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Status
Received: on time
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Income
£0.6K
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Spending
£0.5K
Public benefits
The trustees of the Belfast Butterfly Club believe that both our purposes satisfy both elements of the public benefit requirement. Purpose 1. The direct benefits which flow from Purpose 1 are an improvement in overall mental health and well-being leading to an improved quality of life, a reduction in social isolation and marginalisation, improved
self-confidence and self-acceptance as a result of the easing of fears and concerns about gender identity issues, a reduction in drug and alcohol addiction, depression, self-harm and suicide arising from the provision of practical information and advice. These benefits are evidenced by the feedback which we receive from our clients both in person and in writing as well as in surveys carried out independently. There is no harm accruing to anyone which is attributable to this purpose. The charity’s beneficiaries in relation to this purpose are transgendered people (i.e. transvestites and transsexuals), their families and friends in Northern Ireland, including those who volunteer to help the charity achieve its purposes, all of whom are themselves transgendered. No distinction is drawn between our members and other service users (who choose not to become members) in relation to access to our services. There is no private benefit to our trustees or others flowing from this purpose as none of our trustees is transgendered, we have no paid staff and our volunteers are included in our target group of clients. Purpose 2. The direct benefits which flow from Purpose 2 are a greater awareness of gender identity issues and more informed understanding of transgendered people within society in general, leading to less irrational fear which can be the cause of threatening and anti-social behaviour towards transvestites and transsexuals. These benefits are evidenced by the powerful message of social inclusion and equality which is beginning to get through to key persons in government, government agencies and even the media, challenging prejudice and starting to remove obstacles to acceptance and respect. Changes in legislation over recent years are evidence of this, leading to a gradual transformation in the prevailing social environment to one that is supportive and inclusive of transgendered people with an eventual reduction in the scope and frequency of unfair treatment of people who are transgendered, including discrimination in the workplace, barriers to access to a wide variety of health services and a denial of basic human rights. There is no harm accruing to anyone which is attributable to this purpose. The charity’s beneficiaries in relation to this purpose are the wider public which makes up society as a whole in Northern Ireland, including the media, health professionals, politicians and those who work for public authorities and have a part to play in furthering the equality and social inclusion agendas. There is no private benefit to anyone flowing from this purpose other than the incidental benefit of being able to live in a better informed and more inclusive society.
... [more] [less]What your organisation does
The Belfast Butterfly Club, founded in 1991 and accepted as a charity in 1993, is a support network for transgendered (transvestite and transsexual) people and their families across Northern Ireland. The struggle to understand and accept an identity at odds with the traditional male/female divide is a very difficult one and all transgendered people
face huge resistance from society as a whole in relation to gender identity. This has profound effects on personal health and well-being. To help alleviate the resulting high levels of emotional stress the organisation provides a telephone helpline service (028 9267 3720) every Wednesday (8pm to 10pm) with accompanying support meetings in Belfast and Lisburn. Other work includes preparing submissions on policy and equality initiatives, work with the PSNI, public conferences, training and developing the skills of volunteers, organising coming out events, updating the Club’s website, collating data for all the services provided as well as ongoing contributions to research and academic studies. There are no paid employees in the Belfast Butterfly Club. A Board of six non-transgendered trustees oversees a management committee composed of seven volunteers, all of whom are transgendered people. The organisation receives funding from charitable trusts as well as donations from members and supporters but no Government funding is currently provided.
... [more] [less]The charity’s classifications
- The advancement of education
- The advancement of health or the saving of lives
- The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
Who the charity helps
- General public
- Men
- Mental health
- Women
How the charity works
- Advice/advocacy/information
- Counselling/support
- Education/training
- Gender
- Human rights/equality
- Medical/health/sickness
- Research/evaluation
- Volunteer development
