Fundraising for the Gender Identity Service at Yellow Door

Yellow Door's Gender Identity Therapy Service supports Children & Young People who experience significant distress in relation to gender. We provide family therapy for children under 12 and a weekly art & talking therapy group for 12-18 ‘s where we support young people to:
• Express thoughts & feelings that may be hard to put into words.
• Build social skills and confidence through exchange with others and participation in group activity.
• Explore thoughts and feelings about gender and related distress – considering the many possible contributing factors.
• Recognise and manage uncertainties about the future, holding in mind the many possible ways in which gender-related difficulties can develop, resolve or change over time.
• Look at things from different perspectives.
• Explore ways of coping with challenging experiences or emotions.
• Build on strengths & consider aspects of identity aside from gender.

The children and young people who use this service are often struggling with additional concerns. For example, 87% of those currently using this service have been diagnosed with or are awaiting assessment for autism and 40% have experienced domestic or sexual violence. These are typical examples of the feedback we receive:

“It would not be an exaggeration to say that Yellow Door saved my child. Struggling with gender dysphoria alongside autism in her early teens. Yellow Door provided a safe, non-judgmental space where she could start to explore who she was, meet other young people experiencing the same and for the first time in her life feel like she did have a place. Now P, who refused school and would not leave the house, is looking forward to starting college” (mum).

“This group is great and helps massively. They spoke to me and supported me with lots of issues. It was a place to talk and get support when I had no one else to speak to. Without it I don’t know where I would be. I have a long way to go but you and the group made me feel cared for and worth trying” (young person).

Due to cuts to local Child & Adolescent Mental Health Grants this financial year, this service is struggling to find sufficient funding to continue offering this important help. Any support you can give would be very much appreciated.