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).  
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.
INFORMATION TO DOWNLOAD FROM OUR ENCOMPASS NETWORK.
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.
If you have experienced any violence and abuse whilst in the sex industry, you can make reports either directly to the police or via the National Ugly Mugs scheme.

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.