We're a small charity and we've been working as hard as we can for 25 years to support trans kids but it's difficult sometimes when coverage in the press is so negative. We wish everyone could see the effect newspaper stories, social media posts and blogs are having on kids and teenagers right now. But these aren't the stories being told in the media.
That's why we're asking for your help. We want to create a podcast to let trans young people speak for themselves without having to rely on the BBC, newspapers or other uninformed and often untrustworthy platforms.
We also want to increase funding for our helpline at weekends so a day doesn't go by without available support for those who so desperately need it.
Please help us by making a donation, no matter how small, and share our campaign video.
#ListenToTransKids
According to our research, the amount of negative coverage of transgender kids over the last 8 years has grown massively and we've seen the damage it can do to vulnerable young people who are already struggling to be accepted at school, in public and even at home.
We want to change the conversation by helping our service users to tell their stories without being ignored, misquoted or ridiculed.
Letting kids and young people be silenced is not an option for us.
Our kids and teenagers have stories to tell. So do our parents. They deserve to be heard.
Mermaids is a UK based charity, founded in 1995. We support transgender, gender diverse and gender questioning children and provide support services for parents. We believe children and young people need love and support no matter what path they choose. We work to raise awareness about gender nonconformity in young people among professionals and the general public, and we campaign for improvements in professional services.
For the last 25 years, Mermaids has gone from a group of parents around a kitchen table to a fast-growing charity helping thousands of people every year. Through education, parental support and understanding, we want all young people who interact with us to be equipped with the tools they need to thrive, even in the face of adversity.
Our Helpline, which is aided by our volunteers, gives parents and young people a direct form of contact with someone who's trained to listen to them.
Parent support groups provide a forum for adults to ask questions and learn how to listen to their child in a meaningful way, guiding them through difficult interactions with family, schools and doctors so their child doesn’t have to.
We host training sessions for professionals in schools, medical fields, and other environments to ensure that they know how to best respect trans and gender variant people, especially children.
Our residential retreats provide a safe space for children and young people to explore who they are and connect with a wider community.
Thank you for taking the time to listen. Please donate if you can and share with friends, colleagues, followers and family.
#IfIHadAVoice