Help us support women who want to exit prostitution

‘I don’t know what I would have done without Eaves, or how I would have ever got out of prostitution.’ Sarah, 19 years old

At Eaves we provide non-judgemental advice and assistance to women in London who are involved in prostitution; this includes housing advice, welfare benefits, and providing access to legal, and drug and alcohol services.

We work with women who want to exit prostitution so they can find a new future.

Exiting prostitution has many challenges and without support many women are unable to leave.

We are asking for a gift of just £22 which can provide:

• an assessment and support plan for a woman who wants to exit prostitution
• a new mobile phone and sim, so that woman can keep in touch with their support network, and so they remain safe
• a weekly bus pass to enable a women to travel to appointments with her support worker, job interviews, doctor etc…

The demand for our service is very high. Eaves only has two caseworkers in this service, supporting 10 women at one time. This means that there are many more women who we aren’t able to help.

Without your support stories like Sarah’s could have a very different ending…

Sarah’s Story

“When I was 15 I had to leave home as things with my family were very difficult. I used to sneak into my friends’ houses and stay the night but eventually I had nowhere to go.

I made some new friends who let me stay at their house. I started drinking and taking drugs with them. I was sleeping with one of them – I thought he was my boyfriend. He seemed nice at first but then he started to beat me up every time we had sex. One day he told me that if I didn’t have sex with his friends then I would have to leave the house. I was really frightened and he said if I tried to leave he would hurt me, so I did what he told me to do.

One day when he was drunk I escaped and begged one of my friends to let me stay for a while. I stayed with her for nearly a year but I didn’t feel confident enough to go out and find a job. I didn’t even know where to start so I started working in prostitution from my friend’s room.

I had a regular punter, Dave, who came to see me almost every other day. One day he didn’t pay and said he wanted me to be his girlfriend. When I told him I wasn’t attracted to him he started to shout and swear at me. I told him I would call the police if he didn’t leave. He said he was going to kill me. I managed to run from him and call for help through a window but he forced the door open and punched me in the face. When I heard the police sirens Dave had his hands around my throat and I thought I was going to die. He jumped out the window and ran. When I told the police what had happened they said that he was known to them.

I was too scared to stay in the house and decided to pay for a hotel but the money I had soon ran out and so I went back into prostitution.

When the hotel found out what I was doing they kicked me out. I wanted to get out of my situation so I searched the internet and I found out about Eaves. I called them and said I was running out of money and needed to find a safe place to live and that I wanted to stop working in prostitution.

Eaves found me a space in a refuge and helped me register with a GP. They worked with me while I decided what I wanted to do with my life – they let me see that I could escape from prostitution. Eaves also helped me apply to an entrepreneurship programme so I could learn about starting my own business. I am now on an advanced course to become a beauty therapist. I am determined to take Dave to court and Eaves have been supporting me with my court case.

I don’t know what I would have done without Eaves, or how I would have ever got out of prostitution.”

We are continuing to support Sarah and have advocated strongly on her behalf after the court made several mistakes such as failing to provide a screen for Sarah to give evidence behind in her court case. It is good practice in cases such as Sarah’s to allow women to sit behind a screen so they do not have to face their attackers directly; thereby ensuring women such as Sarah feel less fearful and can courageously give evidence. We held the authorities accountable and so a new court date has been arranged where a screen will be provided.

Sarah is still only 19 years old and has been through so much and found the strength to move ahead to a brighter future. She is doing well now and no longer works in prostitution. She has a safe place to stay and she is excited about the idea of setting up her business.

Unfortunately at the moment we can’t be there for every woman who needs our support. Please help us to be there for women like Sarah.

Donate today

We are asking for a gift of just £22 which can pay for:

• an assessment and support plan for a woman who wants to exit prostitution
• a new mobile phone and sim, so that woman can keep in touch with their support network, and so they remain safe
• a weekly bus pass to enable a women to travel to appointments with her support worker, job interviews, doctor etc…

Donate