Not Alone

770. Erin King
771. Amber Evans

The support group has 130 members, including allies and family members, and the pair organise weekly peer support and guidance sessions as well as other events for the community, such as Transgender Day of Remembrance, Transgender Day of Visibility, and a Trans Zone at Plymouth Pride Festival.

The group collaborates with Devon and Cornwall Police by welcoming police officers to the weekly sessions, spreading the message of the police’s zero tolerance of hate crime, and offering the police advice on transgender issues. The pair are keen to use this partnership to establish ‘Not Alone’ as a third-party reporting centre for hate crime in the future. Their existing collaboration with the local police has contributed to transgender specific hate crime reported in the area increasing by 150% in the last quarter.

In a personal letter to Amber Evans and Erin King, Prime Minister Theresa May said:

“Through ‘Not Alone’ you are supporting Plymouth’s transgender and non-binary community, by helping to build an inclusive atmosphere of acceptance. I wish you every success in your continued work with Devon and Cornwall Police combating hate crime and providing peer support.”

Amber said:

“I am touched to receive a Points of Light award, especially so soon after creating ‘Not Alone’. There is still a lot of work to be done in raising trans visibility and helping improve understanding in all aspects of society. Thank you to everyone who regularly comes to the group, you have helped to make it what it is and continue to bring light and hope to the trans and non-binary community.”

Erin said:

“Local support and community can be vital for people during transition. We saw a need for this in Plymouth, and built ‘Not Alone’ to help trans and non-binary people in and around the city. It has been an honour to receive the Points of Light Award; to raise the profile of ‘Not Alone’ so we can reach more people when they need us.”