Trans BootCamp (360G-ThriveLDN-341)

Trans BootCamp is an empowerment programme for trans women, which is designed and delivered by trans women working collaboratively with 56 Dean Street (Europe’s busiest sexual health clinic), 56T (Dean Street’s trans health and wellbeing service), and CW+ (the charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust). The project was originally conceived and will be led by Rebecca Tallon de Havilland, Ireland’s first transgender woman, and trans campaigner. Numerous studies of trans people over the last two decades highlight health issues associated with this group of people. This includes mental health, and quality of life outcomes, including high rates of depression and anxiety, low self-esteem, problematic alcohol and drug use, high levels of HIV and suicide in the trans people. Recent studies (Transforming Outcomes report by the LGBT Foundation and the Government’s National LGBT Survey) continue to reveal disturbing patterns of mistreatment and discrimination, and startling disparities between trans and cisgendered people when it comes to the most basic elements of life, such as finding a job (up to 25% less likely to be in paid employment than a cisgendered person), having a place to live (1 in 4 trans people are discriminated against when seeking rented accommodation), accessing medical care, and enjoying the support of family and community. Trans BootCamp was piloted in 2017 and in 2019 with promising results, 100% of participants reported improved health and well-being, and increased skills and confidence. One participant said: “I'm a trans woman in the earlier stages of my transition. Trans BootCamp was excellent; the information I got from it has really helped with my transition and helped set my future goals. And I've been able to pass some of it on to others.” In the next year, the overarching aim of Trans BootCamp is to enable trans women to thrive in all aspects of their lives. It will support up to 15 trans women, of various ages, living in London and beyond, and aims to deliver the following outcomes: - To improve the health and wellbeing of 100% of participants - 100% increase in the skills and confidence of participants - An increase of at least 60% in the number of participants securing paid employment or volunteering opportunities - More confident and knowledgeable about access health and social care, in at least 70% of participants - To reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation of by bringing trans women together.