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Encompass is a Scottish network of agencies working with people at risk of becoming involved in, who are currently involved in, or who have exited selling or exchanging sexual activity / commercial sexual exploitation (CSE).

We know that many lives have been turned upside down with Covid 19.

Women have told us that they are finding isolation and distancing with Lockdown hard and are worried about where money is going to come from, how they can get food, pay for bills and how to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy and safe. They are also worried about what the future holds as Scotland moves out of lockdown ad into the next phases.

The Encompass Services are all open, available and running for you. We have had to make some changes due to covid 19 so all support is over the phone for now however, this may change as lockdown is eased for some groups.

We are here to support you to find information, to guide you through linking with other services, to help you to access emergency funds and to provide longer term support if this is something you are looking for, at a pace that is comfortable for you.

The Encompass Network services have been allocated a small amount of funding through the Scottish Government Immediate priorities Fund 2020 – 2021 to support women

who over 18
who are resident in Scotland
who had been selling or exchanging sex prior to covid and
who has faced financial hardship.

If you are in really tough financial situations – please get in touch with one of the services listed in WHO WE ARE or WHAT WE DO sections in the menu above.

We can also now complete application forms alongside you for things like access to smart phones, food and emergencies via the Victim Fund run through Victim Support Scotland - you can find our mor information on that fund HERE.

We are there for you whenever you want to get in touch.

MOVING OUT OF LOCKDOWN

We have been working with women throughout the pandemic and have been handling applications for the Encompass Fund, which offers crisis funds to women affected by COVID-19.

Through this work women have told us the very difficult situations they have been and continue to be in. The Encompass Network has brought these together in a paper highlighting their needs and some recommendations for the way ahead.

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MEMBERSHIP

The core membership of Encompass network is open to all those Scottish organisations who;

provide services and support to those who have been, currently are or at risk of becoming involved in commercial sexual exploitation and
are in receipt of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAW&G) funds from the Scottish Government and / or
use a VAW&G approach in their work.

The safety and well-being of those involved in the sex industry is of prime concern to all Encompass agencies. We acknowledge the value and importance in engaging with the differing approaches in operation in Scotland and key stakeholders.

In order to disseminate and share the learning, Encompass makes information, training and resources available to a wider grouping of agencies eg. homelessness, addictions, mental health, adult support and protection, charities and voluntary sector agencies.

ENCOMPASS STATEMENT - MAY 2020

Encompass is a small network of Scottish organisations working to reduce harm caused through commercial sexual exploitation. Member groups offer direct support to women along with advocacy services and ongoing consultation with women to identify their needs. Core membership of the Encompass network is open to all Scottish organisations who meet the following criteria.

provide services and support to those who have been involved, are currently involved, or were previously involved, in selling or exchanging sex
are in receipt of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAW&G) funds from the Scottish Government to address commercial sexual exploitation
work from an understanding of commercial sexual exploitation as a form of gender-based violence against women

Encompass works to build relationships and connections across all sectors and partnerships, acknowledging the value and importance of engaging with the differing approaches to CSE in Scotland with key stakeholders. We have never refused membership to any organisation who meets the criteria and we are really pleased to welcome new groups who recently made contact and would like to join Encompass. We also engage directly with women who are or have been selling or exchanging sex in different contexts.

We know the devastating impact of the Covid 19 pandemic in Scotland on women who sell or exchange sex and have called for investment of resources and innovative approaches to ensure they are included and have their needs met.

Encompass made contact with a wide range of agencies including: support services, peer support projects, Unions, sex worker organisations, sexual health and health promotion, VAWG partnerships / organisations to discuss women’s needs along with ways to work positively together and try to shape responses to the emerging situation.   We have called for women who sell or exchange sex to be included in strategic plans and for a larger ringfenced specific amount to be available through other crisis and victim funds.

We welcome this Scottish Government funding to support women involved in the sex industry but also acknowledge that much more investment is needed. We have consistently called for this prior to and during Covid 19.   We have worked hard with different organisations to remove barriers for women to access information, support and finances and see this additional funding as a vital contribution alongside other options such as hardship funds and Victims funds.

On local levels across Scotland any women involved in the sex industry who is facing hardship due to Covid 19, will be able to apply for financial help administered by Encompass member groups, with no conditions attached such as being made to exit the sex industry or agreeing on ideology and approaches. We have worked with women who are linked into a whole range of services, including sex worker led ones and it has never been the approach to lay conditions for women to engage with us.

The Encompass Network will continue to work with and alongside women to ensure they are involved in the planning and delivery of services.    Their safety and well-being is of prime concern to all Encompass agencies.

ENCOMPASS FUNDS

The Encompass Network has agreed to continue administering the Encompass Fund for a short term whilst alternatives for women to have access to crisis funds are put in place by the Scottish Government . This means that Encompass Services are still able to offer destitution funds in local areas to women who meet the criteria and applications must be received before the end of March 2021.

Criteria:

Over 18 and resident in Scotland
Involved in the sex industry
Be in a crisis financial situation

What the fund can cover:

Vouchers for food and essential items
Support with utility bills
Limited support for other issues like unforeseen costs

This fund is not restricted to only women who are current users of Encompass network services but also those with no prior involvement. There are no conditions that a woman must agree to exit or engage in a longer term programme of work. Women can link in themselves into an Encompass Service for this fund or can be referred through by an external agency.

The Encompass network services are HERE.

You can find out more about the fund on our site or by emailing encompass@womenssupportproject.org.uk

Check out our Inside Outside project – giving voice to those involved in Scotland's sex industry. Running for 6 months from August 2016 – April 2017, we hope their words and photos will be viewed by a wider audience across the country.