Take your time
Firstly, never feel rushed or pressured to work out who you are. You are growing and developing every day and working through that to find who you are doesn’t need to happen overnight.
Secondly, when you are ready, talk to someone you trust. If you are unsure, speak to a professional.
Services for Young People LGBT+ youth projects are safe and confidential spaces where you can talk to qualified Youth Workers in person. Join your local project to get support, meet other young trans people in your area and take part in activities and events.
Online information and support
There is a lot of information on the internet but sometimes this can be confusing, so make sure you use nationally-recognised and trusted sites for information and support. The websites below contain useful information around gender identity and gender transitioning and some also offer support to young people and parents/carers as well as professionals working with young people.
The NHS gives some good advice about the common health and wellbeing issues that many trans people experience including how to find a Gender Identity Clinic.
Mermaids provides online support for children and young people up to 19 years old suffering with issues with their gender identity, their families and friends.
Gendered Intelligence works predominantly with the transgender community and specialises in supporting young trans people aged 11-25.
The Mix is an online guide to life for 16-25 year-olds in the UK. If you’re feeling confused about your gender, it can be an isolating time. Their Young and Trans page can help you understand the different issues trans young people face.
Brook The Brook website has a great section on gender.
GIRES (Gender Identity Research & Education Society) works to improve the lives of trans and gender non-conforming people, including those who are non-binary and agender. Visit their site to find out what support they offer.
Information about Hertfordshire's Transgender and Non-Binary Support Group
Message of support to the trans community
To mark Trans Awareness Week 2020, Services for Young People partnered with Herts Police and other organisations which support transgender people in Herts to create this video; a message of support to the trans community.
The film is introduced by Chair of the Herts Police LGBT+ Network, Inspector Steve Alison, and it features Hate Crime Officer, Terasa Holden, and YCH SfYP LGBT+ Youth Work Development Worker, Anna Perry. Two young people, Jo and Kaitlyn, also describe their experiences of being trans in Hertfordshire and how they have benefitted from attending the SfYP Who Not What Project and the Herts Transgender and Non-Binary Support Group, respectively.
All partners are dedicated to ensuring that the local trans community, along with the wider LGBT+ community in Herts, feels safe and knows where to go for support. Victims of hate crime are reassured that they will be taken seriously and treated with sensitivity.
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