Its with great delight that I can announce that Escort Buddys has been nominated and has reached the finals for this years Erotic Awards in the Website category.

If your wondering what the hell is an Erotic Award then this link will probably help you:  http://juicyproductions.co.uk/eroticawardstickets/

So wish me luck, I have my outfit planned already!

The Erotic Awards honour the Stars in the Erotic Universe. We were founded in 1994 by Tuppy Owens and are run as a charity fundraiser, by volunteers. The most talented, influential and sex-positive artists, performers, writers, politicians, sex workers, academics, fashion designers and pioneers are nominated by the public and judged by our Grand Jury. Each year, we create a show and exhibition of the finalists’ work at the Finals and present the winners with a Golden Flying Penis Trophy.

The Erotic Awards are a celebration of sexual creativity and diversity. Emphasis is on sharing rather than serious competition, and we encourage finalists to network so that they can share contacts, and cross-pollination and inspiration can flourish.

Our goal is to help society become more open, take sex more seriously, acknowledge the importance of fun, and become more mature and accepting of sexual diversity. The Erotic Awards aims to present an amazing group of finalists each year.

 

https://uknswp.org/um/

Many sex work support projects and escort websites have their own local ugly mugs/dodgy punter warning schemes which can be really useful in warning sex workers about dangerous people, increasing reporting, detection and conviction of crimes. There is strong evidence that sex workers are far more likely to be victims of violence and other crimes than non sex workers and are far less likely to report incidents to the police.

After many years of advocacy by the UK Network of Sex Work Projects (UKNSWP) and other supporters and following on from the successful development project, the Home Office has funded a National Ugly Mugs Pilot Scheme for one year to make the lives of sex workers safer and bring to justice those who commit crimes against them.

The National Ugly Mugs pilot scheme will:-

• Support and complement local Ugly Mugs schemes, promote best practice, enhance their quality and outcomes – local schemes will still be structured to meet local needs but will be supported by a network of fellow projects and will also be able to offer enhanced alerts and provisions to service users.
• Support and complement existing Ugly Mugs warning boards on online escort sites and forums.
• Be supported by the Serious Crimes Analysis Section (SCAS), a national database of serious sexual crimes, which will analyse the data providing better intelligence to deal with and prevent crimes against sex workers.
• Improve the level of intelligence regarding crimes committed against sex workers throughout the UK providing a more comprehensive national picture. No other country has an integrated scheme.
• Encourage and increase the level of reporting of crimes against sex workers – both third party and with permission to share the information with the police.
• Provide a mechanism for sex workers, who are not in touch with a projects or do not have one in their area, to report incidents if they wish to.
• Support mobile sex workers who may travel from region to region by allowing them to access alerts for different areas through one database and in a way convenient for them (e-mail, SMS text message, phone app, by logging onto the website or by visiting a local project).
• Help warn against and bring to justice mobile offenders by feeding local incidents into a national database and issuing alerts to members throughout the country.

Taken from Wales Online 13th May 2012.  An Interview with Madam Becky Adams who is a great supporter of Escort Buddys:

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/05/13/growing-number-of-women-turning-to-sex-industry-to-survive-91466-30955089/

Increasing numbers of women are turning to the sex industry to make ends meet, according to insiders  and researchers.

An ex-brothel madam has told us more women are becoming escorts and  selling sex as the economic gloom shows no sign of letting up.

And an academic project to start next month will survey students who have  turned to the sex industry as a means of paying tuition fees and living costs.

Madam Becky Adams, a former Brecon convent schoolgirl who ran brothels for  two decades, says that a site for first-time escorts run by one of her close  friends has seen interest soar.

The 44-year-old said the site caters for women who want to make cash from  escorting but have never done it before.

She adds while many businesses are facing a  struggle to survive in the face of the downturn, escorting is booming – with the  number looking to give it a go having “gone up a lot”.

One of the biggest trends has seen students entering the industry, something  Becky says isn’t a surprise when you consider the financial pressures of  increased tuition and living costs.

She said: “It’s more the case these days, because students need to supplement  their income and pay student loans.

“And with every passing generation and as the years pass,

more and more people become completely fine with sex work – they might not  want to tell mates about it but they’re okay doing it.”

But as well as hard-up students, she said there were a whole host of women  from different walks of life who are now investigating the possibility of  becoming sex workers.

“It’s a whole mixture of people right across the whole range – an awful lot  of people from the care and nursing industry,” she said.

In the wake of the seeming increase, academics are to launch a new three-year  study into the extent of sex work being carried out by students and the  motivations behind them getting into the profession.

Dr Tracey Sagar (corr) and her colleague Debbie Jones from the Centre for  Criminology and Criminal Justice at Swansea University have researched the field  for a number of years.

Research they carried out last year showed that an increasing amount of men  and women in Cardiff were turning to prostitution as a career choice.

And of nearly 400 off-street sex workers they found working either in  brothels, for escort agencies or over the internet, they said more than  three-quarters had qualifications.

With new funding they are set to launch The Student Sex Work Project from  June 1.

You can find out more about Madam Becky here:  http://www.madambeckyadams.co.uk

We Consent promotes and campaigns on behalf of people who work in the erotic industries to enable them to have the same equal rights, security and acceptance that non erotic industry workers enjoy. We see all sex work as legitimate and of equal value.  We just wish the rest of the world agreed with us… We will achieve this by direct campaigning in the media, at events and at university debates/lectures. This site also aims to inform visitors of the real facts behind the debates, with the hope that this will make them less polemic and more informed

Penny x

Thank you Steve for your Testimonial xx

When I first shared with Penny my idea of becoming a (male) masseur providing erotic pampering for ladies, I wondered if she might just laugh. Instead, she met the suggestion with enthusiasm, and then we discussed at length what that might involve and the unlikelihood of getting a reasonable number of clients. She warned me honestly that very few (if any) women pay for sexual services, but nevertheless, if I wanted to give it a try, she would do her best to help me succeed.

