GB-Leicester: Sexual Health Promotion & HIV Prevention- Sex Workers

Sex work refers to the exchange of sexual services for some form of payment, usually money or drugs. (Health, Department of, 2010).

There are sex workers in all cities in the UK. Over the last few years sex work has changed with a reduction in Street based sex work (SBSW).

This may be due to the increase in exchange sex via mobile phone and internet, and an increase in people from outside the UK that are trafficked to the UK who sell sex. National Sexual health and Lifestyle survey 2011 shows that 11% of men have bought sex in their life time.

Sex work in Leicester is in three sectors, Street based sex workers (SBSW), Sex workers in flats and Sex workers working in saunas and massage parlours. The number of women involved in each of these areas of sex work fluctuates.

The level of vulnerability and sexual risk taking behaviour varies in and between each of these types of venue. SBSWs have multiple and complex problems, most have substance misuse issues, which drive or exacerbate their need to earn money from selling sex.

Their health needs include substance addiction, mental and physical health problems. Many SBSW have been in the care system as a child.

In Leicester the majority of SBSW are of white British ethnicity, with a small group of Eastern European women. The current voluntary sector service provider has built a relationship of trust over a number of years with SBSWs which provides insight and information that is useful to the police and others about the sex industry in Leicester.

Flat and sauna based women come from a variety of backgrounds, including Thai, Eastern European and white British women. Some will have complex health needs while others will live ordered lives with few exceptional health needs.

Sexual health advice and information is important to all in this group. There is a gap in the provision of sexual health promotion and HIV prevention services to women in saunas and flats.

Although their level of vulnerability may be lower there are still sexual health risks to women and clients. Sex workers from outside of the UK may be unaware of health services available to them or risks that they may be taking.

The Tender seeks to secure a service Provider for the provision Sexual Health Promotion & HIV Prevention- Sex Workers. The contract is to commence from 1st April 2016 for an initial period of 33 months, until 31st December March 2018 with the possibility to extend for a further 3 months until 31st March 2019 subject to satisfactory performance outcomes and agreement by the Council. The total contract value including the 3 months extension is £165,000