Our national free binder programme is still up and running, but applications are now closed until we have cleared the waiting list.
In the last year we have received over 365 applications – more than one each day. As a small transgender led charity we cannot meet this demand.
We are working hard to secure funds so we can clear the waiting list as soon as possible – we don’t want anyone to have to wait, or to bind using something unsafe. For the future, we anticipate opening applications once a year during Trans Awareness Week in November, until we reach the number we can afford to purchase (usually around 120). This way we can get them out to folks right away in time for the summer holidays.
This reinforces the need for access to puberty blockers and top surgeries, as well as publicly funded binders.
Our goal is to make puberty blockers and top surgeries, as well as binders, accessible through the public health system. You have a right to appropriate healthcare, and that includes medical prosthetics such as binders. The government needs to make sure that the public health system provides these.
We recommend talking to your local MP about better funding for trans health, and asking your GP to request that the local District Health Board (DHB) provides these medical devices.