National Lottery branded ‘scandalous’ for funding organisation promoting puberty blockers guide

The National Lottery Community Fund has been criticised after funding The Love Tank, an organisation that published a guide advising young people about puberty blockers. The fund says its grant supported a separate health equity project, not the guide itself, while critics argue the organisation’s other material could put young people at risk.

The 53-page guide says puberty blockers have been used safely for decades and describes access from early puberty, while also directing readers to overseas suppliers and explaining cryptocurrency purchases. UK restrictions introduced in 2024 followed safety concerns raised by the Commission on Human Medicines and recommendations from the Cass Review. The Love Tank disputes the restrictions; the article also says the Wellcome Trust helped fund a separate booklet about self-managed hormone use.