Hi
How is life treating you? I have to apologise, I’ve no idea where the last couple of weeks went! I completely forgot to post the video from the last podcast interview and then with half term last week, everything went out of the window. I did an Instagram post and described it as feeling as though I was skating on marbles all week. Anyone else feel like that sometimes?
I function best with routine, and having had school terms provide my structure for the last 15 years, I tend to feel out of sorts when there’s no school happening – goodness knows how I’m going to cope next year when we are done and dusted with school completely, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it 😊
Suffice to say we are back in the swing of things now and November is upon us too. I know, the inevitable is approaching at speed – I’ve started the Christmas spreadsheet, it’s the only way!
Onto the podcast. This week’s conversation is with Helena Croft. She’s the founder of Streetlight UK, which is a charity that supports women in prostitution (and coming out of).
Helena began life as a very shy girl, and in fact was a pretty shy adult until she found her faith which enabled her to feel more confident and use her voice. So much so that she ended up in local politics, and then 10 years ago, founded Streetlight UK.
You can read more about the charity on their website Streetlight UK to find out about the work they do and how you can get involved if you’d like to. Helena also mentioned the book Trafficked….
…which is a true story of how a young girl was groomed for five years by someone who she thought was her best friend until he managed to get her overseas under the premise of a weekend away. Once they arrived the other side, he put a gun to her head and threw her into sex work.
It’s quite of the moment to suggest that sex work is empowering, but Helena has a very different and experienced take on this narrative which is currently being pushed about. So this episode is a conversation of two halves. We had it just a few days after Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, and we talked about vocation v career ladder, service, the power of words, all sorts – I hope you enjoy it and have a wonderful week.
Love first,
Pipa x