Transgender youth support charity Mermaids is under investigation by The Charity Commission over safeguarding concerns.
Calderdale Council is promoting the charity via its “Transition toolkit: primary to secondary school” under Lesbian, Gay and Transgender Questioning, see the link here: https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/education-and-learning/schools/services/a-z/transition-toolkit#lgbtq.
Mermaids, which receives funding from the taxpayer and runs training sessions for schools, the NHS and police forces, has been contacted by the regulator.
The regulatory body for charities in England and Wales says it has received complaints following reports in The Telegraph concerning the supply of chest-binding devices to teenagers.
The NHS defines binding as "reducing the appearance of soft tissue by flattening your chest".
The Charity Commission confirmed it was aware of concerns related to Mermaids following an investigation by The Telegraph into the availability of chest binders to children, helps them change their names in secret and misleadingly promotes experimental puberty blocking drugs to children as totally reversible via the charity without parental consent.
A trustee of Mermaids has recently resigned after reports that he spoke at a conference organised by a group that promotes support for paedophiles. Dr Jacob Breslow quit Mermaids after the Times revealed he attended a conference in 2011, of an organisation which calls for paedophiles to have the right to live “in truth and dignity” and holds workshops and gives presentations about the needs and rights of people “with an attraction to children and adolescents”.
Miriam Cates, Conservative MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge and a member of the Commons' Education Select Committee, raised the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions asking the Prime Minister, “Does my right honourable friend agree that it has taken far too long for these concerns to be taken seriously and does she also agree that it is high time for a police investigation into the activity of Mermaids and its staff?”
The Prime Minister responded by saying “I would say on the subject of the investigation she raises of course those matters should be raised and properly looked at.”
Cllr Felicity Issott, Shadow Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education raised the issue at Children and Young People's Scrutiny on Wednesday 12 October, and asked why the Council was still advertising Mermaids despite the major concerns surrounding safeguarding, and that an investigation was underway by the Charity Commission.
Following the concerning revelations surrounding this organisation raised by the national press and senior politicians, it is wrong that Calderdale Council is continuing to promote the charity on its website. Cllr Leigh, Leader of the Conservative Group, has written to the Labour Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services requesting that this charity is removed from any Council webpage, and that any interaction with the charity is suspended until the outcome of any official investigation.
Sources:
Transgender charity Mermaids under investigation: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63081644
Liz Truss supports calls for police investigation into Mermaids trans charity: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/10/12/liz-truss-supports-call…
Trans charity Mermaids is at last getting the scrutiny it has long deserved: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/10/08/trans-charity-mermaids-last…;
Mermaids trustee quits over paedophile-group links: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63137873
