By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-03-25 10:03:18 | Updated at 2025-03-28 06:17:45
2 days ago
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'
PA
LGBT Youth Scotland receives more than £1million per year in taxpayer funding and is active in hundreds of Scottish schools
GETTY
Alba's Ash Regan has warned of a 'systematic erosion of child safeguarding'
PA
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.
