Change of CEO at mermaids…

Wow. Can't say I'm surprised though.

Agree re the trusteeships. Yes, you must have empathy with the cause but asking awkward questions is v much an equal part of the role. There may be an issue if they can’t find anyone to step up to the role with either the appetite to potentially carry the legal can or with the necessary credentials to do the job. So it could be huge structural issues, early sight of the judgment or the Charity Commission demanding a complete overhaul of how MM is run. And very likely a mixture. Would also be interesting to know when their accounts were/are due.

Ooh yes. I’ll crochet you all feathers… 😂😂

I was just thinking how none of their trustees seems to have any executive skills. Great to be passionate about a cause but you do need the people who will ask the boring financial, legal, HR, policies and procedures questions, especially if your CEO has no background in these things and has never led an organisation before.

We could all identify as @Happylittlechicken would that class as job share or not?

Actually I was going to say this too, I expect that she may have also been out of her depth in terms of the size the organisation has become. There’s something called founders syndrome and it’s where a founder doesn’t recognise that the organisation is beyond their capabilities and refuses to hand over to people who have more experience. The result of that is probably part of the massive lapses in governance and safeguarding. But how the trustees let it get to that is a question

I'm interested in who they will appoint.

Quite frankly who the hell would want this poisoned chalice?

The other sad thing is, if she was pushed, it was because of poor safeguarding rather than for advocating sterilising children.

I am going to be polite here.

It is a big responsibility acting as a trustee for a charity.

What started small and personal can easily grow without the right infrastructure and compliance in place.

A growing charity has to surround themselves with people who question and know the law(s). That's why most charity boards have a lot of "came from a boring job" people on them.

Passionate belief is great, but it doesn't trump current laws and appropriate safeguarding.

Oh she has been pushed out of the door so fast, no interim CEO in place and no discussion of a permanent one. They’re got rid quick, they’ll bring someone in to settle things and take their time finding someone permanent. That was not a friendly departure

Well well well

It is a huge moment - and critical in the sense that this was a charity supposedly devoted to children. Sadly it was staffed with the same type of dodgy adults that are found in all the adult lobby groups - the ones who have zero understanding of child development / psychology / safeguarding yet pontificate on the desirability of sterilisation for children

Having to close / reduce hours on the phone lines and chat lines seemed to me that had not properly checked and trained volunteers.

If the only requirement for a job at Mermaids was to be self declared as trans, can you imagine the sort of people they attracted without checks on their background? <shudders>

Usually two working days, I think. Of course, there are many other reasons why they could have sacked her!!

Looking forward to Jameela Jamil and Emma Watson’s messages of love and support……

I'm sure LOJ will be leaping to her defence any moment now.

Right after he comments on the Graun's piece on the Tavistock...

Charities governance and leadership is much field. I have very rarely seen a statement as terse as that.

But why would she leave? She was on the 'right' side of history surely?
I'm sure LOJ will be leaping to her defence any moment now.

Both parties get to see the judgement - and both must keep it secret.

After the LGB Alliance debacle, appointment of unsuitable trustee and self-reporting several incidents to the charity commission, many of us speculated getting rid of SG was the only way Mermaids could survive.

Having to close / reduce hours on the phone lines and chat lines seemed to me that had not properly checked and trained volunteers.

I can imagine there were very few checks in place and generic policies and procedures were not reviewed or followed.

I can’t imagine the spotlight on her own parenting decisions helped either.

It does feel like a huge moment and could be the turning point in how we support gender non-conforming kids away from affirmation without question and medicalisation. Let’s hope proper support follows.

How long after them seeing the announcement are we likely to know the results do you know?

Couldn't have happened to a nicer person

There’s no way she would have quit. No way. Don’t let the door slam your arse on the way out Susie.

There’s just so many reasons for her leaving it’s hard to pick just one….

embargoed report from the judgement.

evidence from the Cass report that places her in the centre of advocating for/dictating harmful treatments of children at GIDS

evidence that safeguarding was ignored, because a paedophilic trustee worked a a stellar university

who knows?

Yes, LGB Alliance will get sight of the judgement at the same time, but I don't think they can announce that it's coming. And presumably they don't need to sack anyone as a result!