Mermaids UK x Pride Liner

For those who don’t know, we celebrate Pride all year round with our Pride Liner. But that’s not even the best part about this 11 shade water activated liner- 100% of profits made, go to LGBTQIA+ charities! After raising over £24,000 for Stonewall UK earlier this year, we are so excited to officially announce our new dedicated charity, Mermaids UK!

Mermaids supports transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and the professionals involved in their care. The work Mermaids does helps young people to cope with mental and emotional distress, and equips their parents with what they need to offer individual support. It also improves the self-esteem and social skills of children and young people.

Mermaids was founded in 1995 and has evolved into one of the UK’s leading LGBTQIA+ charities, empowering thousands of people with its secure online communities, local community groups, helpline services, web resources, events and residential weekends. They seek to educate and inform wider society on gender identity by helping professionals accommodate and reassure gender-diverse young people.

Just £10 could pay for an hour of a trained Helpline Officer being on the end of the phone to a young person in need or could help to cover the cost of a young person's travel expenses to attend a Mermaid’s residential weekend. The difference that can be made to so many with a bit of support is immeasurable, so Glisteners, glisten up and pay attention to this exceptional charity.

Alongside supporting trans and gender diverse youth and their families, Mermaids told us about a couple of big projects they are currently working on; Trans inclusion in Sports  and the Trans inclusive ban on Conversion ‘Therapy’.

“Trans, non-binary and gender diverse young people should not be forced to choose between who they are and playing the sport they love. That is why Mermaids is advocating for sports clubs to be #ActiveAboutInclusion and ensure trans young people can be their authentic selves while playing with their friends and teams, through offering advice, training and research.”

“Mermaids is actively campaigning for a trans-inclusive ban on abhorrent conversion practices in the UK. Trans people are twice as likely to be subjected to or offered conversion practices as cisgender lesbian, gay or bisexual people, yet the Government is proposing to exclude them from upcoming legislation. We will continue to fight for #NoBanWithoutTrans to protect trans and non-binary people from these abusive practices.“

Please watch the satirical Queen’s Speech by River Medway from Drag Race UK (S3) and get involved by sending a word to your MP to #keeptransintheban by filling out their form here.

We can’t express how much we believe in the hard work Mermaids UK is doing to reduce isolation and loneliness for transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families. As well as providing families and young people with the tools they need to negotiate education and health services. We are so excited that our profits will be going towards such an amazing cause! 

If you are struggling or know someone who is affected by some of the issues raised, Mermaids phone lines, webchat and email are covered by volunteers and staff between 9am and 9pm, Monday to Friday. You can use their freephone number 0808 801 0400 or contact them via their website here or their email which is : info@mermaidsuk.org.uk.

If no one is available and your situation is urgent, you can use the text chat service 24/7 for crisis support, just text MERMAIDS to 85258 or email info@mermaidsuk.org.uk. For all contact information and terms and conditions visit their website www.mermaidsuk.org.uk/contact-us/

By Erin O'Neill