One25 posted this on 07/03/2024

Every International Women’s Day we reflect on the last 12 months: the challenges we’ve seen women confront and the brave steps they’ve taken towards recovery.

We’ve been doing this for almost 30 years, since our founding volunteers first built relationships with women street sex working in Bristol.

A lot has changed since 1995. Women we’ve worked with are living safer, more fulfilled lives. It feels like there’s more public awareness of issues affecting women who street sex work – and less tolerance for stereotyping and judgement.

But there is still much to do. We continue to meet women facing discrimination and violence. Last year 93% of the women we worked with had experienced domestic or sexual violence. 55% told us they’d experienced childhood abuse.

As well as providing crisis care for women who are in need now, we must take action to make sure fewer women have to endure these experiences in the first place.

At One25, this means supporting women to access healthcare and ensuring that services better understand the impact of trauma. Offering warmth and food to women on the streets and helping women navigate the housing system to find secure accommodation.

With your support, we can help women today and make Bristol a safer place for women in the future.

Set up a regular donation this International Women’s Day:

• A gift of £25 could pay for our freephone service for a month, keeping women connected to vital support.
• Over a year, a gift of £10 per month could train 2 outreach volunteers to take help and hope to women on the streets.