Transgender children’s charity Mermaids under investigation

The UK Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into transgender children’s charity Mermaids, the regulator announced on Friday.

It follows the opening of a regulatory compliance case into the charity in September this year after safeguarding allegations were raised.

An inquiry has now been opened after new concerns were identified about Mermaids’ governance and management, according to the Commission.

The charity’s aims claim to be to relieve the mental and emotional stress of children and young people affected by gender identity issues and that of their families.

Opened on 28 November under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011, the inquiry will investigate whether Mermaids’ governance is appropriate in relation to the activities the charity carries out.

In particular it will examine the administration, governance and management of the charity by the trustees, whether they have fulfilled their duties under charity law, and whether there has been any misconduct and/or mismanagement.

The inquiry follows the resignation of Mermaids’ chief executive Susie Green in November after six years in the post.

It was announced in a statement on the charity’s website but no explanation was given about what was behind the move.

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