Gendered Intelligence

Are you a young trans/non-binary/gender diverse person who'd like to learn how to make a short film?

We're excited to be joined by volunteers from Discovery Channel UK who are hosting a film making and storytelling workshop with us on Friday, 21st of September in London. 

The Equality and Human Rights Commission are producing a short, two minute film to raise awareness and understanding of trans issues and the need to support young trans people in schools.

The film will focus on the personal stories and experiences of trans people and will be led by one of Britain’s most successful cyclists of all time, Philippa York. It will be a hopeful and empowering film, but also a plea for tolerance and respect.

What’s required?

We would like three trans people aged between 18 – 20 to participate in the film. This would involve an afternoon of filming in London where they will take part in a filmed discussion with Philippa York. We hope that the discussion will be an open and honest conversation about their experiences both at home and at school.

Participants would also need to take part in a briefing chat with the film’s producer, Grace Campbell, a few days before filming.

Travel expenses for participants will be covered.

The film will be published on the EHRC’s website, YouTube channel, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, as well as being shared with key stakeholders to supplement written guidance for schools that will be published later in the year.

When? The production company Silverfish will be filming in London on Thursday 22 May from 1pm.

Are you waiting for a referral to Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health or are an existing client there? Tomorrow we're launching a support line for you! You can be at any stage in the assessment or treatment process to make use of the helpline.

You can call us for: advice on preparing for your first appointments; information about the gender care service at NCTH; support with holistic well-being; signposting to community and support organisations.

We're delighted to launch a new Saturday group for Under 12s in January! The new group is dedicated to trans, gender diverse and questioning 8-11 year olds and run by our Youth Work Lead Finn Greig.

For the first session on the 27th of January, parents and siblings are invited to take part. We want to know your thoughts about how the group should be run.

We hope that the new group will be a fun and safe space where young people can be themselves and make friends.

Find out more: http://bit.ly/under12s

NHS England has released two draft service specifications for gender identity services - these set out a new way that services will work and what they will offer people using gender identity clinics.

On 11th of September Gendered Intelligence is hosting a focus group so trans, non-binary and questioning young people can find out more about the new plans and share their thoughts. It will run from 6pm-8pm in London.

It's a great way to have your views heard without filling in a survey and a chance to find out what other young people think.

We made it!

Thank you to everyone who has donated and shared the fundraising page over the past month. Every single pound donated helped us get there. We're so proud of our community for supporting our trans youth and smashing our target

A hugely generous donation from Kate Moross got us over the finish line! 💖

You'll never know how much camp means to the young people who come along (unless you're an former camper who donated).

Only 2 days left to raise money for this year's transgender youth camping trips! Here our camping trip leads Finn and Jake tell you how you can support trans youth to go camping.

We are taking 70 young trans people camping in August, and covering 40 full bursary places. We couldn't do it without your support. In our experience, coming on the camping trip has a huge impact on the life of a young person. It gives them a chance to take a break from everyday life where they often find it difficult to be fully themselves because of prejudice and misunderstanding.

We're delighted to announce that we're offering a two-day writing for theatre workshop NEXT WEEK at the Royal Court Theatre, run by award-winning playwright Jon Brittain.

WRITING FOR THEATRE WORKSHOP

Thursday 6th July, 6-9pm Saturday 8th July, 9.30am-12.30pm

A two day writing workshop at the Royal Court Theatre run in collaboration with Gendered Intelligence and facilitated by Olivier Award-winning playwright Jon Brittain for adults who identify as trans and/or non-binary.

This is a workshop for anyone who has a story they want to tell. Over the two days we'll be talking about how to create characters and plot, how to start writing, how to keep on going, and how the medium of theatre is different to any other. It'll be a fun, informal and inclusive discussion about what it means to write a play.

The workshop will also be about skills sharing and bringing participants’ experiences together. You don’t have to have much experience of writing to register for this workshop. The workshop is open to people aged 18 +. Spaces are limited so apply soon - first come first served.

