Transitioning is an affirming and euphoric process, but it can be tricky to navigate!

Lots of great information and resources about social, legal and medical transition can be found here: GenderKit 

To begin a medical transition, you’ll need to get referred to a Gender Identity Clinic (GIC). You can find information about the referral process and how to talk to your GP here: Gender Services – GenderKit 

Once the GP has referred you to the GIC, make sure to call or email them to confirm that your referral has been received. 

Indigo is an NHS adult gender service pilot delivering care in Greater Manchester. It works more closely with primary care (i.e, GPs) than traditional GICs, and is generally able to see people much more quickly. 

More information about Indigo and the referral process is available here: Indigo Gender Service 

Gender service pilot schemes are also available in Cheshire and Merseyside and London.  

To change your name legally, you’ll need to complete a deed poll. This is a document stating that you intend to use your new name in an official capacity for life.  

There are two types of deed poll: 

Enrolled Deed Poll: a deed poll which has been officially registered at the Royal Courts of Justice. 

Unenrolled Deed Poll: simple formal legal statement that you have changed your name. You can make this yourself without a solicitor, or parental consent if you’re over 16. 

Enrolling a deed poll is generally not needed, as unenrolled deed polls are accepted by the Passport Office. The process of enrolling a deed poll is optional and is not a legal requirement. It is unlawful for any organisation to refuse a name change on the grounds that a Deed Poll is unenrolled.

You can find more details about deed polls here: Deed Polls – GenderKit 

We also have a guide on the process here: Changing Details – LGBT Foundation 

Here is a template you can follow to make your own deed poll: Free Deed Poll Generator 

A Gender Recognition Certificate is a legal document that changes the gender listed on your birth, marriage and civil partnership certificates, with effects on your pension, prison and marriage rights. 

To get a GRC, you must:

1. Prove that you have been living in your ‘acquired’ gender for more than two years. 

2. Provide a medical report from your GP confirming your identity and that it will be permanent. 

3. Provide a medical report from a ‘gender specialist’ (usually from your GIC) detailing the support you’ve currently received.

Here is some information about the GRC process: Getting a GRC – GenderKit 

We also have a guide on the process here: Changing Details – LGBT Foundation 

Navigating social media can be really hard for us as trans and non-binary people. Online spaces can connect us with friends and provide crucial support, but also leave us vulnerable to bullying and hate.  

We’ve produced a guide to help you navigate online spaces while staying safe: Digital Self Harm – LGBT Foundation 

Our Community Safety team is here to support you when you’ve faced a hate incident.    

If you’re safe and ready to report, you can give us a call at 0345 3 30 30 30 or email helpline@lgbt.foundation.  

We deserve to have doctors, nurses and healthcare providers that treat us with dignity and respect. When this goes wrong, submitting a complaint can be an empowering part of seeking justice. 

If the issue is urgent, and you’re in a primary care setting such as a hospital, you can speak to the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), who can try and resolve issues informally with the hospital before you make a complaint.

When writing a formal complaint, there are two different bodies that you can complain to. You can either complain to the service provider directly or the commissioner of those services. 

The service provider would be, for example, the GP, dentist office, an NHS funded personal care facility, sexual health centre, physiotherapy clinic etc.  

The service commissioner is the body that pays for the service you accessed; most commissioners can be identified because they are called NHS Trusts. 

You would generally complain to the service if your complaint were more minor, or you don’t have to interact with the service on a regular basis. This is because some people feel uncomfortable directly complaining to a service that they rely on for regular care, as they may feel that they will be targeted and treated poorly because of their complaint.    

You would generally complain to the commissioner if the complaint is more serious, or if you feared any repercussions that a service might take against you for complaining.  

All the information you need to complain will be listed on the website of the service or commissioner.  

When writing a complaint: 

1. Keep it short and concise. 

2. Outline the facts of what happened, including dates, times and who was involved (and provide their contact details if possible).

3. Discuss how the incident affected you.

4. State what you’d like to happen because of the complaint (e.g., an apology. Bear in mind that public services (such as the NHS will be unable to provide compensation). 

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is an independent complaint handling service for complaints that have not been satisfactorily resolved by the NHS in England. You can find more information about the Ombudsman here: Making an Ombudsman Complaint 

You can find more information about complaining to the NHS here: NHS Complaints 

Bridging prescriptions are gender-affirming hormone prescriptions that can be issued to trans and non-binary people on the waiting list to be seen by a Gender Identity Clinic. Not all GPs will provide this service, but there’s no harm in asking!  

You can find out more about bridging prescriptions and how to self-advocate for them here: Bridging Prescription Self Advocacy – GenderKit 

All our events at LGBT Foundation are trans-inclusive – you can find a full directory of our upcoming events here: LGBT Foundation Events   

You can also find a list of groups in and around Manchester – List of Local Groups 

For local groups in your area, check out TransUnite’s directory: Local Groups 

Can’t find what you’re after? Create it yourself with support from our community organising guide: Guide for Community Organisers