TL;DR: After nearly two years, a Charity Commission investigation has found no evidence that transgender youth charity Mermaids provided medical advice to young people or made medical referrals without parental knowledge. However, it did conclude there had been mismanagement within the organisation.
The Charity Commission opened a compliance case into Mermaids in September 2022 following critical articles relating to the charity, its trustees, staff and activities, as well as public complaints. The investigation examined whether the charity’s trustees were fulfilling their trustee duties, including taking reasonable steps to protect people the charity worked with from harm - GOV
This included reviewing Mermaid’s provision of chest binders to those under 18 years old and whether or not the charity was providing ‘unbalanced or inaccurate information’ on the risks of puberty blockers.
What were the Commission’s findings?
Amidst media scrutiny, the investigation identified that Mermaids faced an ongoing challenge of retaining trustees, and a high turnover rate of its senior leadership. It also found that Mermaids grew considerably in a short period of time and the management and administration of the charity “failed to adapt in line with this growth”.
But it also ruled that Mermaids had appropriate safeguarding policies, and that there was no evidence of staff or volunteers providing medical advice - including the use of puberty blockers. Mermaids has been open about its support for the use of puberty blockers as a “reversible healthcare option which have been recommended by medical authorities in the UK and internationally for decades”.
However, following the publication of the Cass review, Mermaids released a new response to the question around puberty blockers, stating that they “don’t advocate for any one particular pathway”’ when it comes to transitioning, but that they will continue to campaign for access to gender affirming care for trans youth, including access to puberty blockers - Mermaids
The Charity Commission issued regulatory advice to the charity to make clear whether information they share on their website is based on “factual evidence or alternatively is the charity’s view/standpoint” and to review its published position on the reversibility of puberty blockers - GOV
The inquiry also sought to understand whether there had been any research on the impact - psychological and physical - of binding, particularly for those under the age of 18, and found that to date, there is limited information on this social transitioning issue.
The Commission also instructed that Mermaids give further consideration to “the findings, inclusions and recommendations of the Cass Review”.
It ruled that the charity did not have inappropriate ties to private medical clinics, or to the now-closed gender service at the Tavistock in North London. Following the interim findings of the Cass Review, the Tavistock clinic stopped taking new referrals and eventually closed in April 2024 with the publication of the review - QueerAF
Analysis
Information and accurate data about health for Trans youth is everything. As the investigation states, “the research on the long-term effects of puberty blockers in young people is limited”.
But since Dr Hilliary Cass downgraded 98% of studies submitted to the Cass Review that showed gender-affirming care and hormones helped transgender people, the data we have on Trans youth is skewed - Alejandra Caraballo
We saw the media amplify their take on the key points from the Cass Review for the wider public, whilst trans activists, healthcare experts and the LGBTQIA+ sector put in the work to comb through the report line by line. The same is now happening with the Mermaid’s inquiry’s report.
Trans activists are highlighting the importance of holding our sector accountable, ensuring that trans young people are receiving care that is up to standard and that vetting of those working with young Trans people is thoroughly conducted.
Mermaids trustees confirmed to the Commission that they have taken steps to review the recruitment process and that they are more thorough across all areas of due diligence - GOV
The report highlights that the infrastructure that supports trans youth is not as efficient as it should be, and that must change to ensure trans young people have the utmost support.
But to provide trans young people with that support, we must have more accurate data and research on the lives of trans and nonbinary young people. The Cass Review falls short of that.
The news we all need
At QueerAF, we'll always take stock - and deliver accountability journalism with our unique slow news approach, so you understand why.
We think that approach is essential so you have the information you need to fight back against anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric.
If you find it valuable, please consider upgrading today so we can deliver even more of it.