To book, email [email protected]

EXCITING NEWS! This Saturday 24th June we are starting our Gendered Intelligence under 25s Swimming Club with London Trans And Gender non-conforming Swimming group🌈☀️🏊🏻🌈

Swimming is open to young trans, gender variant and questioning young people up to age 25. You will be asked to fill out a GI membership form if you come along. If you are under 18, we will need consent from you parent/carer.

If you are a parent/carer who would like to give your consent, please email [email protected] before 12pm on Saturday, 24th of June.

If you'd like to come swimming with us or come to see the pool and decide later, we'll be leaving as a group after the Saturday session at our offices at VAI (200a Pentonville Road N1 9JP) at 5pm.

If you aren't coming to the afternoon session, meet us at Elephant & Castle tube at 6pm PROMPT. Take the exit for the shopping centre.

Swimming is from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

Please bring: swim costume of your choice, towel, shower gel etc. £1 coin or trolley token for the locker (you get this back), a bottle of water, snack.

You may wish to bring goggles or pool toys too. We only have a few spare swimming outfits.

Travel bursaries (only if you really require) are available. The swimming is FREE, but if you can make a donation it will go towards continuing the project after November when its funding runs out. If you are coming to the Saturday Session earlier that day, get a day travel card and your bursary at the session.

Future dates for swimming:

Gendered Intelligence is recruiting for a new full-time Office Administrator for our London office. Could it be the job for you?

To find out more and read the job description, visit: http://genderedintelligence.co.uk/about/join-the-team

Only one week left to register to vote in the 2017 General Elections!

(Cross-posted from Gendered Intelligence blog) 

On Saturday 6th of May, we ran our annual day about careers and interests for young trans people in London, Imagining Our Futures 2017.

In the morning we invited 15 diverse employers and organisations to run stalls and chat to attendees about what they can offer to trans people.

We were delighted to have stalls from Accenture, Amazing Apprenticeships, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, Diversity Role Models, EY, London College of Beauty Therapy, Media Trust,  Ministry of Justice/Civil Service, NHS Employers, NUT, Royal Mail, Soho Theatre, Stonewall, TfL, with Institute of Physics, Royal Astronomical Society and National Physical Laboratory on one stall.

A group of trans teachers from the NUT  ran a workshop about what it’s like being trans as a teacher alongside the careers and interests fair.

At the beginning of the day we asked young people to share their concerns about their future at work or following their interest. Their comments demonstrated that there is still a lot of fear and apprehension around what it means to be trans at work. They are concerned about “being viewed as inferior compared to others”; “getting discriminated against” and “being outed against my will”.

Imagining Our Futures gives young trans people a chance to talk to employers and organisations about careers and projects that interest them. More importantly, those employers have an opportunity to tell young trans people that they are welcome in the workplace. Many organisations now recognise the value of a diverse workforce. Resilience and self-knowledge are assets. Imagining Our Futures provides a space for employers to communicate their message that trans people have a place in their workforce.

During the afternoon session, ten adult trans professionals with a range of backgrounds spoke to the audience of young trans people and their parents/carers about their experiences of being trans in the workplace. Just under half of them were non-binary. We heard from an academic, a London Underground driver, a video games developer, a charity filmmaker, a graphic designer, an archaeologist, an IT engineer at Mars, a software developer, a consultant and a primary school teacher.

Our speakers did not shy away from issues that they had encountered at work. They spoke about instances of being misgendered and when other’s lack of knowledge had created tricky moments for them. Everyone had experienced challenges and looked for advice and support from their employer, union or wider networks of friends, mentors and allies.

However, our speakers’ experience of work were overwhelmingly positive. Their employers had been accommodating and supportive and in general they were able to be themselves at work. Many found that their work improved once they felt comfortable in themselves .

