Basis aims to end stigma, create safety and promote empowerment for women who sex work and women and young people who are sexually exploited. Our young people’s services are inclusive to all gender identities and our adult services are inclusive to self-identified transgender women and non-binary adults. We recognise that within the communities we work with, the trans community faces additional stigma, marginalisation and hostility placing them at greater risk of violence and exploitation.

It is widely accepted that Transgender people face additional barriers to support, therefore, Basis works to ensure that the trans community can access our services without judgement or fear of stigma or discrimination. We aim to ensure our services are sensitive to their needs including considering the potential distrust and anxiety about inclusion and safety within our service.

We will ensure all staff and volunteers are trained to ensure the trans community feel welcome and safe and are treated with dignity in our service. This includes feeling comfortable challenging inappropriate language or a practice that might (unintentionally) exclude.  We will seek input from the trans community on a regular basis to ensure we are meeting our aims in this respect and ensure we have done everything we can to ensure they feel safe to express their gender. We also recognise that as an organisation that supports people with a history of abuse, their past history of gender and sex is equally important to recognise. We stand in solidarity with specialist organisations supporting the trans community – recognising the importance of allies in an increasingly hostile environment.