Funding to help London's prostitutes start a new life

Newly targeted funds of £800,000 were today awarded by London Councils to groups assisting women exit the associated violence and abuse of prostitution and looking into the root causes of the problem.

Eaves Housing for Women is set to receive the bulk of the funding, £443,200 over four years, to investigate and tackle the root causes and pathways into trafficking and prostitution across all the London boroughs.

The scheme will also help provide outreach services, advice, training, and access to supported housing for women seeking to escape from a life of prostitution.

New Horizon Youth Centre will receive £178,400 over four years, to help towards two full-time outreach advice workers and its Women’s Open Space Project.

It will be available in: Brent; Bromley; Camden; Croydon; Ealing; Enfield; Greenwich; Hackney; Hammersmith & Fulham; Haringey; Islington; Kensington & Chelsea; Lambeth; Lewisham; Newham; Southwark; Tower Hamlets; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Westminster.

With the same amount of funding, Women and Girls Network will counselling to women involved in prostitution to help them seek a new way of life.

It will be available in: Camden; Croydon; Hackney; Haringey; Kensington & Chelsea Lambeth; Newham; Sutton; Wandsworth; Westminster.

Chairman of London Councils Grants Committee, Councillor Paul McCannah, said: “These specially targeted grants will help readdress the balance of representation and support of some of the most excluded women in the capital.

“The fund will provide direct services to support and empower women to help themselves and enable innovative investigations into causes and routes into prostitution and trafficking.

"We hope this will provide many London women the opportunity to turn their negative experiences around by offering them a supportive environment and routes into fulfilling lifestyles and occupations.”