportive school environment to learn and be their authentic selves. The UK Government’s draft trans guidance for schools in England seeks to prevent that. Its approach is unworkable, out of touch and absurd.  Rather than listening to trans young people and reflecting best practice of inclusive educators across the UK, the Government has created more confusion for schools and is putting young people at risk. It is difficult to understand how aspects of this draft guidance, including automatically excluding trans pupils from facilities, sport bans or allowing students to be misgendered are compatible…

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Mermaids Press

Family Day: A time for connection and belonging

Cameron (they/them) reflects on their second Family Day as a volunteer with Mermaids. It’s the night before my second Mermaids’ Family Day. I am sitting snug on a couch with a cup of tea and some trifle, watching the Barbie movie with another Mermaids volunteer, her partner and their dogs. It seems unthinkable at this point that I had only met these people for the first time just a few hours earlier. It felt like I was reconnecting with some old friends, or that despite never having actually met before, we had always been connected in some way.  This feeling…

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