Charity Awards 2010: Winner: One25
One25 reaches out to women trapped in street sex work, supporting them to break free and build new lives away from violence, poverty and addiction. We provide around 200 women each year with hope and practical care through our four services: outreach, drop-in, casework and our mother and baby home.
"Lisa's" story is typical: "When I was a child, dad used to beat us and at 14 he started to have sex with me. I was totally messed up and confused and kept getting into trouble with the police. I got pregnant and they took my little girl away. I was forced to work on the streets by a man who promised me love and I started to smoke crack though I didn't really know what it was. I walked the streets, selling myself every day."
Of the women we see on the streets, 66% are homeless, 99% are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol and all are chronically ill. Last year, they suffered 173 violent attacks and in the last 7 years, 13 young women have died. Yet without intensive support it's almost impossible to escape.
One25 has enabled Lisa (not her real name) to transform her life: "My caseworker has helped me to get my daughter back, to learn to read and write, taken me to a parenting course, helped me with getting a safe place to live and managing normal daily things that I couldn't before."
We are committed to seeing these vulnerable women set free from all forms of abuse. We strive to see them reach their full potential. And we strongly believe that they have the right to access support services without fear of stigma or prejudice. Through these objectives, we ensure that women like Lucy are able to take control of their own lives and have a brighter future.
one25.org.uk
This article was amended on 1 October 2014 to remove some personal details at the request of the charity.