Supporting transgender young people in schools: guidance for Scottish schools

Additional resources

There are a number of organisations and resources which may provide help and support to schools, young people and their families.

There are a range of organisations which provide support and advice to young people about their wellbeing. Schools and education authorities will have local arrangements for the provision of support for health and wellbeing. National organisations can also provide advice and information to young people.

Childline

Can provide a source of advice and information and online support for all young people on their wellbeing.

https://www.childline.org.uk/

Young Scot

Provide young people with:

• a one-stop-shop of high quality information and opportunities through the national digital platform;
• opportunities and experiences through the Young Scot National Entitlement Card,
• opportunities to develop new ideas and solutions, to create positive change through our Service Design offer, and take part in participation initiatives through our Outreach Service and Schools Strategy.

https://young.scot/

LGBT Youth Scotland

Scotland's national charity for LGBTI young people, works with 13–25 year olds across the country. Their website includes resources, services and support for transgender young people (including online support). They support schools through the LGBT Schools Charter programme and provide training on supporting and including transgender young people.

Scottish Trans Alliance

Assists transgender people, service providers, employers and equality organisations to engage together to improve gender identity and gender reassignment equality, rights and inclusion in Scotland. Their website includes a wide range of information including links to support groups for parents. www.scottishtrans.org

Stonewall Scotland

Deliver training, produce resources and develop membership programmes to empower teachers and education professionals to tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in schools and colleges. www.stonewallscotland.org.uk

Time for Inclusive Education (TIE)

A Scottish charity that aims to combat homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in schools with LGBT-inclusive education. They provide a range of services, from teacher training to year group assemblies and various workshops. They also offer resources on cross curricular inclusion with a focus on LGBT History (Moments), LGBT role models (Icons) and a resource on LGBT groups in schools. www.tie.scot

Mermaids

UK wide charity that supports children, young people, and their families and works to raise awareness about gender nonconformity in children and young people. www.mermaidsuk.org.uk

Young People's Gender Service– Glasgow

A multi-disciplinary team based in Glasgow who specialise in working with young people aged 17 and under, experiencing uncertainty or distress about their gender. The Service provides clinical input for young people and their families from across Scotland, as well as consultation and training to professionals and other agencies.

https://www.ngicns.scot.nhs.uk/information/children-and-young-people/

The following resources can provide support to schools and schools staff to provide learning and teaching which is age and stage appropriate.

Films

My Genderation

A film project set up to record the experiences and perspectives of gender variance. Their mission is to create short films which accurately represent individual journeys relevant to gender expression and self-identity. Suggested films for use in Scottish schools include: Luke, Reuben, Rueben six months later, Captain Hannah and Private Mel.

www.mygenderation.com https://www.youtube.com/mygenderation

Channel 4: My transgender kid

Documentary about two British families who have gender non-conforming children. Useful introduction for staff, but developed for entertainment purposes. www.channel4.com/programmes/my-transgender-kid

Books

Suggested books for primary schools use are:

• Red, a crayon's story, by Michael Hall
• Are you a boy or are you a girl, by Sarah Savage and Fox Fisher
• I am Jazz, by Jazz Jennings (picture book)
• Introducing Teddy, by Jessica Walton
• Who are you, by Brook Pessin-Whedbee
• Suggested books for secondary schools to use are:
• The art of being normal, by Lisa Williamson
• I am J, by Cris Beam
• If I was your girl, by Meredith Russo
• Rethinking normal by Katie Rain Hill
• TransMission by Alex Bertie

Please note, the use of documentaries and books should be reviewed in advance to check whether content is age and stage appropriate

Other resources

Pop'n'Olly is an LGBT and equality educational resource used by children, parents, carers and teachers. There are a range of videos and books which support teaching and learning about equality, diversity and acceptance.