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Original poster

Trouble at Mermaids?

63 replies

DearestGentleReader90 · 08/07/2026 16:05

Hi everyone,

I have been a long term campaigner against Trans organisations and in particular Mermaids, after my 16 daughter became involved in their service and attended a radical event without my consent or knowledge. They 'empowered' her to basically not listen to any of my advice and do whatever she wants.
A friend of mine has reason to believe that there is trouble brewing and a lot of the staff and trustees/patrons are stepping down!!! Has anyone else heard anything similar?

I also was informed that the current CEO Johanna Hardy was previously employed at Gingerbread and the president was no other than the wonderful JK Rowling. I am surprised the alphabet crew havent made more of a fuss about that!!! 😮😮😮😮

DGR

OP posts:
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Original poster
DearestGentleReader90 · 09/07/2026 22:23

I know two of the big ones are:

Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Esmee Fairburn however most of their funding is legacy funding!
If the trans community that support them financially lost faith in the org that would make a huge difference. I need some amazing super sleuths to dig more into the CEO

OP posts:
SingleSexSpacesInSchools · 09/07/2026 21:49

DearestGentleReader90 · 09/07/2026 11:56

I am trying to think of any way I can to speed up the process

Find out the top five donors.

start a letter writing campaign to them.

we can help.

cut off their sources of money and they will die.

spannasaurus · 09/07/2026 21:19

SingleSexSpacesInSchools · 09/07/2026 20:59

https://www.reddit.com/r/transgenderUK/comments/1urvmyj/feminist_identified_transphobes_planning_to_take/

they think we’re serious

HR getting desperate at the lack of applications perhaps

AnonyMumAuDHD · 09/07/2026 21:16

SingleSexSpacesInSchools · 09/07/2026 20:59

https://www.reddit.com/r/transgenderUK/comments/1urvmyj/feminist_identified_transphobes_planning_to_take/

they think we’re serious

Irony, like science, is lost on them.

SingleSexSpacesInSchools · 09/07/2026 20:59

https://www.reddit.com/r/transgenderUK/comments/1urvmyj/feminist_identified_transphobes_planning_to_take/

they think we’re serious

WarriorN · 09/07/2026 17:38

AnonyMumAuDHD · 09/07/2026 12:15

I cannot wait to see this organisation fold - it was my writing to the Dept HT at my daughter’s school [asking the school not to affirm or to reference/rely upon any material from Mermaids] that lead to a surprise visit from social services and a 3-4m full and invasive investigation. It was horrendous. Susie Green was still there and I pointed out that their charity had a non-neutral agenda and that I wished to allow my child to explore and mature before ‘affirming’.

I think they may have assisted in supplying breast binders, too, though I’ve no evidence of their being the direct source. As a result of binding, DD spent her 13th birthday in hospital on IV fluids before having a breast cyst aspirated [by two male doctors, compounding the trauma].

jesus that is horrific. I’m so sorry you were both put through that!

WarriorN · 09/07/2026 17:37

I do remember a poster here saying that she knew someone who was applying to be mermaids ceo.

AnonyMumAuDHD · 09/07/2026 12:27

puyr · 09/07/2026 12:18

wtaf? Have they apologised to you since the Cass review and changing DofE guidelines? What happened to you is actually horrific.

Show quote history

Nope - that HT has (thankfully) left the profession and is in some activist teach organisation. But I do think that she was working behind my back, effectively grooming my child in the way trans allies do. I’m not fully on board with everything Ms Birbalsing espouses about education, but I absolutely feel that schools should be politically and ideologically neutral. They should not be places for indoctrinating children but teaching them to ask questions, how to explore via dialogue and instil personal/intellectual self-confidence to be able to do so.

I am not sure we will ever fully deprogramme my DD, but she is safe, intact (self-harms scars aside) and increasingly open to exploration and therapy.

SerafinasGoose · 09/07/2026 12:20

AnonyMumAuDHD · 09/07/2026 12:15

I cannot wait to see this organisation fold - it was my writing to the Dept HT at my daughter’s school [asking the school not to affirm or to reference/rely upon any material from Mermaids] that lead to a surprise visit from social services and a 3-4m full and invasive investigation. It was horrendous. Susie Green was still there and I pointed out that their charity had a non-neutral agenda and that I wished to allow my child to explore and mature before ‘affirming’.

I think they may have assisted in supplying breast binders, too, though I’ve no evidence of their being the direct source. As a result of binding, DD spent her 13th birthday in hospital on IV fluids before having a breast cyst aspirated [by two male doctors, compounding the trauma].

It makes me incandescent with rage that they could ever have been allowed to get away with this.

