LGB Alliance starts Helpline for teens and young adults

On a 100% purely personal note, talking about myself; when I received basic training in safeguarding, for a public sector post many years ago, I felt really uncomfortable and couldn’t figure out why until the trainer herself mentioned that it’s a wholly new way of thinking and it often transgresses expectations of politeness. She warned us that it can make service users feel like you’re accusing them of being capable of doing something bad and she was right, it could set some of our service users off in indignation.

I think I also resented the fact that the training showed how naive I was; some areas of concern just never occurred to me until I was told to be aware of them.

Sadly, I never had the skill at making the necessary interactions less awkward but I saw the necessity of pushing through my dislike. I have to admit that I’m glad I don’t have to worry about it as part of a job anymore cos it’s a serious responsibility - I don’t begrudge LGBA and their helpline staff the responsibility they’re accepting. I wish them the best of luck.

Part of safeguarding is being open to considering the unthinkable. From what I've seen of the LGBA, I think they're very open to reflection and much of what's raised has been very constructive.

This is such a positive initiative and reflecting on concerns, discussing and debating boundaries is all part of good safeguarding. I've every confidence that the Alliance will approach the issues raised in good faith.

All of this. No sacred castes.

LangCleg wrote Thu 21-Feb-19

"How did the scandal of TV entertainers grooming and exploiting children get so bad before anything was done?

How did the scandal of Catholic priests grooming and exploiting children get so bad before anything was done?

How did the scandal of on-street gangs grooming and exploiting children get so bad before anything was done?

Because if you create a sacred caste of any group and silence anyone asking questions about individuals on behalf of the sacred caste, abusers will see, infiltrate, and groom and exploit children. That''s how."

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3512177-Julia-Long-asking-Munro-Bergdorf-about-child-exploitation?pg=12

Maybe the people on this thread who are pointing out safeguarding concerns should lay out a comprehensive protocol for how they would proceed with this Helpline?

If they could spell it out from the start how they would initiate this and how it would work in practice then we can role play a few potential scenarios that could crop up perhaps, so we can see how their proposals pan out.

That poster is an abomination and should be roundly condemned. However it's not the subject of this thread.

Who thinks this?

"The suggestion is that instead of one website/chat channel it may be better practise to have a separate website/chat channel for children and for adults.

This is not an accusation, nor is it malicious, its a.good faith suggestion for how to potentially improve the service. As LGBA rightly and sensibly ask for feedback and helpful criticism, this is it.

I'm scunnered that so many people are so defensive.

We cannot have exceptions and unquestionable sacred castes, and that has to go for organisations that we agree with as well as those who are - in my view - beyond teh pale (LBTYS, Mermaids, GIRES, etc).

Can people here honestly not see.the difference? Do you think any organisation that upholds gender critical views is beyond reproach? Can you not see the problems with that?"

This* *bears repeating.

The defensiveness on this thread and also on the Genspect thread is quite something to behold.

And of course its quite possible that I am wrong and a helpline for 13-25 year olds is the best way to set it up. There may be really good solid arguments. It'd be great to hear and discuss them.

For the love of fuck, though, we cannot be so defensive when it comes to safeguarding children. We have to do better than the existing shitshow; that is really the whole point!

Mermaids are a dangerous, appalling organisation.

Evidence? The suggestion is that instead of one website/chat channel it may be better practise to have a separate website/chat channel for children and for adults.

This is not an accusation, nor is it malicious, its a.good faith suggestion for how to potentially improve the service. As LGBA rightly and sensibly ask for feedback and helpful criticism, this is it.

I'm scunnered that so many people are so defensive.

We cannot have exceptions and unquestionable sacred castes, and that has to go for organisations that we agree with as well as those who are - in my view - beyond teh pale (LBTYS, Mermaids, GIRES, etc).

Can people here honestly not see.the difference? Do you think any organisation that upholds gender critical views is beyond reproach? Can you not see the problems with that?

And again, I have enormous respect for LGBA, who are brave and brilliant and sorely needed. I hope the helpline goes really well.

Actually I understand safeguarding very well - better than people who apparently think children should continue to be directed to Mermaids.

Still waiting for the, you know, real evidence. So far it's one person claiming not to have been asked their age - if you want to believe that - and they didnt actually have a real chat.

"going on about safeguarding"

Same as when I typed this.

The idea seems like a really good one. It's a much needed service and one that may need to grow as more and more children and young people who've been fed an ideology in schools, universities and on social media try to work out how to make sense of things in their own lives.

The initial care that seems to have been given to setting up the service seems robust and responsible, hopefully a model that can be shared with other organisations wanting to emulate good practice but, however carefully one plans and starts a new project or organisation, there will always be teething problems and of course they'll be aware of that and will be responding accordingly. The LGB helpline is unusual in that they are setting up something in a climate of controversy that will attract adults wanting to see it fail, journalists wanting a controversial story and other 'mystery shoppers'. It will be stressful for them until this dies down.

Safeguarding is also there to protect the worker as much as the client.

Indeed.

Safeguarding should be reflexive and proactive.

Tell me you don't understand safeguarding without telling me etc

Fucksake. No, not bad faith. The exact opposite.

Looks to me like a lot of bad faith actors on the thread. Mermaids are, I believe, still being investigated for criticisms of their safeguarding procedures, an alternative is badly needed. Any claims about a perceived safeguarding failure can be taken up with the charity commission - if there is any, you know, actual evidence to back it up. No evidence has been presented here, just accusations.

I think it's an excellent idea. Teens and young adults desperately need advice in this space that isn't coming from activists pointing them towards self harm. Thank you LGB Alliance.

You can quite easily ‘make it make sense’ by reading my post in full AlisonDonut.

I picked up enough about it to be able to tell that the objections stated here aren’t coming from an informed place about service provision nor from a place that supports the needs of children and young people

So you never did it yourself yet you know all about it.

And people that have are not coming from an informed place.

Make it make sense.

Thanks OP I really appreciate you continuing with trying to set the record straight. I have worked with people delivering youth services so not my own field but I picked up enough about it to be able to tell that the objections stated here aren’t coming from an informed place about service provision nor from a place that supports the needs of children and young people. These are children, teens and young adults who until now haven’t had a non-captured service to call on. Something like this is vital for giving them unbiased information and support.

Also it’s very important that LGB Alliance include up to mid 20s age range because this upper end of the age group will have had gender identity fed to them at school and on social media since their preteens or teen years. This will be the first safe non biased service they could talk to.

So LGB Alliance if you read this- thanks for everything you’re doing. Keep going.

I agree with this