Services for Vulnerable Women at The Foxton Centre

For over 20 years our Streetlink project has worked with Preston street sex workers

Streetlink is historically the name given to The Foxton Centre's outreach and intensive support work with vulnerable women, some of whom are engaged in street sex work. The work was funded by Lancashire County Council Public Health. 

This service has now being reduced from previous years, however The Foxton Centre have been able to expand and develop a wider ranging offer.

The Centre accommodates seven women across the two houses. Out of the seven women recently accommodated, five are reported to have been directly involved in street sex work, whilst all seven are believed to have been involved in some form of survival sex.

The first house opened in 2020 and despite limited resources as a direct result of the pandemic, The Foxton Centre have been fully occupied with women who would alternatively have struggled to access and maintain accommodation.

In preparation for the project becoming operational, the Centre used the "Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE)" approach, many looking at the surroundings, Furnishing the house in a very relaxed, warm inviting way. Careful consideration given to wording on vital signage throughout the house to ensure it feels non-institutional, welcoming and safe. Operating from a trauma informed perspective, the residents experience an open-door policy from staff who are office based within the property.

The service prides itself that many of the women accommodated are working alongside staff in retaining their accommodation and working with a range of support services. For some individuals, this is the most stability they have witnessed in many years.

The Foxton Centre have developed stronger links with agencies working with women involved in the criminal justice system.

The Centre have been completing assessments with women whilst they are still in prison in preparation for their release. This has enabled the Centre to better support them into accommodation following release with the aim of preventing them from having to return to the streets.

The Centre is currently looking at developing a strategic female lead sub-advisory board for the women's services.

The aim is to bring together a group of passionate, knowledgeable, influential women from varying yet relevant professional backgrounds who can positively influence the direction of the women's services. 

Streetlink

The Foxton Centre work with indoor and independent sex workers as well as street sex workers.

Assertive Outreach

Outreach work forms the core of Streetlink provision, with the project staff and volunteers making contact and engaging with sex workers up to three nights per week. Outreach usually acts as the first point of contact.

The women are offered information, advice, support, and are signposted to a relevant agency, for example, drug services, housing etc. It is also where the sex workers trust in the Streetlink staff usually begins to develop.

Drop in Surgery (Daytime and Evening)

Base 18 forms an important part of the Streetlink provision.

The centre is located in the heart of the 'red light zone' of Preston. It is where the sex workers can access more intensive support through one to one support and action planning.

Streetlink currently facilitate one evening surgery for street sex workers and one for independent and indoor sex workers offering sexual health testing and a peer support session for those moving on from sex work.

Intensive support

Intensive support addresses the needs of the women who are in the long and often complex routes out of sex work. This is achieved through personal action planning facilitated by Streetlink staff.

The women are offered support both practically and emotionally.

Condom Provision

Streetlink staff provide and distribute free condoms to this 'hard to reach' group of people. This service is supported by the Public Health Condom distribution scheme.

The aim of this service is to reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted infections.

Satellite Services (Out of Hours)

This out of hours service is located in Base 18. These premises offer the women that the Foxton Centre work with the opportunity to access partner agencies such as:

• Probation
• Substance misuse
• Mental health services

This allowing the women access to support which is traditionally only accessible during the day.

Support with Court and Offending Services

The project offers support to women who are either perpetrators or victims of crime. Often advocating on their behalf and submitting supporting evidence to the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) Probation Service, Magistrates and Judges.

Community Cohesion Support

Streetlink staff and community Police work together  on a regular basis. The meeting give local community members the opportunity to express their concerns about how sex work impacts on their lives and their community.

Ugly Mugs Scheme

Streetlink are part of The National Ugly Mugs Scheme.

The aim of this scheme is to improve the safety of sex workers by alerting them to the dangerous individuals who target sex workers. The scheme also encourages the women to report when they have been a victim of an attack.

Early Evidence Kit Service (Collation of early forensic evidence)

Streetlink team members have completed the Sexual Assault Early Evidence Kit Training which enables them to take the initial account and evidence from a complainant of a sexual assault.

The training was delivered by the Lancashire Police and ensures the Centre is working within the same guidelines as a first responder. The Foxton Centre is currently the only agency who has completed this training.

Safety advice/training

The Foxton Centre provide service users with health and safety advice, information and training, which is relevant to sex workers. This includes a variety of methods, strategies and approaches aimed at keeping them safe.

This in turn encourages and empowers them to take responsibility for their own safety. The women are issued with a personal alarm following the completion of the training.

Peer support

The Foxton Centre offer the women a safe environment to meet and support each other at a fixed time and place during the week.

Pregnancy Testing

Pregnancy testing kits are available on request. The women are also offered relevant support. The project has a successful working relationship with the local specialist midwife service.

AQA Accredited Creative Workshops

The Foxton Centre are running several AQA accredited training sessions throughout the year including:

• Information technology
• Creative writing
• Safety on the street.