Our work includes:

• Making contact with women working as street sex workers in the areas where they work. Offering support, which is non judgmental and confidential.
• Providing advice, information and support on a broad range of health and personal safety related issues.
• Signposting women to other agencies where appropriate, offering advocacy and support.
• Distributing condoms, lubricants, personal alarms and ‘clean works’ to maximise the health and safety of the women.
• Informing women of dangerous ‘punters’ through the ‘ugly mugs’ scheme, with posters and description sheets (provided by the police & the users of the service).
• Holding topic based sessions on the van e.g. personal safety, drugs, Hepatitis B jabs as well as providing advice/information and appointments for the G.U. Medicine, Housing & Drug treatment services.
• Information and access to our intensive Recovery & Exit Support package, including a fast track referral to drug treatment agencies and supported housing, for women who have expressed a wish to exit street sex work.
• Encouraging peer education and training.
• A range of awareness raising and training opportunities for statutory and voluntary organisations that provide services to women working as street sex workers
• Representing SWWOP on various multi-agency bodies e.g. Sheffield Prostitution Forum, and Child Protection team to ensure the needs and views of women are taken into account in the discussion and decision making of other agencies.
  

Women working in street prostitution experience serious risks to their health through violence, drugs & unsafe sexual practices. This leads to long term effects on their welfare through difficulties they can experience in accessing broader opportunities such as education, training and secure employment.

There is also a conflict between a street sex worker's lifestyle and the way agencies operate, from appointment systems to opening hours, stereotyping, prejudice and different values. Also many of the women do not want to be identified as working in the sex industry.

Part of SWWOP's remit is to offer information /advice and comprehensive training to agencies on many of the issues street sex workers face, to increase awareness and responsiveness from mainstream services helping them to provide appropriate and accessible responses to this client group. By providing street based outreach and drop-in sessions and working alongside this vulnerable group, it is hoped to directly improve their health and that of the wider population via 'the punter' and to break down barriers to the women accessing services.