The organisation will be launching Mermaids House this Saturday (8 June)
BY RAI POWELL, IMAGE BY KYLE/UNSPLASH
This Saturday (8 June) will see the launch of Mermaids House, the first community space of its kind dedicated to providing a safe place for trans, non-binary and gender-diverse children, young people and their families, anywhere in the UK or Ireland.
Mermaids House will be home to the Mermaids Northern Ireland branch and will host weekly local groups; fun events and activities for service users of all ages; youth groups; workshops; peer support; youth advocacy and training. With the support of its local community, volunteers and sector partners, Mermaids House will be able to deliver services and run groups across Northern Ireland, from Fermanagh to Newry, Belfast, Lisburn and beyond.
Nicola Doran, Director for Mermaid’s Northern Ireland says: “We are really excited to be able to provide a concrete space to our service users, volunteers and wider community, whose support we have fortunately been able to count on over the years. Right now, the discourse on trans rights across the UK is especially harmful and divisive. Transphobic hate crime in the UK has peaked, and we have slid to a woeful 16th place according to the Rainbow Map’s index of queer-friendly countries in Europe. Against this backdrop, it’s more important now than ever that we can hold space for our community, whilst empowering the next generation as best as we can.”
Aoife Walsh, who is mum to a trans daughter, says: “A memory that I will always cherish. Taking my daughter to the Belfast local group for the first time. Knowing there are other families out there, who are also on a similar journey and that I am not alone, means the world to me.”
Mermaids House is located on 138 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HH. The House will launch on 8 June, and thereafter be open to those who require Mermaids’ support.
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