By Safeguarding Team on 03 Feb 2022
SAFEGUARDING CONFERENCE 2022 - KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Rosy Rowley
Biography:
After several years working for the NSPCC delivering their safeguarding programme in primary schools, Rosy joined Mermaids in 2019. Her role involves supporting young people, their families and professionals via the helpline and webchat service, moderating online forums and delivering LGBTQIA+ awareness training.
Speaking daily to gender diverse young people and the families and professionals that support them gives Rosy an in depth perspective of the struggles and discrimination that these young people face, and she is passionate about Mermaids' aims to Embrace, Empower and Educate.
Mermaids
Mermaids was set up by a group of parents in 1995 who came together to share experiences and look for ways to keep their children safe and happy. In 26 years, the charity has gone from the kitchen table to one of the UK's leading LGBTQ+ charities, empowering thousands of people every year with our secure online forums, local community groups and helpline service, web resources, events, residential weekends and more.
Mermaids supports transgender, non-binary and gender diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care, including teachers, GPs and social workers.
We work to:
- Reduce isolation for transgender, non-binary and gender diverse children, young people and their families
- Provide families and young people with the tools they need to negotiate education and health services
- Help young people to cope better with mental and emotional distress, and equip their parents with what they need to offer individual support
- Improve awareness, understanding and practices of teachers, GPs, CAMHS, Social Services and other professionals
This presentation will:
- Give you a clearer understanding of the charity's work and how we can give educational establishments the tools they need to support transgender, non-binary and gender diverse children and young people
- Give an insight into the day-to-day lives of transgender, non-binary and gender diverse children and young people and the impact of mental and emotional distress
- Look at safeguarding transgender, non-binary and gender diverse young people – is being gender diverse or non-binary a safeguarding issue?