Annual Report 2012/13 “My life has changed beyond belief. Your loving support saved me.� Sarah
“I had no idea that so many people cared about women like me.� Kay
Welcome This year we have celebrated some tremendous successes. Most importantly, a record-breaking 39 women escaped the streets – an incredible, courageous achievement for each and every one and a privilege to witness. In a year of considerable economic challenges, we were uplifted by the success of our Auction Extravaganza in November. The night raised £24,000 and brought a room of 200 people to their feet to applaud our brave guest speaker, Kay. She spoke for us all when she said: “I never, ever knew before how many people support One25. It’s moved me to tears...it’s totally blown me away. I had no idea that so many people cared about women like me.” Being a small part of the loving community that is One25 makes me feel humbled and blessed. You inspire me.
Mary McGinty
None of this could happen without the amazing effort and time given by so many people – staff, volunteers, trustees, funders and supporters - who faithfully donate, join events, bake cakes, give clothes and so much more. In a world where reduced funding and cuts are impacting on our services a huge heart-felt thanks to everyone, for without you, we could not continue to give love, care and support to the women.
Mary McGinty, Chair of Trustees
39
women stopped street sex working
A night on the van 8.45pm: It’s a warm Tuesday evening. Anne, Sarah and I pack food bags, load the van; log in with Police and set off. It’s busy tonight. We share hot drinks; food; condoms and information about One25. Jenny, newly released from prison, praises the clothes packs and visits. Tracey hasn’t eaten today, she looks thin. Leigh has been in pain for a week. Rosie has debts. We drive up to a woman we don’t recognise – slim, blonde, standing alone – but she gets into a car. 11.55pm: : On our way back we see a terrified young woman at the road-side: so weak we help her onto the van. Nicky, size 4, speaks in whispers. She hasn’t eaten for over two days, is homeless and pregnant. We give her sweet tea, extra sandwiches
Many rely on food packs
“Nicky, size 4, speaks in whispers. She hasn’t eaten for over two days.” and cakes. We take her number but before we can help further, beautiful Alice gets on in tears. Alice is sleeping on friends’ sofas and has relapsed into drug use. 12.40am: We return to base after a challenging evening, grateful to hand over to staff who will follow up tomorrow with much-needed support. Carol Stanaway, Volunteer and Trustee
Carol and the team set off
Friendship in a crisis
“I was hungry, cold and lonely and you were there for me, like a beam of sunshine in the dark sky.” Chrissie
A moment in drop-in It’s 7.30am. As I boil the kettle the doorbell rings. Sally, one of our regular women, is in floods of tears, shaking and holding her head in her hands. “I got no one and nowhere else to go Tash, I’ve been out all night, I’ve made no money and I can’t stand it no more. Please let me in: I feel like I’m going mad.” We sit down with a cup of tea and Sally rests her head on my shoulder. She looks exhausted. I’ve been working with Sally for years. Her mental health has deteriorated as she suffers more abuse on the streets. Her benefits are often suspended and her home is in jeopardy because of rent arrears.
“I’m old and tired Tash,” she says. “I just don’t want to be here any more.” “Sally,” I say, “you’ve got to let us help you. Step by step we can sort out your housing and finances and get you safe and well again. You’re not on your own. I promise you Sal, it can be done.” “I love you and this place, you never turn us away,” she says. “Now Tash, can I have some toast with that tea?”
Tasha Cornwell, Drop-in Caseworker
Our drop-in haven
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We give hope
Women paint the yard
women were more safely housed
Casework Highlights
2012/13 September 2012 Petra trains the postgraduates Service user, Petra, made a training video for Social Work students at Bristol University. This was therapeutic for Petra and better equips future social workers to support Petra trains students
abused children. (See Petras story on page 9)
November 2012 Art Exhibition The women showcased their creativity with an art and poetry exhibition at Hooper House Café. Launched in ‘End Violence Against Women and Girls’ week, this exhibition Art Exhibition
demonstrated that everyone deserves to be valued, safe and to receive justice.
“I love the community feel here and how passionate all the staff and volunteers are about their work with the women!” Charlie, Volunteer
JANUARY 2013 Played in Chelsea Sandra drew on her experience and wrote a play about addiction. In January she excitedly told us that she’d won a national playwright award and her play was showing at Played in Chelsea
the Royal Court Theatre in Chelsea!
