Miles for mermaids - alternative charities

[BoattoBolivia]

A young person close to me I has announced that they are doing Miles for Mermaids this year and is looking for sponsors. I really want to be supportive as they have been feeling very down about their fitness lately, but I do not want to give money to Mermaids due to the current investigation etc. Any suggestions of an alternative youth/ lgb charity that I could donate to instead? Am really not looking forward to the debate about Mermaids.
Miles for mermaids

I'm not sure you can change where your sponsorship goes though - I think you either support this person and sponsor them and the money goes where they want, or you have to decline financial sponsorship and support them another way.

I was thinking of saying that I can't give money to Mermaids for various reasons but I would be happy to donate to another charity it they achieve their goal.

Does this mean the lottery isn't renewing Mermaids whopping grant?

Without knowing the relationship you have with this person it is hard to advise. Do they know why you don't support Mermaids? If not, this might be a good opportunity to list reasons against. There's quite a lot in the Hannah Barnes book about Mermaids leaning on Tavistock to rush vulnerable teens onto drugs.

I doubt the person doing the "miles" is going to be that thrilled about you offering to give money to a different charity. Do you know if they have a particular reason for choosing Mermaids, some particular connection to that charity over others?

I'd probably just say that you're not in a position to sponsor anyone at the moment.

It's my young adult daughter and we have had some very heated discussions in the past about JkR, trans rights etc. I want to be calm and factual and demonstrate that I have no issue supporting young people who think they might be trans to talk things through.

So you don't want to be too confrontational. What about a charity for women and girls? So long as it hasn't been captured.

What is your daughter's motivation for supporting Mermaids?

Don't know what the state of their finances is like after the moment, but I see they're advertising for a fundraising officer:
https://twitter.com/Mermaids_Gender/status/1648989507352395777

If you scroll down, they're also advertising for a Director of Central Services.

All the big NHS children’s hospitals have their own charity wing - maybe pick your nearest?

They do loads of good stuff with the cash and children of all backgrounds local to you will benefit (not just gender-y ones!)

How about this charity that supports girls

Girls Friendly Society

They have excellent aims and seem well run.

Would AKT be an acceptable compromise for you? They have 'drunk the koolaid' but they also do good work with LGB and T+ young people and have done so for many years.

Thanks everyone. Some good suggestions here that I will investigate. It's such a delicate balance between being supportive and rolling my eyes!