Dear Friends of Street Talk,
We wake to a sparkle of frost some mornings and the shadows are long in the afternoon, reminding me that it is time to write to thank you for keeping Street Talk going for another year…
Click above to continue reading…
Dear Friends of Street Talk,
We wake to a sparkle of frost some mornings and the shadows are long in the afternoon, reminding me that it is time to write to thank you for keeping Street Talk going for another year…
Click above to continue reading…
A new exhibition of works by photographer Charlotte Hockton and hosted by Resource for London is opening on Thursday March 10th with all proceeds going to Street Talk. The public opening, which will be free to attend, will be from 5-7pm on Thursday the 10th at the Resource for London building, 356 Holloway Road, London N7 6PA.
Street Talk is proud to be a contributer to this report from Justice & Care and the Centre for Social Justice which sets out reccomendations and principle for reform to the Government’s framework for supporting victims of trafficking and modern slavery.
An executive summary can be read here.
The full report is available here.
We are delighted to announce that Street Talk therapist Amanda Chapman has been selected as a finalist for the Outstanding Contribution / Rebuilding Lives award at the 2021 Anti-Slavery Day Awards.
Amanda is a gifted therapist who works with infinite compassion and dedication, going far beyond expectations in the support and time she offers her clients. More than one of our women have told us that when they had given up hope, Amanda made them want to live again.
We are very grateful to the Human Trafficking Foundation for shortlisting Amanda and honouring the exceptional work she has done with Street Talk. The winner will be decided by a vote open to anyone working in the anti-slavery sector — if that’s you, please consider voting for Amanda via humantraffickingfoundation.org/anti-slavery-day-awards-voting-2021
Street Talk opposes the Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill. This statement outlines our key areas of concern.
‘Anne’ had been trapped in the vicious circle of addiction and street prostitution for 18 years. It was a small miracle that she had survived life on the streets for so long…
Dear Friends,
Here we are, we’ve made it together to the end of this year, dominated by the pandemic, perhaps a howl of pain from our earth, battered by business, while the voice of Black Lives Matter rose up with courage in protest against enduring injustice and brutality. Your support for this work has helped women already on the margins, made even more vulnerable by the pandemic and those who find themselves at the sharp end of racial injustice and all kinds of brutality…
Like most of the women we work with, Ruth’s story begins with abuse in childhood. She grew up in care and missed out on her education as she was frequently moved between foster homes.
When she came to Street Talk she was in her late twenties and on crutches having fallen from a balcony while high on crack. At that time, she was very mentally unwell, homeless, sex working and chaotically using.
Beginning therapy, Street Talk learned that Ruth was grieving for her child who had been removed by social services and later died while in foster care. She was desperate and talked of taking her own life.
Over time Ruth formed a good relationship with her counsellor who very quickly saw what an intelligent woman she was. Gradually her mental health improved and her using reduced. After eight months she began to talk about what she might like to do with her own life, and to start to dream about what she might be capable of.
Ruth decided that she wanted to take part in an entrepreneurship training course provided by one of Street Talk’s partner organisations. She set herself the goal of stopping using crack before the course began — a goal which she achieved.
After a nervous start Ruth soon found her feet and with support from Street Talk and our partner organisation she was able to make the most of the opportunity.
She went on to complete an access course and eventually earned her degree in psychology from Middlesex University. After graduating, Ruth felt she had made enough progress that she no longer needed Street Talk’s services. We can only imagine how far she will go.
We’re delighted to announce that artist and art historian James Willis has kindly agreed to deliver this online lecture with all proceeds going to Street Talk.
The event will take place, via Zoom, on September 10th from 7 til 8pm and the topic will be Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress – the celebrated series of paintings and moral tale depicting 18th century London. Tickets cost £5 and are available at street-talk.eventbrite.co.uk
James Willis is an artist and art historian whose work has been exhibited in the UK and abroad, including at the OXO Gallery on the Southbank, and the Mall Galleries in London. He lectures on a range of art historical subjects and teaching painting.