As I made changes to my website, Penny commented on how it looked from a ladies point of view and gave me advice. We discussed how / where I could advertise (not in the same places as female Escorts because women don’t read ‘that’ part of newspapers or ‘those’ webpages!). She gave me accounting advice and how to deal with HMRC. She asked a friend to give me advice about massage training. We discussed the various services that men ask women for (just so I would know) – that was a real eye-opener! Most importantly, Penny taught me how to handle initial contacts with potential clients – how to recognise who is genuine from the timewasters and those who intend me actual harm. This has proved to be the most troublesome area for me as I get lots of (male) prank callers pretending to be women – most are obviously just having a laugh at my expense, but others try to get me to agree to a meeting without me doing any security checks, or they try to lure me to a lonely, or non-existent location. Penny taught me lots of ‘basic’ information, typical tricks that men play and things to look out for, and then encouraged me to trust my instincts. In some cases Penny has given ‘emergency’ advice when I was not sure what I was dealing with. Penny was even helpful on the subject of creating an ‘incall’ location away from my home address.

I’m sure that some people would have quite a giggle at the idea of Penny protecting me, but in effect, that’s exactly what she has done. An incident occurred just this week that made me realise just how much I’ve learnt from Penny, hence this testimonial . . . at last!

Penny, you’re an absolute star – I really appreciate all you’ve done for me – thanks for all your help and support.   xxx

I came across this fantastic E-Book by Meeshee Photography on Geisha Diaries and Meeshee has kindly allowed me to give you the link here.  If you cant afford professional photographs all the time but want to keep your profile updated then this is a good way to do it.  There are some great ideas and tips in Meeshees E-Book and I am sure you will find it as useful as I do.  I am certainly going to give it a go within the next month or so.  I do love a professional photo shoot but would also like to do some for myself.

Just click on the link and request your copy.

http://www.geishadiaries.com/email-me-diy-photos/

Happy snapping!

Penny x

Warning and Photo on:

http://www.saafe.info/main/index.php?to … g63735#new

Please read and pass on.

Thanks.

Penny x

Copied from International Union of Sex Workers : http://www.iusw.org/

The International Union of Sex Workers warmly welcomes the publication of “Migrant Workers in the UK Sex Industry” by Dr Nick Mai.

This is the largest ever qualitative research into the experience of migrants selling sexual services in London, and key findings are:
• The large majority of interviewed migrant workers in the UK sex industry are not forced nor trafficked.

• Immigration status is by far the single most important factor restricting their ability to exercise their rights in their professional and private lives.

• Working in the sex industry is often a way for migrants to avoid the unrewarding and sometimes exploitative conditions they meet in non-sexual jobs.

• By working in the sex industry, many interviewees are able to maintain dignified living standards in the UK while dramatically improving the living conditions of their families in the country of origin.

• The stigmatisation of sex work is the main problem interviewees experienced while working in the sex industry and this impacted negatively on both their private and professional lives.

• The combination of the stigmatisation of sex work and lack of legal immigration documentation makes interviewees more vulnerable to violence and crime.

• Interviewees generally describe relations with their employers and clients as characterised by mutual consent and respect, although some reported problematic clients and employers, who were disrespectful, aggressive or abusive.

• The impossibility of guaranteeing indefinite leave to remain to victims of trafficking undermines the efforts of the police and other authorities against criminal organizations.

• Most interviewees feel that the criminalisation of clients will not stop the sex industry and that it would be pushed underground, making it more difficult for migrants working in the UK sex industry to assert their rights in relation to both clients and employers.

Catherine Stephens of the IUSW says, “We will only successfully target trafficking within the sex industry when we make policy based on evidence and in reality. There is currently a climate of fear amongst London sex workers due to police activity, that is driven by hype and misinformation promoted by NGOs with a financial vested interest in the anti-trafficking industry, who are ideologically opposed to commercial sex. It is time to set aside their ideology and emotion, and give people in the sex industry – whether from the UK or migrant – the same human rights and protection of the law as others.”

Rosie Campbell, Board member of the UK Network of Sex Work Projects, says, “UKNSWP member projects in London see thousands of sex workers a year and these findings reflect what they see.  We welcome this research and hope that local and national government will use it to inform policy. For some time we have been expressing concern about the under-reporting of violent and other crimes committed against sex workers in London. Clearly there is a need for the police to work pro-actively to increase trust and confidence in them amongst sex workers and to ensure they are fulfilling their duty to provide protection to sex workers.”

Both Catherine and Rosie were members of Dr Mai’s Advisory Board.

For further information contact:

Catherine Stephens
activist, International Union of Sex Workers
catherine@iusw.org
07772 638748 / 020 7697 1057
IUSW c/o MSH Suite C Maples Business Centre 144 Liverpool Road London N1 1LA

Lorraine Galatowicz
Chair, UK Network of Sex Work Projects
chair@uknswp.org.uk
07811 442479
UKNSWP 114 Cariocca Business Park Sawley Road Manchester M40 8BB

Details of the research launch event:
In whose name? Migration, sex work and trafficking
Monday, 31 October 2011 3pm-6pm
London Metropolitan University
Liebeskind Building166-220 Holloway Road London N7 8DB
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/research-units/iset/projects/esrc-migrant-workers.cfm

and the full document can be downloaded from
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/research-units/iset/projects/esrc-migrant-workers.cfm

For up to date information on the latest Warnings please go to the Saafe site here:

http://www.saafe.info/main/index.php?board=3.0

Please do post your warnings here too.

Penny x