THANK YOU
First of all thank you so much those who continue to support Rahab. It makes such a difference. Donations of supplies, chocolate, crisps toiletries, financial gifts, fund raising, prayer, volunteers, the opportunity to share with you what we are doing it is all very valuable and much appreciated.
OUTREACH
With a team of 13 volunteers we continue to go out three or four nights a week, meeting the women (and recently some men), building relationships and trust.
This year we have also begun a drop in at McDonalds on Thursdays where they can come and get advice and help or just have a chat and a burger. Gradually the women have been coming along and it has given us the opportunity to offer more support.
A team of our volunteers are also available in the day to support women to appointments, meetings, court etc. This group can often feel isolated or marginalised so having someone to go with them can make a real difference. One of the women recently said
“I’m very grateful to Rahab for helping the working girls. It’s absolutely amazing with all their input, they really help change people’s opinions of us. People really care about us a bit more now. All the other services are all working together and it’s because of these lovely people at Rahab. Thank you very much”
WORKING TOGETHER
CGL(Change Grow Live) have been coming out with our teams on Monday nights since February, offering on the spot appointments for sex workers wanting to address addiction.
A nurse from the Florey sexual health unit is also joining us once a month.
Going forward we will have support on Monday nights from Launchpad (housing) and Hope after Harm (support for those experiencing sexual violence)
All of these links enable us to offer an increased level of support.
PRISON
We are taking part in a project at Bronzefield the women’s prison in Staines called Safer Streets, we go every two months to meet with any women who choose to identify as sex workers to offer support for when they leave. I am really hoping this will enable us to develop closer links as time is prison is often a time for women to reflect and plan to make changes in their lives.
THE FUTURE
This autumn, Rahab will have been supporting those in the sex industry for 20 years.
In October we will be launching our Christmas appeal, this year we would like to give the women make up and make up bags, and nice toiletries for the men we meet.
And finally a dream…. a van we can take on outreach, providing refreshments and a safe place to talk.
Thank you again for your support, and please pray for these men and women – we want them to know they are loved by they are loved by God and by his people and they have a hope and a future,
You are very welcome to join us on our prayer walk, 1st Tuesday of the month, 12.30pm at The Pavilion, 143-145 oxford Road.