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Mermaids Press

Statement in response to the continued criminal ban on puberty blockers

As LGBTQ+ sector organisations, we are deeply disappointed that the UK Government has decided to continue criminalising the prescription of puberty suppressing medicines for trans children and young people outside of a proposed NHS research study  Every single child and young person, across all nations of the UK, should be able to get the care that they need to grow up happy and healthy. To be supported by well trained, knowledgeable professionals who can make the right decisions with them, and who have access to appropriate medical treatments. To not have to wait too long or travel too far.  And…

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Mermaids Press

Mermaids’ statement on the Charity Commission report’s findings

Statement from our Chair of Trustees, Kathryn Downs  We are relieved that the Charity Commission Inquiry which began nearly two years ago is finally over. The report states, as we anticipated, that there is no finding of misconduct at Mermaids.  The Commission has also confirmed, as we have repeatedly asserted, that we have not provided medical advice or acted improperly in our work with children, young people and their families.    We want to thank all our staff, volunteers and generous supporters who have ensured we have continued to provide high quality support and advocacy to trans young people, maintaining our…

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Mermaids Press

Our helpline hours are changing

From Monday 7th October, we will be reducing our helpline opening hours to 1pm-8:30pm on weekdays, instead of 9am-9pm on weekdays. We have made this decision so that we can continue to support our community to the best of our ability through this difficult and uncertain time. The ongoing Charity Commission inquiry, which was opened almost two years ago, has left Mermaids’ future as an organisation more uncertain than ever. This process has come at a great cost. We’ve already been forced to make other difficult decisions about our staff team and the ways that we work, pausing vital projects…

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Mermaids Press

Statement on NHS England gender service updates

NHS England has today (7 August 2024) published several updates relevant to gender services for young people, including its Cass Review Implementation Plan and the new referral pathway specification. These updates largely outline what we already know about NHS England’s approach. However, we’ll be reviewing them in detail and, alongside sector partners, will provide further information, analysis and resources in due course.  If you’re worried about anything you read and need to talk to someone, please contact our helpline. We’re here for you Monday to Friday, 9am – 9pm. 

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Mermaids Press

Statement in response to recent far right violence

Mermaids condemns the racist, Islamophobic and anti-migrant violence we’ve witnessed across the UK in the last few weeks. We stand with all of those affected and have signed the following joint statement, organised by Together With Refugees, calling for the Government to take action.  “As organisations based across the UK working with refugees and migrants, we are deeply shocked and devastated by these horrific acts of violence. Racism, Islamophobia and hatred against migrants have no place in our country. We stand in solidarity with the men, women and children affected, many of whom have already fled unimaginable horrors to try…

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Mermaids Press

Statement in response to the High Court ruling on the puberty blocker ban

We are incredibly disappointed by yesterday’s High Court judgement to uphold the decision to restrict the prescription of puberty blockers for trans young people.  The ban, which was brought into place under the previous Conservative Health Secretary, will expire on 2 September 2024 and there must be a consultation process if the Government wishes to make it permanent. We strongly believe that the Health Secretary must now listen to trans young people. This includes recognising the harm that outright bans have, and continue to cause, and making sure harm reduction measures are in place to support the children and young…

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Mermaids Press

Statement on General Election result

Our Trans Youth Manifesto, which we published in June, outlines what young people need from their elected representatives, and their message is clear: they want to feel safe, welcome and protected, and to live in a world where they are celebrated, not debated.  We hope the new Prime Minister will be true to his word, treating trans people with dignity and respect, and call on his new government to centre the needs and voices of trans young people in conversations that affect them.  We will do all we can to make sure the voices of young people are heard in…

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Mermaids Press

The new restrictions on puberty blockers in the UK: A Mermaids Explainer

On 29 May 2024, the Government introduced two pieces of regulation which restrict how trans children and young people under 18 years old can access some medications (GnRH analogues) which delay the effects of puberty as a result of a diagnosis of gender incongruence or gender dysphoria. These medicines consist of or contain buserelin, gonadorelin, goserelin, leuprorelin acetate, nafarelin or triptorelin. We will call these GnRH analogues throughout this information to prevent confusion with other medications.  This legislation applies in England, Wales and Scotland.  Following the Government’s announcement, NHS England wrote to the parents and guardians of all young people…

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Mermaids Press

Sector statement on the Equality Act

The Equality Act is world-class legislation that took almost a decade to develop, and has been working well for 14 years. Under the Act, trans people can legally access single-sex services based on their gender, and services can exclude trans people, whether or not they hold a Gender Recognition Certificate, if it is a proportionate thing to do to achieve a legitimate aim. We believe the thresholds that the Equality Act sets are a proportionate bar for services to address if they are to use these single sex exemptions. Violence affecting women and girls is a significant concern, including for…

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Mermaids Press

Sector statement on Emergency Prohibition of Puberty Suppressing Hormones

As organisations that provide support to our LGBTQ+ community, we are extremely disappointed at the introduction of emergency legislation to ban the prescription of puberty-suppressing hormones (also known as GnRH analogues) in England, Wales and Scotland. This legislation has been drafted and will be implemented from 3 June 2024 without a full impact assessment, and we are already seeing the harm and distress this is causing amongst trans young people and their families.  We are reviewing the legislation with experts to understand the implications and will provide factual information for those affected once we have it. We recommend that any child…

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