- Been given drugs or alcohol as ‘payment’ for doing what someone else says
- Received a gift you are later asked to pay back through money or favours
- Been asked to pay back a debt with favours or uncontracted work
- Received threats or violence for not doing what someone asks you to do
- Been emotionally guilt-tripped into making money for someone who has previously helped you in a crisis
- Been forced to withdraw benefits for someone else
- Paid a cut of your Universal Credit into someone else’s account
- Had private photos used as a form of blackmail
- Been pressured to do what another person asks
Women in Manchester are frequently targeted for exploitation by predatory individuals.
These individuals could be other women, new partners or organised groups. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Women who have recently become homeless are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, as well as many other dangers while couch-surfing on or the street. You can find contact details for gender-specific support at the bottom of the page.
You should seek free, reliable and confidential help if you or someone you know has:
Exploitation takes many forms. Someone might ask you to:
Being pressured to provide sexual services is exploitation
We respect the active choice of the men and women happily and independently sex working in the UK. However, if you feel like you are being pressured into offering sexual services against your will, there is support available to help you out of your situation.
You should seek free, confidential and reliable help if you have felt pressured to provide sexual services.
For information on how to keep safe when sex working, visit the Manchester Action on Street Health (MASH) website:
- Domestic abuse
- Safety for escorts
- Exiting sex work
- Personal safety
- Safety at home
- Safety in saunas and private workplaces
- Ugly Mugs and Dodgy Punters
- Negotiating with a punter
Their website also has more general information and advice related to:
Greater Manchester Women's Support Alliance (GMWSA)
The Greater Manchester Women’s Support Alliance is made up of 9 women’s centres that provide support services to women facing difficulties across 10 Greater Manchester Boroughs. They provide safe women-only spaces for vulnerable and marginalised women to access holistic person centred support. They have 24 case workers spread across the boroughs to help women identify needs, risks, and relevant support networks and link into and access specialist local service provision, addressing exclusion and disadvantage in their communities. GMWSA can help you access:
- Support with benefits and finance
- Help with childcare
- Access to food hampers
- Support if you have been attacked or assaulted
- Support and treatment for drug and alcohol use
- Help getting set up online and accessing support
- Gaining access to training and employment
- Help with housing
- Support to access GP
- In house counselling
- Support with family problems or relationship issues
- Help accessing mental health support
- Free contraception (including condoms)
- Needle exchange
- Sexual health screening
Greater Manchester Women's Support Alliance (GMWSA)
Access support with the Women's Support Alliance in your area by calling their referral line
07375 074 174