MARCH 2013 One25 wins an award! We were honoured to become a ‘National Ugly Mugs Star Project’, for our work promoting safety and justice to the women. NUM Awards
April 2013 Training the Police Our caseworkers Hazel and Karen trained new recruits encouraging them to use their position as Police to promote change in women’s lives and treat them with Police Training
14
respect and understanding.
women became volunteers and 9 got jobs
“ I feel hugely privileged to help.” I first came across One25 at The Funding Network. At this event, charities have seven minutes to convince potential donors to support their project and One25 secured over £4,000 for a new kitchen! One of the great things about One25 is that I can support in so many enjoyable ways without committing too much time. I love baking, so I make cakes for drop-in; I’ve collected clothes from my friends and, being an avid Twitter fan, I can spread the word about One25 in an instant! All very enjoyable, but crucially it’s supporting the serious cause of helping women trapped in street sex work to turn their lives around. I feel hugely privileged to be able to help such a great charity. Helen Wilde, Supporter
Homemade cake with love
The Funding Network
We love clothes donors!
Wow I must be something if people out there care about my future! It’s so easy to feel I have no worth so that’s amazing to hear.” Jen
Petra’s story I feel happy now, even though I don’t have much materially. Success to me is that my children and grandchildren are healthy and they’re still in my life. That’s my wealth. Family means a lot when you grow up without a proper one. I grew up in Yorkshire and life went well ‘til I was eighteen months and Mum’s husband tried to drown me. They divorced and she married my adopted Dad, but he sexually abused me. I told the Police and Mum but they never did anything, so I ran away and at fourteen started prostitution to feed myself. Two years later, Mum died and I began using drugs to block out the hurt.
“We had each other’s backs but life was hard for us...” I came to Bristol and got an abusive boyfriend, Rex. There was a group of us ladies working the squares. We had each other’s backs but life was hard for us – I had Rex’s drug habit to maintain too. Looking back, each one of us could be dead now: from the drugs, punters and partners. I found the strength to leave Rex and started coming to drop-in three years ago. Here you’ve given me a place where I feel safe at last: loved, accepted and helped. Staff, volunteers, people who send in money: you’re all there for us. You’re our family. I loved getting my cooking certificate here and I love making arty
things for the home - it helps me focus on the good I’m doing now. What are my goals in the next few years? Hopefully a new telly! Haha, no really I’d like a job so I don’t have to rely on benefits. I’m also working with the Police on getting justice against Dad, building up their evidence: that’s therapeutic in itself. I just love this place – my family – for the support you give me. And I’m sure it’s the same for each woman here. Have you ever known a time when so many women were getting clean from drugs and making something of themselves? We couldn’t do it without this place. Yes, everything’s better than it has ever been and I’m happy at last.
Petra: artist, cook and total star
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand pounds. For One25’s full accounts for 2012/13 please see www.charitycommission.gov.uk
The year ahead As this report has shown, One25 has celebrated a number of successes in the last year, not least the number of women whose lives have been turned around and the wonderful community support we received at our fundraising events. As I look forward, however, it is plain that we are facing a big challenge, as the economic climate makes it increasingly tough to raise enough funds. Some donors, who are feeling the pinch, are reducing their giving - last year, donations fell by over £40,000. This makes it harder to respond to the women’s requests for new services. As a result, we plan to work harder than ever and use our creativity and resources to become a stronger One25. Our volunteers are a key resource and play a vital part helping women make steps away from the streets. Over the next year we will review our support and training so
that volunteers increase their expertise in caring for each woman; whether out on the night van, in drop-in or behind the scenes. We will also be improving how we measure our impact on women’s lives. This includes capturing difficult measurements, such as an increase in a woman’s sense of selfworth and spotting any gaps in support. This information will enable us to target our limited resources on what works best. Our hope is that in the coming year, despite the challenges we face, we can help more women to escape the streets and fulfil their potential. Gill Nowland, CEO
“My dream for the future is to have a home, be drug free and have new job. Above all that, to have my children back.” Sian
our mission One25 reaches out to women trapped in or vulnerable to street sex work, supporting them to break free and build new lives away from violence, poverty and addiction. one25 The Grosvenor Centre, 138A Grosvenor Road, Bristol BS2 8YA tel: 0117 909 8832 fax: 0117 941 2382 email: office@one25.org.uk online: www.one25.org.uk blog: www.one25blog.com facebook.com/one25charity
@one25charity
youtube.com/one25tv
one25 Limited is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England. Reg. No. 3362644. It is registered as a charity. Reg. No. 1062391. Registered office: The Grosvenor Centre, 138a Grosvenor Road, St. Pauls, Bristol BS2 8YA Please recycle when finished with. Design & Production: nicjonesdesign.com