CHALLENGE

• Develop a research project which engages a small group of sex-workers and provides a framework for gaining detailed insights into their lives. 
• Focus on the factors which influence their decision-making behaviour, for example; looking at motivations and barriers to accessing and using health and well-being support services.
  


METHOD

• Delivered co-design workshop with key members of the project delivery team.
• Worked with a former sex-worker to ‘sense-check’ the research activities were  appropriate and would have high levels of success. 
  
• Briefed project team on how to deliver the research.
  
• Acted as remote mentor for project team when research activity was undertaken. 
  

OUTCOMES

• A needs-led approach to developing user-focused services.
• Research plan which detailed the roles, responsibilities and research activities.
• Bespoke workshop and research tools developed specifically for the research activity.
• New insights gained about the lives of sex-workers which resulted in improvements to the existing Cyrenians support service. 
  
  

NOTE: image taken by a sex-worker working on the project.