A team of highly skilled and trained volunteers is striving to make life safer for Cardiff sex workers and local communities.
The volunteers won the group category at the Wales Council for Voluntary Action award ceremony in recognition for their commitment to protect some of the most vulnerable in our society.
The Safer Wales Street Life project, delivered through Safer Wales, comprises 10 volunteers providing outreach services for children and adults who are victims of sexual exploitation and abuse.
“I have been volunteering for the Street Life project for over 5 years. Even though I face challenges helping the sex workers, it has been a pleasure to provide my time to help, who I believe, to be some of the most vulnerable in society. Making the sex workers safe and helping some exit sex work has been the greatest reward.” said Helen Streetlife volunteer
The volunteers work between the hours of 8pm and 1am, travelling around the red light districts of Cardiff and offering advice, support and assistance to improve the safety of the women while they are working.
The team liaises with other agencies and the volunteers provide information which has helped the police catch extremely violent customers, protecting the women and further safeguarding others. Safer Wales Street Life strives to ensure the needs of the vulnerable are met; they have helped 13 women leave sex work.
Even if the women do not engage, the volunteers can keep an eye on their wellbeing and this brings comfort to the workers and the wider community.
All the volunteers either work or study full-time but still manage to support women through outreach, showing passion, commitment and empathy and supporting the sex workers on their terms.
Bernie Bowen-Thomson, Deputy Chief Executive, Safer Wales added: ‘The work of the Safer Wales Volunteer StreetLife Outreach Team provides a vital service, gaining the trust of some of the most vulnerable women in our city and helping to make our communities safer. It is due to the skills and dedication of the Volunteer Outreach Workers that this service continues.’
