Outreach plan for red-light areas

Workers who offer support and guidance to people in Leicester's sex trade are hoping to launch an outreach project.

The London Road-based New Futures centre said a van would tour the city's red light districts giving on-the-spot help to prostitutes.

Counsellors in the mobile centre would offer drug rehabilitation and health care, including STD clinics.

Workers hope taking the mobile centre into the community will encourage people to come to them for help.

Addiction support

Many prostitutes view the service as a lifeline to help them get back on track, the workers said.

Kim, a 24-year-old street worker, said: "New Futures got me into a drug rehab, so I'm on methadone now.

"I used to be on £80- £90 of drugs a day but (now) I'm on £20 and my methadone.

"They got me into college as well. I'm training to be a care assistant. I've already done my NVQ level one and I'm on my level two now.

"Without New Futures I don't know what I'd have done."

Maggie Brown, of New Futures, said: "Although we're open in the evenings to midnight, a lot of people feel that they can't access they project for various reasons.

"It could be a boyfriend who won't let them or they may feel they can't trust people here."