Birmingham City Council launches handbag amnesty
Birmingham City Council’s community safety team is working in partnership with Turnaround West Midlands to create safety and support kits for sex workers across the city.
The kits will contain essential items that can help ensure well-being, such as personal hygiene products, contraception, safety tools and informational resources, and will be given out during outreach patrols by Turnaround. Funding for this initiative was secured through the Safer Street 5 programme.
To create the kits, we need the help and support from the community. If you would consider donating a new or gently used handbag that can be used for this purpose, your contribution would play a significant role in empowering individuals within this community, providing them not only with practical items but also with a sense of dignity and care.
There are five drop off locations across Birmingham.
- City Centre - Council House Reception, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB, Mon-Thu 8:45am-5:15pm and Fri 8:45am-4:15pm.
- North Birmingham - St Barnabas Church Centre, High Street, Erdington, Birmingham, B23 6SJ, Tue-Sat 10:00am-2:30pm and Sun 10:30am-12:00pm.
- East Birmingham - Go-Woman! Alliance CIC,140 Alum Rock Road (behind the Methodist Church), Birmingham, B8 1HU, Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30am-3:00pm.
- South Birmingham - Bournville Village Trust Office, 350 Bournville Lane, Bournville, Birmingham, B30 1QY, Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:40pm.
- West Birmingham - Soho Road Business Improvement District, Suite 2, 118A Soho Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 9DP, Mon-Sat 10:00am-6:00pm.
Councillor Nicky Brennan: Cabinet Member for Social Justice, Community Safety and Equalities, said: “This initiative will provide sex workers across the city with essential items imperative for their safety in a confidential and non-judgmental way.
“The council understands the importance of the services the community safety team and Turnaround West Midlands provide sex workers, which is vital for their well-being.
“If anyone should require help or support, reach out to us or Turnaround West Midlands. All services are free to all sex workers regardless of their gender. Services are also confidential and non-judgmental.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: “I am pleased that my Safer Streets funding is being used to provide items vital for the safety and well-being of sex workers in Birmingham.
“They will be provided in a handbag, giving people who need them a sense of dignity, while also providing essential items.
“I would urge anybody who can help by supplying a handbag to do so at one of the drop off points and they will be filled with health and hygiene products, which can ensure the safety and well-being of sex workers in Birmingham.”
