“You’re not a real person-you’re an object I bought”: The stark reality of violence against sex workers
Sex workers are 18 times more likely to be murdered than the rest of the female population, according to experts, revealing the terrifying reality of violence in the sex work industry.
Dr Fiona Vera-Grey, an expert in violence against women, based at London Metropolitan University, believes this is reflective of the fact “violence against women is so woven into the fabric of society".
“We don't find it surprising or outrageous anymore," she says. "Sex workers are more likely to be targeted for sexual violence because they're not valued as much by society so there's not going to be a huge public outcry.”
There is a well documented history of violence against sex workers, from Jack the Ripper - who murdered sex workers in Victorian London to Peter Sutcliffe, known as the Yorkshire Ripper who killed 13 women, including seven sex workers.
“Jack the Ripper was able to do what he did because he was killing sex workers, and nobody sees these people as people," says Vera-Grey.
She believes attitudes have hardly changed since the 19th-century murders, stating the men who solicit sex workers often think “you're not a real person, you're an object that I've just bought and you have to do what I tell you”.
Dr Vera-Grey pointed out the sex workers who are the most exploited are often an already marginalised group such as people of colour or those facing homelessness and substance abuse.
“We're in a patriarchal society, and a racist society," she says. "This means sex work is often the purchase by white men of black and brown women."
Research suggests that ethnic or racialized minorities make up a substantial proportion of the sex worker community, up to 22.8% in the UK and USA.
Women of colour are among the most marginalised in the industry, yet it is the stories of white, middle-class women that are more readily framed as empowering or glamorous.
Dr Vera-Grey, who teaches on the Women and Child Abuse MA course at London Met, says: “As a society, we are comfortable with the image of a white middle-class woman who's selling sex to put herself through university, but we don't think so much about the homeless woman who's clearly a drug user.
A study, published in BMJ Journals, on London sex workers showed those who work on the street experience over double the amount of violence from clients than off-street sex workers.
“Who are the men who are buying sex off this woman? They can see that she's in an exploited situation," says Dr Vera-Grey. "What are their motivations? Those men are the most dangerous.”
In the UK, “curb-crawling”, which is the act of driving along the streets in search of a sex worker or going to a brothel, is illegal but Dr Vera-Grey argues that the current legal framework fails to address the real issues at hand.
“The men that are buying street sex workers in this country are committing a criminal offense and they're some of the most dangerous men because they don't care about the fact that they're committing a criminal offense,” she says.
Dr Vera-Grey believes the proposed Nordic model, which criminalises the purchase of sex but not the selling of it, will harm sex workers’ safety. “It’s going to make the women less safe," she says. "It's going to push everything underground. What needs to happen alongside the Nordic model is the introduction of really well-resourced exit services to support women to be able to exit prostitution if that's what they want to do.”
Calls for decriminalisation of sex work also do not address the issue of violence, Dr Vera-Grey believes. “In areas where there is a fully legalized sex industry, there are still really high levels of sexual violence against sex workers.” She believes the effects of increasingly violent pornography fuels sexual violence, especially for sex workers.
The Childrens’ Comissioner Study in 2023 found 79% of young people had encountered violent pornography before the age of 18 and 47% think girls ‘expect’ sex to involve physical aggression such as airway restriction or slapping, and a further 42% believe most girls ‘enjoy’ acts of sexual aggression.
Dr Vera-Grey spoke to a sex worker, who was in her 50s, as part of her research. “The sex worker noticed younger clients wanted practices that were taken from pornography and wanted to treat her much less like a person," she says.
"She was quite taken by the fact that there was a difference in ages in terms of her clients and the younger ones wanted to do some more dehumanizing stuff. With one of them in particular, she had said 'that’s not how you treat your girlfriend. That's not how you treat women'.”
This widely accepted violence against sex workers is perpetuated by true crime, such as Netflix’s ‘The Ripper’, believes Dr Vera-Grey. “It becomes unextraordinary, and that has a huge impact on how much the public then puts pressure on the government to do something to stop.
“Some women are sexually murdered. It's just something that we kind of accept as a society.”
