My role

My role involves working with a small caseload of six women, where women requiring intensive support to navigate services are offered a stable and suitable home, along with unconditional support that is needs-based and client-led, in an area where they choose to live. The service provided by Basis is one of the only sex worker specific projects in the country and has met significant needs for women who were previously falling through the gaps of existing services. After a very successful pilot project in 2017 we have now secured further funding for three years to be able to continue to offer the Housing First scheme in collaboration with Turning Lives Around.

My background

I joined Basis in 2016 as a Health Support & Advocacy worker, followed by working as a Navigation Support worker with Basis & Women’s Lives Leeds. I also volunteered for Basis for three years previous to this, where I gained lots of experience of working with, and supporting indoor and street working women around their sexual health, safety and health needs.

Prior to joining Basis, I worked as a Health Improvement Resource Officer for ten years within the public health directorate in Leeds, where I gained a vast amount of experience around health and wellbeing. My role involved working with specialists and the wider workforce around looking at ways of achieving positive health outcomes and reductions in health inequalities. Previous to this role I worked in travel, retail, merchandising and finance.

I have lived in Leeds all my life and love it, as it has got everything apart from a beach. I love going on holiday and just chilling out. I also enjoy reading, listening to lots of music, shopping and spending time socialising with family and friends.