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Blog — Young People Friendly

Mermaids Press

‘I promise that I will do my best, to be true to myself’: A plea for Girlguiding to keep their promise

Eli (they/them) Mermaids Youth Advisory Panellist, Youth Engagement Volunteer, and lifelong Guider, explains why Girlguiding’s exclusion of trans girls and women is contradictory to the organisation’s message. Girlguiding (previously The Guide Association), is a UK based youth organisation established in 1910. In 2026, the organisation consists of around 300,000 young members from the ages of 4-18.  Alongside this, an estimated 80,000 adult volunteers keep these groups running. In the past, Girlguiding has been a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth. They have warmly welcomed trans and gender non-conforming individuals from all backgrounds. Whether this be a trans girl wanting to be…

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Mermaids Press

Do we still need National Coming Out Day?

Ahead of National Coming Out Day, Taylor, one of Mermaids’ Youth Advisory Panellists, shares his mixed feelings of disappointment and hope surrounding this calendar moment. As National Coming Out Day presents itself on the horizon once again, I am faced with polarising feelings. One half of my heart takes on a cynical perspective. Have we not progressed enough as a society to leave the need for a day celebrating declaring your identity to the world behind? The geopolitical state of the world grounds me when that question arises, with an atmosphere scarily echoing fascism erupting across the USA and marginalised…

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Mermaids Press

Volunteering with Mermaids: Transcend

If I tell you that it wasn’t until I was heading for the train home that I realised I had accidentally dressed in the colours of the trans flag, that should show you how busy, lively and all-encompassing Transcend was as a day! Transcend is an interactive day for trans young people aged 16-19 years to develop their advocacy and campaigning skills, and more importantly connect with each other. It’s attended by young people across the Mermaids community, from our youth forum, to MANGO, to YAP and more. This was my first time volunteering at an in-person Mermaids event, normally…

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Mermaids Press

How to look after yourself in difficult times: Tips from a Mermaids’ Support Line Officer 

Last Saturday, I had the privilege of attending Mermaids’ third TRANS(CEND) event, an interactive day for trans youth with workshops, guest speakers, and most importantly, community. I was blown away by the positivity, intelligence and laughter in the room.   What really stuck out for me though was the strength of the young trans adults in the room. In the face of adversity, they stood firm, speaking their truth and imagining a better future. Yet despite this strength, I know they needed to rest too.  Today, within minutes of the Supreme Court’s ruling, my phone was abuzz with messages of…

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Mermaids Press

New name, same support: Mermaids’ John on why we have renamed our support line

Hi, my name’s John and I work on Mermaids’ support line. I’m a non-binary trans man living in Staffordshire with my fiancée. I love reading and listening to podcasts, especially if they are about history and folklore! My co-workers know me as the one with lots of Oodies (a type of wearable, hooded blanket) they joke that I have one for every day of the week!   I remember when I was eighteen someone asked me what my dream job was. I said it would be working for an LGBTQ+ organisation but that it would probably never happen. Around Christmas 2020…

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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

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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Mermaids Press

How my favourite teacher helped me to accept myself as a teenager

Johanna (she/her) reflects on how a quiet act of allyship from her favourite teacher made a world of difference to her while she was closeted at school. Quiet support at school made a world of difference to me as a closeted trans teenager. I was 17, aware that I was not cisgender, and absolutely terrified. Although I felt unable to truly come out, I still experimented with my gender expression, namely by maintaining long hair and painted nails. In my sixth and final year of high school I took Advanced Higher Drama and began to show a keen interest in…

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Mermaids Press

Exploring your trans future

Mermaids’ Youth Advocacy Manager Lee and members of our Youth Advisory Panel look back on TRANS(CEND), a day of positivity, inspiration and joy In March this year, 34 young trans people arrived in Sheffield to take part in our event TRANS(CEND), an interactive day aimed at trans young people aged 16-19.  The theme of the day was “exploring your trans future” with the main objective being to advise and inspire trans youth regarding their futures, whether that be employment, education or other life choices.  The day started bright and early with registration at 9.30am. Young people had travelled from as…

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