People don ’ t think of them in the same way as someone who is sleeping rough , and support services can often overlook or miss them . We were hearing from our staff that local sex workers were falling into this grey area – there ’ s been no dedicated service for them for years , even though many have complex support needs or backgrounds of trauma . Drug and alcohol use is prevalent within this cohort , and the risks and stigma they face on the streets is significant .

Northampton police had already set up an outreach programme , but it was struggling to engage – when the police show up people assume they ’ re in trouble . We ’ ve been able to step in and help bridge that gap . In March 2022

our street outreach team arranged to go with the police on their outreach sessions , to help create a more harmonious relationship between local sex workers , police and support services .

Since then we ’ ve continued to build on this relationship . We ’ ve created a very open space where we can sit down with people and chat about their situation and their needs . Some of the women have told us they ’ ve never had anyone take the time to find out what they want , and to understand the deeper level of their situation . We now have a permanent women-at-risk worker to support women who are sex working . Some of the women have disclosed sexual assaults to us , and we ’ ve been able to make them feel comfortable reporting their cases to the police . That may never have happened if we hadn ’ t been there to make that relationship easier .

It ' s been a massive catalyst in Northampton . We ’ ve gone from having nothing in place for sex workers – and no one supporting them – to a point where we have an established outreach programme . We have a community

hub with facilities , toilets , one-toone rooms , and even screenings for sexually transmitted infections . It ’ s also given us a base from which we can go out to meet the women and give them naloxone kits , clean injecting equipment , condoms and even their prescriptions . Thanks to our partnership with the housing charity NAASH and Northamptonshire Council , we now also have three flats where we can house people while they gain a level of security and stability .

One of the women we met with had been using heroin and crack and struggling badly with her mental health . Since we engaged with her she ’ s stopped sex working and she ’ s no longer using heroin . She ’ s now ready to move into one of our flats so she can fully engage with the support and treatment available to her . A case like hers just wouldn ’ t have been possible before .

For our service , it ’ s been about finding an approach that works for , and meets the needs of , a group who are so often stigmatised and overlooked . It can begin just by giving them a warm drink and the time , compassion and care they need to build trust

Some of the women have told us they ’ ve never had anyone take the time to find out what they want , and to understand ... their situation .

again . Once that happens , we can help them to find a roof over their head and the support they need .

Working with the women has been an inspiring and emotional experience for all of us , and it ’ s a relationship we plan on growing and developing into the future . If you ’ d like to know more about this project and our work in the area , you can find out how to contact the service on our website : changegrowlive . org / northampton .

Alesha Watkins is partnership development manager at Change Grow Live ' s Substance to Solution service

Janine Wiedel Photolibrary / Alamy