We work with women where they are at, supporting them to be safer, healthier and feel more equipped to take control of their lives. MASH was formed in 1991 by community activists, Drugs & HIV workers and volunteers with a ground- breaking idea to change prejudice and provide help to women s*x workers (women in prostitution). However in Manchester there was political support for radical ideas. Dete
rmined to help, the team converted an old Noise Pollution Control Vehicle and took it out to ‘the beat’ at night to reach women s*x working .At first they offered needle exchange and condoms but this grew as they found women had complicated issues; nowhere to live, addictions, debts, and were living with violence and in poverty. For many women MASH became their only life-line. We had ambitions to do more & provide 1-to-1 in-depth support. Thanks to some amazing funders, who shared our vision of life-changing support for women with complex needs, we opened the MASH Drop-In in 2010. Women know that at MASH they are not judged, they are treated as individuals and they will always be able to get the help they need. Our staff team is highly professional and dedicated and in the last 12 months, with the help of our award winning volunteer team, we have helped over 700 women through crises’ and day-to-day life. We know there will be more challenges for the women in the future, we expect the re-development of the local area around the beat to have an impact, the financial crisis has seen women under real financial pressure, homelessness has increased and so has violence against s*x workers, but MASH will be here every step of the way ensuring that women have the support they deserve. As a service user recently said ‘MASH are the only family I have. They give me hope.’
