In spite of a lengthy campaign from anti-trans activists, the National Lottery in the UK has announced that Mermaids – a charity that supports trans and gender-diverse children – will receive £500,000 over the course of five years from the organisation.

Among the anti-trans campaigners was Father Ted writer Graham Linehan. In December 2018, Linehan urged the Lottery to withdraw funding from the children’s charity.

Linehan wrote on the parenting network Mumsnet:

“I was a bit knocked back today when I saw the story about Mermaids being given whatever insane amount it is from the National Lottery. The idea of 45 Mermaids clinics opening around the country is terrifying.”

After Linehan’s contribution, a number of other anti-trans campaigners complained to the National Lottery. The organisation then announced that they would undertake a review of Mermaids.

The National Lottery issued a statement this morning confirming that they are not withdrawing funding from the charity:

“Following public interest regarding the proposed grant to Mermaids UK, The National Lottery Community Fund undertook a review of a number of concerns expressed in relation to the charity.”

https://twitter.com/Mermaids_Gender/status/1097867934750396418

The statement continued:

“This review did not find any grounds to withhold funding from Mermaids UK. The grant has therefore been approved by the England Funding Committee. As part of our grant management process, we will work closely with Mermaids UK to ensure they are supported in their development.”

Mermaids CEO Susie Green welcomed the results of the review:

“For Mermaids, the review was an opportunity both to affirm the value of increasing direct support with local groups, alongside training delivery and research development and to demonstrate to the Fund that the charity was well positioned to produce and manage these initiatives.”

Green continued:

“Mermaids will now be able to do more to improve outcomes and experiences for transgender and gender-diverse children and young people.”