Sex Working

How can SASH support you?

At SASH, we provide specialist support for people working in the adult industry through our:

• Care Coordination service
• Counselling
• Coaching
• Peer Support
• Platinum Clinic drop-ins

We can support you with:

• Sexual and reproductive health
• STI testing and prevention
• HIV prevention and treatment access
• Contraception advice
• Emotional wellbeing
• Stress and burnout
• Stigma and discrimination
• Personal relationships
• Professional boundaries
• Work-life balance
• Safer sex working
• Sober sex support
• Self-care strategies
• Gender identity and sexuality exploration
• Living well with HIV

We are committed to providing support that is sex work aware, trauma-informed and free from judgement.

What is sex working?

Sex Working or 'working in the adult/sex industry' is when someone provides sexual services in exchange for money or something of value. Services sold can range from in-person activities to the sale of online content that is sexual in nature.

Relationships built in during sex working are transactional between the sex worker and client.

Is Sex Work Legal in the UK?

Yes, it is legal to buy and sell sex. However some areas surrounding sex work are illegal:

• Brothels: While not illegal to sell sex at a brothel, it is illegal to keep, manage or control a brothel, or any premises selling sex used by more than one person, even if not there at the same time. This makes it challenging for sex workers to conduct their work safely.
• Advertising: It is legal to advertise sexual services, however not in all circumstances, e.g. it is illegal to advertise in public phone boxes or publish ads with ‘obscene’ content.
• Solicitation: This includes the act of trying to find clients in public places, as well as clients soliciting for sex from sex workers on the street/in public (kerb-crawling) which is illegal.

Sex Working and Your Privacy and Confidentiality 

Will What I Tell SASH Stay Private?

Yes.

We understand that privacy is extremely important, particularly because many people working within the sex and adult industry experience stigma and discrimination.

SASH follows UK GDPR and Data Protection legislation and uses secure systems that are not accessible to other organisations.

We will not tell:

• Your GP
• Your family
• Friends
• Partner
• University
• Employer
• Police
• Social services
• Anyone else

unless you have given your permission for information to be shared.

When Would Information Be Shared?

We will only communicate with other healthcare professionals or services if you agree.

For example:

• Reproductive health support
• Mental health advocacy
• Specialist healthcare referrals

If you ask us not to discuss your sex work, we will respect this whenever possible.

Exceptions to Confidentiality

The only situations where confidentiality may need to be reviewed are when:

• You are at serious risk of harm
• A child or vulnerable adult is at serious risk of harm
• We are legally required to disclose information
• There is disclosure of serious criminal activity
• There are significant public safety concerns

Whenever possible, we will speak to you first before taking any action.

Adult sex work is legal in the UK and SASH will never report someone to the police simply for engaging in adult sex work.

What Happens When I Contact SASH?

Many people feel nervous before reaching out for support.

When you first contact us, you'll speak with someone friendly and supportive who will:

• Listen to your concerns
• Explain our services
• Answer your questions
• Explore what support may be helpful
• Discuss next steps

There is no judgement and no pressure.

You can take your time deciding whether SASH feels right for you.

If you decide to access support, we'll help you complete a referral form either online or over the phone.

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

Your first appointment is a conversation with a trained professional who specialises in sexual health and wellbeing support.

We may discuss:

• What brought you to SASH
• Your goals for support
• Your relationships
• Sexual wellbeing
• Physical health
• Mental health
• Substance use
• Any challenges affecting your wellbeing

You only need to share what you feel comfortable discussing.

Appointments are usually between 60 and 90 minutes, although conversations can continue over multiple appointments if needed.

It's a conversation, not an interrogation. You decide the pace.

Safety, Consent and Boundaries with Sex Work

If I am sex working can I say no to sex?

Yes.

Being a sex worker does not remove your right to consent.

You retain the right to:

• Refuse services
• Set boundaries
• Withdraw consent
• Require condom use
• End an interaction at any time

Whether you are sex working or having sex for pleasure you have choices about who you have sex with, the type of sex you have, whether to use condoms, and to stop at any time.

If you have agreed to use condoms and your client or sex partner removes the condom during sex without your knowledge or consent this is called ‘stealthing’ and is a crime.

How can I sex work safely?

There are different options to sex work safely, which can very depending on the type of work you are doing.

• Online: If working online, consider your privacy, using working names and separate email addresses and social media from your personal life; and ensuring no identifiable information is visible in any videos or images.
• In person: If doing direct sex work, using working name and contact information is useful, alongside sharing about your work or your location with a trusted person, planning your journeys ahead of time, being observant of exit and escape routes when entering a property, carrying a personal safety alarm and ensuring your phone is on full charge. Trusting your instincts is important. Sign up to NUM to receive alerts about potential unsafe clients.

Part of sex working safely is to consider your sexual health, checking you have accessed any vaccinations such as HPV and M-Pox you might be entitled to, or PrEP and PEP, as well as knowing where to get condoms, regular STI screening and contraceptive choices.

If you are engaging in Chemsex, London Friend can support you with harm reduction advice and to reduce/stop if that’s something you would like to do.

How can I self-care while sex working?

Maintaining self-care is really important for your emotional and physical wellbeing. The work can include late hours and be quite isolating and there are different ways you can self care. 

This includes trying to ensure you get enough sleep, keeping water and snacks if you are working a long shift, creating a work-life balance, setting boundaries for when you will work and when you will switch off, spending time outdoors in the fresh air, having opportunities for healthy social interactions and activities outside of the work that you enjoy.

Are there options if I don’t want to sex work anymore?

If you are new to the industry or have been sex working a long time, there are options if you want to reduce or stop sex working. 

One of the first steps is recognising all the knowledge and skills you have utilised during your work, such as self-organisation, communicating with different people, responding to challenges, managing finances, IT and social media competencies.

National Ugly Mugs

National Ugly Mugs is a reporting tool for sex workers to share information about risky clients without alerting the police. You can sign up with them to receive alerts relevant to your location. Violence and crimes against escorts and sex workers is never acceptable. 

Get Support

At SASH, we can provide support and advice around sex working and also put you in contact with other services and organisations who can help you with legal information and proceedings where needed.