The Charity Commission has announced that Mermaids, a transgender support charity for youth Mermaids, is under statutory investigation.
After reports of teenagers receiving chest-binding devices, the regulatory agency began to investigate Mermaids.
The Commission states that a formal inquiry was launched due to “newly identified problems” in Mermaids governance and management.
Mermaids declares it will cooperate “fully and openly with the Commission.”
Mermaids, the nation’s largest charity that provides support for gender identity and children up to age 25, is the most prominent.
Mermaids stated that “the charity has an unwavering dedication to safeguarding, which is, and will always be, our highest priority.”
As the Charity Commission investigates, we will cooperate fully with them.
Mermaids stated that it is already prioritizing acting on “a variety of significant challenges”, as highlighted in a report the charity received earlier this year. This was to ensure its “equity diversity, inclusion”.
It stated that “We are committed to improving our performance and know what we can do.”
According to the Charity Commission, opening an inquiry doesn’t mean that it has discovered any wrongdoing.
After receiving complaints from the Telegraph, the Commission that regulates charities in England & Wales began its inquiry into Mermaids. It was investigating Mermaids because the charity supplied chest binding devices to teens.
According to the NHS, binding is “reducing soft tissue appearance by flattening your chest”.
Transgender and non-binary individuals can use it to relieve symptoms of gender dysphoria. This is when there’s a feeling of discomfort due to a mismatch in biological sex with gender identity.
People who choose to bind their chest often use specifically-designed devices known as binders. Some people may create their own using compression clothing, sports bras or body tape.
The benefits and risks of chest binding are not well documented. A March interim report on gender services for children raised concern that certain binding devices could be harmful.
According to the Charity Commission, the inquiry opened on 28 Nov and will focus: Once the investigation is complete, a report of its findings will be made public.
