by Evie Andrews
As part of our Local Heroes feature, we choose a local person or organisation that is making a real difference to our city. For this issue, we had the privilege of visiting One25 and speaking to their team.
One25 is a local charity that reaches out to women who street sex work. The charity was started in 1995 by Val Jeal, who led a dedicated team to help the women who were currently, and still are, underserved by national support networks. There was a specific focus on cultivating a space that felt safe for women specifically, as other charities for those facing homelessness often saw low uptake from women. Since then, the service has gone from strength to strength, now offering a dedicated Health Hub as well as night outreach with a custom-fitted van. The van often initiates the first point of contact, providing hot chocolate, condoms, First Aid, safety alarms, and much more. From here, many women have started their journey to move from crisis and trauma towards independence in the community.
My overwhelming impression from my visit to One25’s centre in St Paiuls was how welcoming it was. From the cosy arts and crafts corner to the enviable DVD collection, it’s clear that a lot of effort has gone into creating a sanctuary for these women. During opening hours, women can come in for a hot meal, see a GP or sexual health nurse, and crucially, relax. For women experiencing homelessness, the health hub provides what might be the only safety and warmth these women will find for sevel days and nights.
Ultimately, the standout aspect of One25 are the team. They truly represent the core values of compassion, justice and learning, and theya re passionate about helping these women on every step of their journey. Please do read on to hear from CEO, Jennifer Riley, who answered soe of our questions about One25 and their work.
One25 provide such a vital service to women in Bristol. What sort of challenges do you face whilst providing your services?
The women we meet at One25 are a hugely underserved community who face multiple barriers to getting the support they need. There is so much stigma around street sex work and this results in the women being excluded, ignored, and silenced. A big part of our work at One25 is supporting the women to connect with external services and advocating for their needs.
Do you have a particular moment/memory from your work that has inspired you?
Working with people who experience trauma and adversity changed my life. It helped me to reflect on my own experiences and understand how they had impacted me. It has given me immense passion and drive to fight the social injustice people face.
What do you think is the most important thing people should know about One25?
All of the women we meet at One25 have experienced trauma and abuse. This is compounded by homelessness, addiction and poor health. They are amazing, courageous and generous women, who with the right support can thrive.
How could the infrastructure for helping vulnerable women in the UK improve, in your opinion?
We need a specific focus on women who experience multiple disadvantages, where services across all sectors work together to better understand the women’s experiences and remove the barriers they face. We need services to be flexible, trauma-informed, and integrated.
What have you learned about people whilst working for One25?
The power of connection. We genuinely feel so privileged to build trusting relationships with the women and create a safe space where they can be their true selves without fear or judgment. Our staff and volunteers are incredible, they love working with the women and the women tell us that this enables them to feel love for themselves.
How can people help One25 to provide these services, besides the standard monetary donation route?
People can volunteer to help us to deliver our services. Sign up for our mailing list and tell everyone you know about One25! People can help us to raise awareness of women’s experiences and help us to reduce stigma and judgment. Encourage others to be curious and to consider the impact the trauma can have on a life.
Thank you Jen and One25 for the incredible work you do, for answering our questions and having us visit! If you’d like to find out more about One25 or how you can support them, visit their website at one25.org.uk