‘I can make more in three hours than I would make in a month at my day job’: inside the life of a high-class escort
Her face blurred in lingerie-clad photos, Annie's images are splashed across an exclusive website, advertising herself as a high-class escort. It might not be for everyone, but this well-educated museum worker is fiercely protective of her side-hustle which she feels is 'romantic and glamorous'.
"I am damn proud of what I do," says Annie, 24. "I'm really bloody good at it, and I enjoy it. Not many people can say that for their jobs."
Annie, not her real name, became a high-class escort at the beginning of 2025 to fund her dream of going to drama school and becoming an actress. "It feels like an acting gig," she says. "I am playing the role of my alter ego, who is quite different from me."
While agency-based escorting only represents around 4% of the UK sex industry, it’s often the kind of work which fuels the glamorous image of sex work seen in media- expensive dinners, luxury hotels, and generous paydays.
Clients select her profile and arrange meetings through her female agent, who also used to be a sex worker, and takes a deposit. According to UK law, this practice which is classed as 'pimping' is illegal. However, the agency gets around the law by claiming they sell the workers' time rather than explicitly advertising sex.
Although, Annie explained that sex is not optional on these dates. “They [the clients] have already paid the deposit. They give me the cash up front. I don't know if they would demand money back if I didn't have sex or if they would get angry.”
She works predominantly for financial necessity and in the last three months has saved over £5000 from the earnings she has made. “It is the first time in my life I've ever had savings," Annie says.
She grew up the youngest of six children to a single mother who had “no money”. It was only with the financial assistance of a full bursary and working part time in hospitality Annie was able to complete her English Literature degree at university.
For the three years she was “living paycheck to paycheck,” but now works in a museum while she is training to be an actress. But Annie explains this will not fund the £20,000 she needs to go to drama school.
"I can make more in three hours as an escort than I would make in a month at my day job," she says. "For most of the girls at the agency, it's their side hustle. They're all different ages and all of them have professional careers."
Annie currently works two to three times a month. The agency Annie is registered with offers a “girlfriend experience” to high-end clientele, typically to men in their 50s and 60s, many of whom are married with children.
For each job, Annie earns around £1,000 in cash for a three-to-four-hour date, which typically includes dinner, a theatre show, or a hotel visit. “They'll take you to a gorgeous restaurant," says Annie. "You'll have champagne, cocktails, and three courses. The bills will be hundreds of pounds. They'll be very gentlemanly. They'll treat you like you're a goddess and a princess and the most gorgeous thing in the room.
"Most of the time, they just want someone to chat to, and they want to be seen at a restaurant with a younger girl, they want someone who is going to laugh at all their jokes."
She describes all of her sex with clients so far as "vanilla", not lasting more than 15-30 minutes. “You can always just close your eyes and think of your work crush," she says.
The aspiring actress is a “homoerotic bisexual”, meaning she is more attracted to other women and says she would only date a woman, making it easier to separate her sexuality from her work. “I have not been attracted to a single one of these men,” she says. "I think it's a job most people wouldn't want to do, but I genuinely think it's a job most people wouldn't be able to do."
Annie is keenly aware of the stigma surrounding her profession but is adamant that people shouldn't be judged for their individual choices. "I'm not ashamed of what I do, but I don't want to publicise it," she says. "I know that there is a massive societal prejudice." Annie has only told a close circle of friends about her job and feels fortunate that her female friends are very supportive but two of her male friends were very judgmental and “preachy”.
"We've still not really gotten over this Victorianized mechanical view of women who need to be saved," Annie says.
To ensure her safety, the agency Annie works with verifies client identities, and she calls her agent when arriving and leaving the meeting location. In the UK, women involved in sex work are 18 times more likely to be murdered than the rest of the female population.
“It’s not that different from going to a hook up," Annie says. "You're still meeting someone that you don't know but it does feel safer than that, because I know that he has been vetted, that he's been checked, I know his identity. If anything happens to me, they will be in immediate trouble, and my agent will go straight to the police.”
Annie also uses platforms such as Ugly Mugs, a website that allows sex workers to report bad experiences and identify the men, so that other sex workers can cross-check their potential clients.
The only negative sexual encounters Annie has experienced have been with men her own age, whom she has slept with outside of work. "They are the ones who will start choking you or slapping you around, calling you really vile names," she says.
