Our Theory of Change - Version 2

Our Purpose

Beyond Reflections exists to improve the mental wellbeing, safety, and inclusion of trans+, non-binary and gender-questioning adults, and to support the families, allies, and organisations around them to be actively inclusive.

The Challenge We Address

Many trans+, non-binary and gender-questioning adults experience:

·       Social isolation and exclusion

·       Discrimination, stigma, and misunderstanding

·       Barriers to affirming mental health and wellbeing support

·       A lack of safe spaces to explore identity and build community

At the same time, families, allies, employers and service providers often want to be supportive but lack the knowledge, confidence and tools to do so effectively.

These factors contribute to poorer mental wellbeing, reduced life opportunities, and ongoing inequality.

What We Do (Our Activities)

We respond to these challenges through a combination of direct support, community building, and education:

Support & Wellbeing

·       Peer support groups (online and in-person)

·       One-to-one emotional and practical support

·       Counselling and therapeutic services

·       Social groups, drop-ins and community events

·       Mentoring and mediation for families and relationships

·       Third-party hate crime reporting support

Community & Volunteering

·       Safe, affirming spaces led by lived experience

·       Volunteers supporting facilitation, mentoring and outreach

·       Opportunities for leadership and peer connection

Education & Training

·       Trans awareness and allyship training

·       Inclusion training for workplaces and organisations

·       Specialist training for counsellors and professionals

Income from training supports subsidised services and hardship funding.

How Change Happens (Our Logic)

Short-Term Outcomes

People who engage with Beyond Reflections:

·       Feel safer, seen and less alone

·       Gain greater understanding of themselves and their identity

·       Increase confidence and emotional resilience

·       Build trusted peer connections

Families, allies and professionals:

·       Improve their understanding of gender diversity

·       Gain confidence in how to be supportive and inclusive

Medium-Term Outcomes

·       Reduced isolation, stress and emotional distress

·       Improved mental wellbeing and coping strategies

·       Stronger peer and community networks

·       Healthier relationships with family, partners and colleagues

·       Organisations embed more inclusive policies and practices

Long-Term Outcomes & Impact

·       Sustained improvements in mental wellbeing

·       Strong, connected trans+ communities

·       Reduced discrimination and exclusion

·       More inclusive workplaces, services and communities

Ultimate impact:
A society where trans+, non-binary and gender-diverse people are free to live authentically, with dignity, safety, and equal opportunity.

How We Know It’s Working

We monitor and evaluate our work through:

·       Attendance and engagement data

·       Participant feedback and wellbeing surveys

·       Qualitative stories and lived-experience insights

·       Training evaluations and follow-up with organisations

This helps us improve services and demonstrate impact to all stakeholders.

What We’re Still Improving

We are committed to continuous learning and recognise that a strong Theory of Change evolves over time.

Current Areas for Development

·       More standardised outcome measures to track wellbeing change over time

·       Clearer outcome data by group (members, families, organisations)

·       Stronger long-term follow-up, where appropriate and safe

·       Formal feedback loops so learning consistently informs service design

How We’re Addressing This

·       Introducing clearer outcome indicators alongside qualitative feedback

·       Strengthening evaluation of training and organisational change

·       Building regular review points into programme planning

·       Working with members and volunteers to co-design evaluation approaches