The Department for Education (DfE) has removed transgender rights charity Mermaids from its mental health and wellbeing resources for schools, following the Charity Commission launching a regulatory compliance probe after ‘concerns had been raised’ about the charity’s ‘approach to safeguarding young people’.
DfE removed a reference to the Mermaids advice line from its list of mental health and wellbeing resources for schools or those working with children and young people.
It previously said Mermaids offered a “free and confidential phone and web-chat services which has been designed specifically to support trans, gender-diverse and non-binary students” aged 18 to 25.
In recent weeks Mermaids has been attacked by some quarters of the press, including The Telegraph and The Times.
In a statement, Mermaids said it is closing its helpline service from tomorrow to give staff “respite” from “unacceptable abuse”.
Mermaids said its services “that have benefited thousands of people will continue” and that it is “in the midst of a targeted, cynical attack”.
