WELLBEING PROJECT
Community support
Community is at the heart of our purpose, creating a safe space for Sex Workers free from judgement or stigma, so that you can feel a sense of belonging.
Why community matters
We want you to have a place where you can go to be yourself; where like-minded members of the community gather to have non-judgemental conversations about anything and everything. Stigma around sex work can create feelings of shame and stress with friends and family but there is no hiding here. We offer peer-to-peer support so that you can share experience, advice, safety strategies and ultimately create meaningful connections to feel supported in life as well as in work.
As a member of the community, you are made to feel a sense of belonging with weekly drop-in sessions and an instant messaging group so that the friendships made in our safe space nurtures mental and emotional health. There is also an online Discord server, which is only accessible by verified Sex Workers.
Through kinship and understanding, we feel that being part of the Sex Worker community helps to build resilience to stigma for leading happier, more fulfilling lives. o
We have supported
400
People
And counting...
Since founding Umbrella Lane in 2015, our support has reached Sex Workers across Scotland. We now have a community of over 400 Sex Workers.
We have contributed
£26k
And counting...
We responded to COVID-19 with an emergency fundraiser for financial hardship support, to help you in your time of need. During the pandemic, we managed to raise and distribute £26,000
We hope to continue to help
800
People
And counting...
Driving our vision is our plan to expand and to reach our community of Sex Workers across and beyond Scotland. By working with partner organisations, friends, family and the wider community, we continue to create systemic shifts in reducing stigma around sex work.
Being a part of the Umbrella Lane community means a lot to me, I’ve been a Sex Worker for 4 years - so, since I was 18. And, as we know this job can be very stigmatising and, you know, you can end up very isolated when you choose to do these roles but thankfully Umbrella Lane show you that there’s people like you there, people there who love you and value you and see you for the person that you are and they don’t want to stigmatise you because of your job. They’re not going to disregard what you have to say, they’re going to actually value you and appreciate you and all the things that make you You and that’s what I really like about the community, it’s so accepting. And everyone is just really there for each other and really approachable. And it’s just great to see this industry getting stronger and more stable and secure with things like this in place.
What do we talk about?
Anything and everything! This could be meaningful conversations about staying healthy at work, relationships, love and loss, or light-hearted chats about horoscopes or your Netflix bingeing. As this is your space to connect with other members, it is a space that welcomes laughter and fun, as well as sharing advice, reading or talking about your favourite things.
Mental health
A big part of helping people through mental health issues is simply to talk about it. This is a place where anything related to mental health can be shared in confidence, with the support of other Sex Workers and our professional team at hand.
Upcoming events
Whether you’re looking for a fun social event or an informative workshop, we host a wide range of events for the supportive Umbrella Lane Community. Events are a chance to spark positive conversation, create deeper connections with other members and explore opportunities to learn new practical and creative skills. We host at our Glasgow community space as well as online events, which welcome Sex Workers from across the globe!
See below for our upcoming events.
Join us as we mark the changing of the seasons with a guided meditation session. FREE to join and open to the public!
20 | 03 | 2021
Spring Equinox Guided Meditation
What we offer
If you need wellbeing resources, a chat with other community members or financial support, our services are led and informed by Sex Workers so that what we offer remains in line with your needs. All services and partnered specialists are met with the commitment to be trained by our Sex Worker volunteers so that our connections are always supportive.
Sexual Health Supplies & Check-ups
Sexual Health Supplies & Check-ups
Peer to peer support
Peer to peer support
Counselling & therapeutic services
Counselling & therapeutic services
Confidential helpline
Confidential helpline
Community drop-in
Community drop-in
Social Events
Social Events
Financial Advice
Financial Advice
Workshops & Webinars
Workshops & Webinars
How to join our community
Join the Umbrella Lane community as a sex worker member, or keep in touch as an ally, individual or organisation. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter or sign up to our newsletter for updated information on upcoming events and news!