Annie believes this behaviour has become a norm in some younger men and stems from the access to graphic porn sites. "Mainstream porn on PornHub is quite violent and unpleasant. It feels misogynistic. It doesn't feel like romantic sex. It feels so brutal and animalistic."
Annie’s believes her style of sex work allows her to feel safe. She is adamant she wouldn't do street sex work, where workers solicit customers in a public place. “I think it's unsafe, and you're much more at risk from abducted, raped or murdered,” she says.
But Annie is keen to point out that she is in a different financial position to street sex workers. “A lot of the people who do that kind of sex work are a lot more desperate and fuelled by sort of more basic needs than to fund a degree," she says. “I'm not doing this because I need to do this to survive. I'm doing this because I want to pursue the things that I enjoy. I think that's a very big difference.”
Annie operates in a legal "grey area", technically selling her companionship rather than her body, and advocates for decriminalization of sex work and regulation of the industry. “We are not the criminals," she says. "We're just people. I think if you're doing it in a way that isn't hurting anyone, like ethical, fair trade sex work, then I genuinely do not see the problem with it.
"If something does go wrong and someone is hurt badly, decriminalization means they can go to the police and can be investigated, without them worrying about being treated as a criminal themselves."
Annie and her fellow agency workers do not support the Nordic model of sex work legislation, an approach which has been adopted in several European countries, including Sweden, France and Northern Ireland, where those who are purchasing sex are criminalised, and those people selling sex are decriminalised.
"It comes with the narrative that all sex work is inherently harmful and violent and insidious," Annie says. "There's still quite a stigmatized view of sex work but it needs to be treated like it is a valid choice and a valid job.”
What happens in a heart screening?
As charities call for an increase in cardiac screenings to prevent heart attacks in young people, we look at what happens during tests, and what medics are looking for.
The charity, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), offer free heart screenings for young people aged 14 to 35, in a bid to spot potential heart defects before they cause serious health risks.
The organisation releases booking slots one month before their scheduled screening days, allowing people to secure a place to get their hearts tested.
Patients with appointments fill out a questionnaire, and their weight and height is taken before they get scanned.
During the screening
A echocardiogram (ECG) machine is used to screen for inherited cardiac conditions using sound waves to create pictures of the heart and record the sinus rhythm, or heart rate, of the patient.
Heartbeat abnormalities are detected by ECGs that could prevent sudden arrhythmia death syndrome, where someone dies suddenly from a cardiac arrest.
The recordings can reveal abnormal heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias, that may not be identified by a scan of the heart’s structure.
Teresa Brennan, a specialist cardiac physiologist at CRY, said: “The ECG is the important part, and that’s the bit that people worry about, because they always think it going to be painful. It’s completely painless.”
Young men need their bare chest and arms accessible to the doctors, and young women can be scanned without removing their tops.
Patients lay down in a supine position, lying on their back with their face and abdomen facing upwards, on a bed next to the ECG machine.
Electrode clips are then placed on the patient’s chest that detect the natural activity in the body.
Ms Brennan said: “Once the person is comfortable and we can see on the screen that we have a good recording, we press to begin the recording.
“The results come out onto a graph, and then that graph gives all the information and that’s what’s seen by the doctor.”
After the screening
Doctors check if the patient’s ECG recording shows a normal sinus rhythm, which indicate a healthy heart.
If the recording shows an abnormal heart rhythm, a letter is sent to the patient’s GP and they are referred to their local hospital for further testing.
Steve Cox, CEO of CRY, said: “We believe it's about 95% of conditions will be picked up by the ECG.”
However, Dr William Parker, a NIHR clinical lecture in cardiology at the University of Sheffield, believes not all ECG recordings which are detect abnormalities result in a heart disease diagnosis.
CRY recommends regular heart screenings for individuals aged 14 to 35 to detect any risk of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome as their hearts develop. To book a heart screening appointment with CRY visit their website.
Queer spaces: a “hotbed for addiction”?
Gay bars have long served as a sanctuary for queer people, but behind the glowing lights and echoing music, alarm bells are ringing as a culture of drink and drugs encourages substance abuse within the community.
"The club experience can be described as a feeling of escape or euphoria," says Mattress, a 24-year-old drag queen from Leeds.
