MORF Binder exchange scheme - Donations Needed!
http://www.gofundme.com/MORFbinderscheme
Since February 2011 MORF have been redistributing free binders to trans men, trans* masculine and GQ people all over the UK and around the world who need them. The free scheme (all you pay is the postage) has so far redistributed over 300 binders and we want to continue giving out as many as possible. The scheme has been a huge success and it is thanks to people donating their unused and unwanted binders and donating money so we can buy brand new ones for us to redistribute. The fundraiser is so we can buy some brand new binders to give out to people, as they are very expensive and not everyone is able to afford one. So if you can afford to give even a small amount to the total you will be helping towards getting someone to get a brand new binder for free.
A BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE SCHEME
As well as being involved with the transgender community in Manchester, the FTM group I help to run, MORF (morf.org.co.uk) set up a binder exchange scheme in 2011, and currently we have been fundraising to try and get a load of brand new binders to give to people as we have been running low. The basic premise of the scheme is to be the main point where people can send their old binders (chest compression vests and the like used before chest surgery) which we could then send out to people who need to use them. There was always a problem in the UK with getting binders, namely with how expensive they are individually, and then also adding the international postage costs on top of one binder could cost you well over £50, as there are no UK sellers. Even if you could afford this, there was no guarantee that it would suit you, be the right size, or be something you could be comfortable in for a lot of the time. Guys were putting up with ill-fitting binders and making do with homemade alternatives, like duct tape and wrap, which for obvious reasons is not a good way to be doing it, and could lead (and probably has to a lot of people) in permanent damage. So one of the old committee members, one of the guys who started MORF and a bloody awesome feller had the idea for the exchange scheme for binders, and myself and another guy from the committee weren’t working at the time so we had the time to put the idea into motion and we eventually came up with MORF Binders scheme, which I have been running myself since 2012. So far, from my records, we have given away pretty much over 300 binders to people who request them and even though the scheme was originally meant for the UK, but we started getting requests from further afield and I have sent binders to people across Europe, South America, New Zealand, India... and loads more places! It’s really cool to be able to be in a position to help people and to be in touch with someone even for a short while and have a shared connection with people so far away, and be able to help them and get them what they need to help with their transition, and provide them a safe/better way of being able to be themselves. There have been problems along the way and I have learnt from my mistakes, some of which include the school boy errors of sending the wrong binders to people and to the wrong address, but so far now I have gotten into a good rhythm of running the scheme and it is going as strong as ever now! Something that has surprised, is the amount of generosity of the community, sending binders and donating cash so that we can buy new ones to give to people who are desperately in need. Alex Bertie gave us the idea for the first fundraiser in 2013 and we raised £750 and bought around 30 brand new binders to give out to people for free! I don’t think people can understand how integral a compression vest is to help with how you feel about your gender identity before you can have chest surgery. I couldn’t leave the house without wearing one and it stopped me from doing a hell of a lot of things I enjoyed – and now I can enjoy so many things and feel so much more in tune with myself now I don’t have to worry about it. It also feels mighty good to know that my old binders went to someone who also needed them as much as I did. If you have old binders you want to give to the scheme email me at [email protected] and I can give you the info you need to get them to us, and if you would like to donate even the smallest amount you know it will be going to help give someone the confidence to get out there with a safe way of binding. Thank you in advance, Elliott