At the end of the day, we asked all the young people who attended for their reflections about Imagining Our Futures 2017. Here are some highlights:

“The job fair was interesting – I felt like something positive could come out of it and it was great to speak to real people.”

“The employers I spoke to had a great attitude.”

“This morning’s careers fair showed us that employers are keen to diversify and appeal to trans people.”

“I have learnt that workplaces are accepting.”

“Thinking about a career is usually daunting, but today has given me a lot of confidence. I feel like I have a future as a trans person. “

“It’s reassuring to know that I have options in the future.”“It’s good that the fair focused on the “T”. I graduated recently and have been to LGBT employment fairs where trans gets lost.”

“It’s been empowering and encouraging. We exist everywhere and it’s been great to see companies that value our individuality.”

“I now know there is a place for non-binary people in the workforce. I go by they/them and I see that I can do that in the future too.”

There is a lot of work to be done to make sure that young trans people are, and feel, safe to be themselves in all areas of their lives. Imagining Our Futures showed attendees that progress is being made and that they can have the future they deserve.

Every year in spring Gendered Intelligence runs a special event about young trans people's future at work and their interests.

This year, IOF will take place on Saturday, 6th of May.

This year’s event programme consists of a small careers/interests fair, a workshop with NUT LGBT teachers network about becoming a teacher, and our annual discussion panel about working or following your passion as a trans person.

The National Union of Teachers have kindly donated their hall at Hamilton House near Euston for Imagining Our Futures 2017.

Note about age ranges

For the Careers & Interests fair, our age range is 13-30.

For the afternoon session with guest speakers, the age range is the usual age range for Saturday sessions and goes up to 25 years old for young people.

Parents are welcome to attend the afternoon session (at 1.45pm)

Careers & Interests Fair

Time: 10.30-12.30

Age range: 13-30

We're kicking off with a small careers/interests fair. We have invited a range of different organisation to run stalls so young people can gain confidence in approaching employers and projects about opportunities.

Stall holders include: National Union of Teachers Media Trust NHS Employers TfL Stonewall Diversity Role Models London College of Beauty Therapy Amazing Apprenticeships Accenture Gendered Intelligence – find out more about our volunteering opportunities and more!

The National Union of Teachers LGBT network will also be running a workshop about being a teacher. This will take place at around 11.00. You can sign up on the day.

We'll be helping young people to navigate the space so no-one feels too nervous about chatting to stall holders.

Discussion panel for young people and parents

Time: 14.00-16.45 (arrive 13.45 to start on time)

Age range: Up to 25

What's it really like to be trans at work? We've invited trans people with a range of professional backgrounds and hobbies to speak about how they got to where they are now.

There will be plenty of time for young people and parents/carers to ask questions to the panel.

Afterwards the panel, you will be able to ask questions to our visitors about their experiences working in their chosen field, find out why they enjoy it, and maybe use that to inspire and help shape your own future - whatever that may be.

Note for parents and carers

As usual, parents/carers are welcome to attend the afternoon session (from 2pm) with or without a young person. Halfway through the afternoon session, the parents/carers group will move to a different room to run its usual support group session.

To attend GI events, parents and carers should become members. If you are not already a member, you will be asked to fill out a membership form on the day.

We ask that parents/carers allow their young people to attend the morning careers fair without them.

If you have any questions about this, please get in touch. Some parents/carers might like to meet others in reception to get coffee or lunch together outside. 

Practical Info

Date

Saturday 6 May 2017

Time

10.30am-12.30pm for careers and interests fair

2pm-4.45pm for "being trans at work" panel discussion with audience Q&A - meet at reception at 1.45pm

Location

NUT, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, Kings Cross, London WC1H 9BD (MAP)

We are using the hall at NUT for both events. It is one floor below reception. You can access the hall via the lift or stairs that you see at the far side of the reception.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Travel bursaries will be offered to those on a low income for up to £6 per person and you will only be reimbursed when you give us a receipt.