A letter to the council

[Ameanstreakamilewide]

I wrote to my local council, back in March, enquiring whether Mermaids have approached them to offer any 'training', etc.

I've heard nowt.
So, i'm writing to them again today and I wanted to check that I'd covered everything relevant.
I should mention that i haven't written to them under the FoI, as my name is very unusual and i don't want any of my correspondence to be visible on What Do They Know?
Which i know it will be.
I've also searched WDTY for any similar queries to the council, but it doesn't look like it.

The thrust of my letter covers the issues raised in the Transgender Trend article 'A Scientist Reviews Transgender Suicide Stats'.

Andrew Gilligan's article on 16th December, last year (covering the National Lottery grant) and his more recent article about the serious data breaches.

And also the story behind Rev John Parker's resignation.

I think that covers all the points I'm trying to make, but if anyone can add something else, i'd be grateful.

TVM

That looks very comprehensive to me, and thank you for doing it.

My only tentative suggestion would be to approach your local councillors. I say 'tentative' as they may be woke. OTOH, they are there to represent all their ward residents impartially, and I'd say it's completely legitimate to ask them to chase this for you

Not sure if you can extend the query to cover any other sources of 'training'? Probably best to stay focused on Mermaids but I've seen a few others that I would consider in the same vein as Mermaids so there are a number of (what I consider to be) dangerous organisations already in schools.

The Sqfe School Alliance might help, were on here recently and they did something on Gendered Intelligence and the Hayward's Heath gallery on their FB page the other day.

Also I think SG was (is?) advising on health policy now which isn't necessarily relevant to your query but shows the reach and influence SG has.

The data breach is a big one though, hope you get a reply this time!

Thanks, cw

I just felt like I should (metaphorically) get off my arse and do something.
It might be a drop in the ocean, really, but I want to (at least) sow a seed of doubt in the council's mind. And, with any luck, they'll take my concerns seriously.

My council is a very safe, Conservative seat, so it's not a Woke-y McWoke-Face borough, thankfully.
But that's good advice, though, thank you.

Not sure if you can extend the query to cover any other sources of 'training'? Probably best to stay focused on Mermaids but I've seen a few others that I would consider in the same vein as Mermaids so there are a number of (what I consider to be) dangerous organisations already in schools.

The Sqfe School Alliance might help, were on here recently and they did something on Gendered Intelligence and the Hayward's Heath gallery on their FB page the other day.

Also I think SG was (is?) advising on health policy now which isn't necessarily relevant to your query but shows the reach and influence SG has.

The data breach is a big one though, hope you get a reply this time!

Holy

After I'd written the email, i thought about that, as well, actually; cos Mermaids aren't the only bad apples out there.
But, I'll keep it Mermaids-specific, for now, as they're the most high profile.

I'd forgotten about the SSA letter, so that's great advice, thank you.

Indeed about the data breach. One of the director's at the council is specifically the head of Safeguarding, so if this doesn't give her pause for thought, I don't know what will.