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Anna Britten talks to a small, local charity making a big, national noise.
When Bristol-based charity, One25, won a coveted Guardian Charity Award just before Christmas, it was a richly deserved nod of recognition. During 16 years of quiet, compassionate, unglamorous toil One25 has helped over 200 sex workers each year to escape prostitution, violence, poverty and addiction – either through small acts like handing out bags of nutritious food and giving health checks from its night van, or through caseworkers helping women be mothers to their children and return to education or training.
Now the St Pauls-based charity is whipping up support for its quirky new campaign called Give It Up For One25, which will see Bristolians obtaining sponsorship by giving up something that’s important for 125 hours from 12noon on Thur 3 to 5pm on Tue 8 March. “It’s fun and accessible and means people can be creative,” says fundraiser Louise Willott. “But what I really liked was the phrase ‘give it up’, which has the double meaning of applauding and celebrating. It’s really my attempt to engage with the public in a wider way than we ever have before. Also it highlights the difficulty in battling addiction. Giving something up is a way of reminding yourself it’s tough – it’s a way for people to empathise with the women we work with.
“It’s been timed deliberately to finish at 5pm on Shrove Tuesday so it’s a nice opportunity for people to celebrate with a pancake party. Then they fall into Lent after that – it’s like a warm-up for Lent! Also, it finishes on the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.”
Participants who pledge to relinquish something they love (via the website) will be sent a fundraising pack. Small businesses are also encouraged to follow the example of local café Chickpea, who are giving up 10p of every cupcake sold during the campaign (25p if a customer mentions Give It Up For One25).
FFI: 0117 909 8832 OR WWW.ONE25.ORG.UK
Amy’s story
“I started using drugs at the age of 14 when my boyfriend introduced me to them and my life descended into madness. I met the One25 team as a teenager while I was out working the streets for drugs. I was suicidal, suffering from epileptic fits and I’d recently tested positive for hepatitis C. Worst of all, I was in deep pain over my little boy who had been taken away from me. During one of my many visits to the drop-in, I spoke to my worker Gill of the awful pain I felt whenever I thought about my family, and especially my baby boy who I could no longer look after. I used to just sit there on the sofa and cry and cry for my family while Gill hugged me. I knew if I didn’t go home, then I would never be able to stop, but I also wouldn’t blame them if they didn’t want to see my again.
“Later that year, I was admitted to hospital with a blood clot in my leg. I was tiny at this point, so skinny and ill. During my stay I admitted to my One25 caseworker that I was scared and wanted to make definite changes. But my life was mad at that time and my self-esteem was rock-bottom: within days of being discharged, I’d gone back to selling sex for my addiction.
“One25 offered to write to my mum to let her know I was alive and I agreed. Within days of the letter being sent, Mum phoned One25. It was a very emotional phone call: she said she was relieved I was alive and that she’d never stop loving me. She wrote to One25 often and told them: ‘Not one single day goes by when I do not think of Amy and where she is, and every day I pray that she will come through this nightmare eventually, although as time goes by my hope is becoming less. Please tell her that I love her and I will always love her.’
“Mum and Nan kept close to One25 over those months, and when they heard I was going to be released from prison on Christmas Eve, they made a big decision: they’d come and meet me and take me home. I was finally reunited with my family after almost three years apart! Being with them again was the best 21st birthday anyone could want.
“Nan wrote to One25, saying: ‘Amy is doing so well and we are overjoyed to have her back with us. It is a year now since that Christmas Eve she came home and they have been golden days for us. I shall never forget your loving kindness to my granddaughter. This is all down to you and your wonderful team; without the help you have given Amy, this reconciliation would never have taken place. When I think of what you and your group made possible for Amy, my heart is full of gratitude. One thing I have learned – no addict can recover without love and support in every way. Thank you for loving my granddaughter when we were not there to do so.’
“It’s now six years on and I’m married. I live with my husband and my nine-year-old son, who I’ve got back, and we now have a little daughter. Mum hardly lets a day go by without visiting me. We’re so thankful to be back together – these last five years are nothing short of a miracle.”
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