An LGBT youth charity trained volunteers to tell self-harming children to use “clean razor blades” instead of discouraging them from cutting themselves, a whistleblower has claimed.
The allegations suggest that managers at LGBT Youth Scotland said if a child was hurting themselves as a “coping mechanism”, then it would be wrong to “take that away from them”.
The whistleblower reported the group to the Scottish charity regulator after being given what they described as “shocking and callous” instructions about dealing with young people who were intentionally injuring themselves, according to The Times.
The volunteer said they challenged the policy in October 2023 – but were “dismissed” by managers who “didn’t see the issue” and defended self-harm as children “might not have any other ways of coping”.
A whistleblower said managers at LGBT Youth Scotland told self-harming children to use ‘clean razors’
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They believed the “shocking, callous and reckless” instructions could be interpreted by vulnerable young people as “a sign of encouragement” to continue their self-harm.
Instead, they argued that youths who self-harm should be referred to mental health services and “encouraged to find other ways of coping that don’t involve self-harm”.
The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) confirmed it had “engaged” with the charity following the complaint about self-harm advice, and said the organisation had “reviewed” its policies as a result.
OSCR has now concluded its inquiry, saying it was “satisfied” with actions taken by LGBT Youth Scotland.
A spokesman for the regulator specifically confirmed: “This was one of the areas on which we engaged with the charity and on which they reviewed their policies.”
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LGBT Youth Scotland receives more than £1million per year in taxpayer funding and is active in hundreds of Scottish schools
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LGBT Youth Scotland receives more than £1million per year in taxpayer funding and is active in hundreds of Scottish schools.
But the charity has faced severe criticism for its stance supporting puberty blockers and the promotion of gender ideology.
Last year, it described gender-affirming medical treatments as “wonderful” – despite safety concerns which led to them being banned.
The organisation has also been linked to previous controversies, including a child abuse scandal involving its former chief executive James Rennie, who was convicted in 2009 for his part in what was described as Scotland’s biggest paedophile network.
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Alba’s Ash Regan has warned of a ‘systematic erosion of child safeguarding’
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Last year, Rosie Millard, chairwoman of the BBC’s Children in Need charity, resigned over “institutional failure” in the handing out of grants to LGBT Youth Scotland.
Another controversy emerged when it was revealed that a convicted paedophile had helped write a “coming out” guide for the charity aimed at children.
In response, Ash Regan, a former SNP minister now with the Alba Party, warned of a “systematic erosion of child safeguarding” in Scotland.
“Serious questions must now be asked about governance – who is scrutinising these organisations’ real-world impact on our children?” she asked.
Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.