And as for Lush, a retail chain with absolutely no medical expertise, handing them out like sweets, it leaves me speechless. I'll never, ever shop there again.

puyr · 09/07/2026 12:18

AnonyMumAuDHD · 09/07/2026 12:15

I cannot wait to see this organisation fold - it was my writing to the Dept HT at my daughter’s school [asking the school not to affirm or to reference/rely upon any material from Mermaids] that lead to a surprise visit from social services and a 3-4m full and invasive investigation. It was horrendous. Susie Green was still there and I pointed out that their charity had a non-neutral agenda and that I wished to allow my child to explore and mature before ‘affirming’.

I think they may have assisted in supplying breast binders, too, though I’ve no evidence of their being the direct source. As a result of binding, DD spent her 13th birthday in hospital on IV fluids before having a breast cyst aspirated [by two male doctors, compounding the trauma].

wtaf? Have they apologised to you since the Cass review and changing DofE guidelines? What happened to you is actually horrific.

AnonyMumAuDHD · 09/07/2026 12:15

I cannot wait to see this organisation fold - it was my writing to the Dept HT at my daughter’s school [asking the school not to affirm or to reference/rely upon any material from Mermaids] that lead to a surprise visit from social services and a 3-4m full and invasive investigation. It was horrendous. Susie Green was still there and I pointed out that their charity had a non-neutral agenda and that I wished to allow my child to explore and mature before ‘affirming’.

I think they may have assisted in supplying breast binders, too, though I’ve no evidence of their being the direct source. As a result of binding, DD spent her 13th birthday in hospital on IV fluids before having a breast cyst aspirated [by two male doctors, compounding the trauma].

puyr · 09/07/2026 11:56

it baffles me that Mermaids is still going. Bizarre.

Original poster
DearestGentleReader90 · 09/07/2026 11:56

I am trying to think of any way I can to speed up the process

OP posts:
RosaMundi27 · 09/07/2026 11:52

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

SerafinasGoose · 09/07/2026 11:30

Chersfrozenface · 08/07/2026 19:27

According to the Charity Commission's website Mermaids currently has 6 trustees.

Annoyingly the site doesn't list former trustees and the dates they served, unlike former officers listed by Companies House.

Hmm. I wonder why, eh?

Original poster
DearestGentleReader90 · 09/07/2026 09:14

My daughter is unfortunately signed up to their volunteers newsletter so gets these updates. Luckily all the news of Trustees and staff leaving is making her question the stability of the charity 🤞

OP posts:
KnottyAuty · 09/07/2026 07:10

DearestGentleReader90 · 08/07/2026 21:15

I am aware the Chair stood down last month and three others have gone within the last few weeks. Thats very rare unless something is afoot! 🤔
They are recruiting at the moment for new trustees so they must be short.

Looking on social media they are constantly closing their helpline due to staff shortages?

There’s nothing in the news online. How did you become aware of the departures?

Igmum · 09/07/2026 05:06

I’m trustee of a small charity (not Mermaids 😂) and we trustees are potentially responsible if things go belly up. I might be being overly optimistic here because in the past Mermaids revenue has been vast (including support from Starbucks) and prudent trustees will have tucked some of that in the sock drawer, but you never know.

pontefractals · 08/07/2026 21:16

Fingers crossed the wheels are finally coming off. They have caused so much harm.

Original poster
DearestGentleReader90 · 08/07/2026 21:15

I am aware the Chair stood down last month and three others have gone within the last few weeks. Thats very rare unless something is afoot! 🤔
They are recruiting at the moment for new trustees so they must be short.

Looking on social media they are constantly closing their helpline due to staff shortages?

OP posts:
TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 08/07/2026 21:12

Apologies for my previous post, I skip read, badly it seems, and thought it was another attempt ot smear JKR. Sorry. 😳

IrnBruAndDietCoke · 08/07/2026 19:34

TheywontletmehavethenameIwant · 08/07/2026 16:22

According to co-pilot in answer to if JKR has ever been president of Mermaids

Short answer: No. There is no evidence that J.K. Rowling has ever been president, patron, trustee, ambassador, or in any leadership role at the UK charity Mermaids. All available reporting shows the opposite: she has criticised Mermaids publicly and repeatedly.
What the evidence shows:

  • Rowling has never been associated with Mermaids in any official capacity.
  • She has instead publicly condemned the charity, especially after revelations about a trustee’s past involvement with a conference linked to paedophilia advocacy.
  • She has criticised celebrities (including Emma Watson) for supporting Mermaids.
Of course co-pilot could be wrong, but I can't be arsed to look further, I suspect you're just trying to shit stir.

She blatantly never said that though.
I can't believe you copied and pasted AI slop based on an inability to read the opening post.

Chersfrozenface · 08/07/2026 19:27

According to the Charity Commission's website Mermaids currently has 6 trustees.

Annoyingly the site doesn't list former trustees and the dates they served, unlike former officers listed by Companies House.