Trans Charity Mermaids to Receive £500,000 in Funding After Media Storm

The National Lottery Community Fund has announced it will move ahead with a £500,000 grant awarded to the transgender children’s charity Mermaids after an investigation into the group, Civil Society reports.

A number of allegations were levelled against the charity when the grant was first reported in The Sunday Times in December, including that the charity “favours and lobbies for a medical treatment pathway as a main route to support for children experiencing non-conforming gender identity,” and that “it promotes questionable statistics in relation to suicidality in children and young people with gender identity issues.”

“Following public interest regarding the proposed grant to Mermaids UK, The National Lottery Community Fund undertook a review of a number of concerns expressed in relation to the charity. This review did not find any grounds to withhold funding from Mermaids UK. The grant has therefore been approved by the England Funding Committee,” the NLCF said in a statement.

“We will work closely with Mermaids UK to ensure they are supported in their development.”

The £500,000 will be used to support Mermaids over a five-year period.

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