A Bristol-based charity supporting women street sex workers in Bristol has reported a 44 per cent increase in woman using its services in the past year. One25 offers support through its outreach van, where charity workers and volunteers meet women every evening in the city. The women they meet live with the impact of trauma and violence and face challenges such as homelessness, addiction, and poor health.
One25 believes the increase in women using the outreach service is due to the multiple disadvantages that the women face, including barriers to safe accommodation. The women they work with have often had horrific experiences of physical and sexual violence, poor mental health, addiction to drugs or alcohol, as well as significant physical health needs. All these challenges have been compounded by effects of Covid, when One25 saw the needs of the women increase significantly.
This has been further exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis. READ MORE: Famed Indian restaurant owner shares favourite food spots READ MORE: Young people would have to 'give up coffee for 834 years' to buy a house The One25 van offers a safe space where people can just 'be' but also get much-needed information and supplies. Women can have a hot chocolate and a bag of food and they can pick up harm reduction packs, which include clean needles and Naloxone, a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose.
They can collect condoms and toiletries and have a conversation with some friendly faces. Th.