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Resources for Parents and Carers

Knowing how to support and advocate for your child when they’ve come out as transgender or non-binary, or are exploring their gender, can feel overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve pulled together some resources for parents of transgender children and young people to make things feel easier.

From a glossary of useful words to deed poll FAQs and book recommendations, these resources cover a wide range of topics to help you support your child.

Please note, all information provided by external organisations signposted on this page is for reference purposes only, and does not constitute any form of recommendation, endorsement or guidance by Mermaids.

Glossary

We’ve created a handy list of common words and phrases associated with the trans community to help you navigate language you may hear your child and other people use.

Changing your child’s legal name via deed poll

Does your child wish to change their legal name? We’ve created deed poll templates and FAQs to make this as easy as possible.

Guidance on schools

For the latest news and information on schools’ guidance for trans students in the UK, visit our Schools page.

If you are concerned about a decision that your child’s school is making regarding their gender identity, we have worked with solicitors to create a template letter that you can use to set out your concerns and obtain a full response from the school.

Accessing Gender Services

If you are looking into gender healthcare and wondering what the process is, we’ve created a flowchart to explain the process. You can also find information about the NHS’ National Children and Young People Gender Referral Support Service (formerly GIDS) on their website.

The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. It sets out the different ways in which it’s unlawful to treat someone.

Trans people are protected from discrimination under this Act. You can find out more about transphobic discrimination and the law on Transactual’s website.

You can also read the Equality Act 2010 as it’s written, and the Department for Education’s advice for schools applying the Equality Act, by clicking the buttons below.

Read the Equality Act 2010
Read The Equality Act 2010 for schools

Useful Articles

Useful Websites

  • The Proud Trust: their resources cover a range of different things such as exploring LGBT+ identities, LGBT+ inclusion and how to support young people coming out as LGBT+.
  • All Sorts Youth: produces a wide range of publications for young people and professionals, organisations & groups working with LGBT+ youth.
  • Pop N Olly: produce videos, books and classroom resources = used in primary schools across the UK, and beyond, to teach about equality and diversity to combat LGBT+ prejudice before it can begin to form.

Podcasts

  • Gloriously Unready:  Josephine, mum to two trans young adults, describes how change challenged her identity and relationships. Trans guests also contribute their perspectives as they describe how they came to realise their identity and how they came out.
  • How To Be A Girl – Mum Marlo and her daughter produce a podcast together about their life and the challenges they face, and what it means to be a girl.
  • Queers and Co – through intimate personal reflections and conversations with bold changemakers, this podcast explores life through a queer and neurodivergent lens. Host Gem Kennedy dives into what it means to live authentically as an act of liberation – learning about ourselves and gaining inspiration from extraordinary activists.

Books

Join our Parents’ Community

Find out more about Mermaids’ community groups and events, where you and your child can connect with others, make friends and find support.

Find out more