We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded new, multi-year funding as part of our Adult Sexual Exploitation (ASE) partnership. The ASE Partnership (formerly known as STAGE) led by Changing Lives was established in 2019 to support women who had been targeted for abuse across the North East and Yorkshire. The partnership is comprised of some incredible organisations: A Way Out, Ashiana, The Angelou Centre, Basis Yorkshire, WomenCentre, Together Women, GROW, and Changing Lives. Together, we form a collective voice to share the experiences of women living on the margins of society—women who have been forgotten, left behind, and judged. Each organisation within the partnership has a dedicated exploitation caseworker to support women through a trauma-responsive model of care.

Parallel to our direct support work, the ASE Partnership advocates for local and national change. With the voices of the women, we support at the heart of our efforts, we challenge existing systems with direct, up-to-date, practical knowledge and experience. Our goal is to campaign for long-term structural change. Since its inception, the partnership has supported over 800 women who have been groomed for sexual exploitation. However, we recognise that this issue is far more widespread than the cases we have encountered so far. The sexual exploitation of adults is a hidden crisis, with the most vulnerable individuals systemically targeted for abuse and trapped with no way to escape.

While the ASE Partnership focuses on providing gender-specific support to women and girls who have experienced or are experiencing exploitation, we acknowledge that people of all genders can suffer from this type of abuse. Some partner organisations offer support to individuals of all genders alongside this project.

Thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund, this new funding will allow us to continue our vital work, combining policy and practice to create systems change and provide trauma-informed support for those in need. Together, we are making strides towards a future where all individuals can live free from exploitation and abuse.

As part of this partnership, Basis will be supporting women in Leeds and Wakefield with a specific focus on young women transitioning into adulthood.  For more info please contact: rebekah.vickers-patel@basisyorkshire.org.uk