SUPPORTING vulnerable people when they need it the most. That is the name of the game for the Southend Transpire voluntary group.

It was set up in February 2016 by Gina Denham when it became apparent that there was little on offer in Southend for the transgender community, their family and friends.

Since that small beginning, in which the group was launched as a Facebook support forum, the organisation has grown from strength to strength - now boasting well over 200 members.

The group hosts regular meetings and Gina, 52, has started giving inspirational talks in schools about her transition journey and promoting the Transpire network.

Gina, who works as sergeant in the Basildon community policing team, has undergone gender reassignment surgery and is living life as a woman.

She said: “I am quite extrovert and I get really upset that some people are so isolated that they feel that they have nowhere to turn to.

“There is a lack of understanding and a lot of misunderstanding and I wanted to bring people together to share experiences and ask and answer questions.

“It was important for me because there was nothing in this town for the transgender community. There are just two gay bars.

“If you are trans, it is not necessarily about sexuality. I wanted to be inclusive, not divisive.

“It is empowering to meet people in your world and you can share experiences. At the beginning, you are full of self-doubt, but when you meet other people, you are inspired. I love it, we are heroes.

“Anyone can join the group, whether they are trans, an ally or a supporter.”

Since February, Gina has begun to influence positive change by speaking with schools about how they can support trans teenagers, such as introducing ‘gender fluid’ toilets.

As well as having social meetings, members of the group have also supported each other when attending GP appointments, offering a helping hand.

One person particularly affected by the group is mum-of-three Sam, 36, who has asked the Echo not to print her surname.

Her son Daniel, 15, wrote an email to her last year to explain that he was transgender and wanted to live life as a boy.

She said: “When he was younger, he played football and always wanted to wear boys clothes but I just put it down to being a tomboy.

“When Dan wrote the email I was completely gobsmacked, he said he had never seen himself as a girl.

“Since Dan has come out as being trans, it’s been brilliant. He had such severe anxiety. He was living a lie.”

Daniel has had his name changed by deed poll and has had meetings at the gender reassignment clinic.

Sam added: “It didn’t phase me at all. When you carry a child, you pray for it to be healthy. It doesn’t matter what gender it is.

“He is still the most amazing loving person and he makes me proud every day.

“At the beginning, it felt like I was in a role play but when I went to a Transpire meeting, everyone was living their life as they do. That’s when it clicked. The group has been a phenomenal help.”

The new group has also been nominated in the NatWest British LGBT awards. If the group wins, Gina feels that it can lead to a path of more opportunities.

She said: “It’s been a brilliant 2016 for me personally, but there is a lot more we can do.”

Visit transpiresouthend.org