Pioneering trans+ fitness programme partners with NHS Trust helping trans+ people reach their pre-surgery goals

CCGS x Not A Phase will support the trans+ community in reaching their health/wellbeing goals during their gender-affirming surgery journey.

The Chelsea Centre for Gender Surgery (CCGS), TransPlus, and trans-founded and trans-focused UK charity, Not A Phase are proud to announce an exciting new partnership aiming to improve the lives of those pursuing gender-affirmation surgery. This is the first community-founded charity to partner with the UK’s leading NHS Gender Affirming Surgery service.

CCGS and TransPlus, both part of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, bringing clinical expertise in gender-affirming healthcare are joining forces with the ground-breaking Misfits fitness programme by charity Not A Phase — a nationwide network of inclusive, community-led classes created by and for the trans+ community.

Maintaining a safe and sustainable BMI can help reduce surgical risks and improve recovery outcomes. Accessible, community-focused fitness programmes like Misfits offer an affirming space to support trans+ people in preparing for surgery in a safe and supportive way.

At the 2024 World Professional Association for Transgender Health conference (WPATH), Rachel Oliver, Senior Clinical Fellow in Gender Surgery at CCGS, presented data showing that currently 26% of service users wishing to undergo feminising genital surgery exceed the upper BMI limit for surgery.

Rachel Oliver (she/her), Senior Clinical Fellow in Urology and Gender Surgery said: "Surgery is a deeply personal and affirming goal for many in the trans+ community, and we want to remove as many barriers to access as possible. We are very excited to collaborate with the Misfits team to help support our service users optimise their fitness and BMI for surgery in a way that is empowering, inclusive, and rooted in community."

Misfits connects gender-expansive trainers with trans+ inclusive venues, creating welcoming fitness environments that empower individuals and reduce barriers to movement and wellbeing. Through this partnership, CCGS and Not A Phase aim to bridge the gap between clinical care and community support, making fitness a meaningful and accessible part of gender-affirming journeys.

A spokesperson from Not A Phase shared. “Misfits was launched to meet urgent needs in the trans+ community for safe, inclusive, and accessible spaces in fitness and wellness classes. Since launching, around 80% of Misfits attendees report an improvement in health and wellbeing and sense of community. We’re proud to lead the free fitness, wellness, and self-defence movement for the trans+ community, and grateful for the recognition from CCGS, TransPlus, and the NHS for this vital work in trans+ wellbeing and healthcare.”

As part of this pilot, service users at CCGS and TransPlus will have access to over fifty Misfits classes across ten multiple locations nationwide — free of charge. As part of the ongoing collaboration, CCGS and TransPlus will be working closely with Not A Phase to develop digital fitness resources for service users across the country as well as other innovative resources. This partnership, bringing together NHS services and community initiatives, will evaluate the impact of trans-led coaching on pre-surgical preparation, long-term health outcomes and the broader wellbeing of participants.

This partnership represents a proactive, inclusive approach to healthcare that centres the lived experiences of the trans+ community.

CCGS Patients can access existing Misfits classes through clinician recommendation and online at Misfits – Not A Phase.