Dear reader, 

Welcome to our CSE Aware bulletin. This time we explore a crucial need for women involved in selling or exchanging sex: money. 

In this issue, our insights article looks at how poverty can be the reason women decide to start selling sex but also something that continues to be a worry throughout women's involvement. For our practitioner interview, we hear from the Scottish Women's Budget Group and how women's poverty relates to selling or exchanging sex. We have also included guests blogs from two innovative projects: Financially Included and My Body Back.

We hope this issue brings food for thought on the complexities of money, how money and selling sex are interrelated, the dynamics of money in the 'sex industry' and women's experiences.

Until next time,

The CSE Aware Information and Resources Officer

Poverty and lack of choices are some of the key reasons why women may decide to start selling sex, with the money gained often used to cover their most basic needs such as food, housing and childcare. Yet, many women have described how the amount of money made through selling sex can be irregular and unstable

In this article, we delve into the specific financial pressures that women experience before becoming involved as well as during their involvement. 

In this interview, Heather Williams discusses why money and poverty are issues that were there for women before the current crises, how financial hardship can be one of the main drivers into selling and exchanging sex and the practical things that frontline workers can do when supporting women involved or considering becoming involved in selling or exchanging sex.

Wed 19 July 2023, 11:30am - 1pm 

Join us for a free webinar for frontline services where we will explore the financial needs of women who sell or exchange sex, including good practice examples.