Bayswater Support Group
The Bayswater Support Group is a British support group for parents and guardians of children and young adults who identify as trans or non-binary. The group was formed in autumn 2019, when three parents who had met online arranged to meet in the London district of Bayswater. It now has members across the United Kingdom and Ireland.
What you can find
The website features articles, research, podcasts and videos, a list of ten tips, and frequently asked questions. Parents can sign up as members. The group also provides information to public institutions and speaks to the press.
Why it is included on this list
The group takes a cautious approach to medical solutions for gender dysphoria and wants room for exploration before transition is considered. This position is controversial. In the British debate surrounding the Cass Review, it is a frequently heard parental perspective.
Support for parents
Twenty-five members attended the first meeting in October 2019. There are now in-person meetings in Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Swindon. There are also online meetings, including separate sessions for parents of young adults, webinars with experts, a newsletter, peer-to-peer support by phone and a private forum. Dutch parents can find a similar support group at cryforrecognition.nl. The ten tips have been translated into several languages and served as an example for Aotearoa Support in New Zealand. The group is registered as a company in England and Wales and describes itself as optimistic, empathetic, supportive and evidence-based.
Influence on policy
The group submits representations to education, healthcare and government bodies. In December 2020, it welcomed the ruling on puberty blockers in the Bell v Tavistock case, and in April 2022 it signed an open letter in The Sunday Times calling for the bill on a conversion therapy ban to be put on hold. Bayswater was consulted in the decision on the ban on puberty blockers. In February 2026, the group brought a case before the High Court against the Secretary of State for Health over the PATHWAYS study on puberty blockers. The judge dismissed the claim on 31 July 2026. See the report on the ruling on the puberty blocker trial.
Criticism
In July 2024, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism published an investigation based on a year of messages from a private Discord group of members. According to the investigation, the group influenced the Conservative government’s policies, and members discussed, among other things, restricting internet access and isolating their children. In July 2025, the Trans Safety Network published testimonies from members’ children.