Mattress, who has struggled with addiction in the past, began working in gay bars after falling in love with lip syncing during lockdown.
“It’s a shame these spaces can be a hotbed for addiction," they said. “Part of our job is to encourage people to buy at the bars. At the end of the day, the bars hold the show."
The most recent Crime Survey for England and Wales reveals people who identify as LGBTQ+ are twice as likely as their cisgender-heteronormative counterparts to drink and a similar survey shows they are nearly four times as likely to take drugs.
"The club experience can be described as a feeling of escape or euphoria"
Shannon Murray, from the University of South Wales, conducted a study with members of the LGBTQ+ community which revealed how substance abuse has become culturally normalised.
“Many LGBTQ+ venues, particularly gay-friendly spaces and clubs, revolve around alcohol and drugs," she says. "For many in the community, these are the primary ‘safe spaces’ where they can meet others like themselves and feel accepted. This creates an environment where substance use becomes normalised and even expected as part of community participation.
“Developing alternative social spaces that don't centre around alcohol and drugs is crucial. While LGBTQ+ bars and clubs have historically provided vital safe havens, we need to expand the range of community spaces where people can connect. It's important to recognise the historical context that has shaped LGBTQ+ social spaces. This history has influenced how LGBTQ+ people socialise, but it doesn't mean these patterns can't evolve to become healthier.”
"In drinking or drug taking there is a chance to escape from it - not having to think about what is happening in the real world for a minute"
Although Murray believes a healthier collective attitude towards drink and drugs is emerging, a recent rise in homophobia and a disdain for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policies could undo this good work.
She explained as well as LGBTQ+ resources being vulnerable to cuts, individuals may experience increased stigma, discrimination, and social rejection - all factors which could contribute to substance use as a coping mechanism.
Mattress agrees the current hostility towards queer people will isolate them further, with the recent ruling on the legal definition of a woman exacerbating minority stress. "There’s more and more bad news about how hard it is to be gay or queer," they say.
"In drinking or drug taking there is a chance to escape from it - not having to think about what is happening in the real world for a minute. I think in general the worse it gets the more it is going to push people to chase this feeling of not having to deal with it.”
Murray’s research also reveals those who identify as LGBTQ+ are less likely to access formal support for alcoholism or addiction. The study showed 56% of those who participated would go to online resources or self help, while 47% said they would seek support from a partner and 33% from their friends.
“The real support network we have is our queer family," says Mattress.
‘Just putting someone in social housing does not solve the problem’ says former homeless man
After experiencing homelessness, Jay found shelter in social housing, but was met with the feeling as though the clock to move out started the moment he stepped through the door.
Archer Project were able to get Jay and others just like him back on their feet.
The Sheffield-based project collaborates with organisations such as Framework, NOMAD, Likewise, ASSIST, Snowdrop Project, and Sunday Centre, to help people move out of a homeless, or poor social housing situation and into permanent housing.
Jay Said: “I’m a different person today.
“When I first came to Archer Project I used to just sit, I was an empty shell. The council said because I'd got no ID ‘You don’t exist.’ I knew two people knew I was telling the truth, I existed: that’s you in the mirror.”
Archer Project helps people to progress away from homelessness by supporting individuals to develop independence, engage with health and wellbeing services, learn to identify and change negative behaviours, build confidence and self-esteem, and improve ability to tackle setbacks.
Homelessness doesn't necessarily just mean sleeping on the street - it can be hidden through poor temporary housing conditions.
Jay said: “It’s a false economy just to say ‘Oh right we’ll put someone into a property and that’s the problem solved.’ If you put someone in the wrong property, yes they’re not ‘homeless’ but they could become homeless again.
“When I was in temporary accommodation, it was like being put on a bookshelf.”
Individuals such as Jay are supported to engage with organisations who arrange housing provision, and support people to stay in and manage their accommodation.
Social housing is offered by many companies across Sheffield such as Sanctuary and Green Bridge who are given charitable status by the Government so they do not have to pay VAT for the work they do.
Archer Project’s role in this is to provide vulnerable people a platform to move away from their dependency on social or temporary accommodation and therefore reduce the risk of ending up rough sleeping once again.
Tim Renshaw, the CEO of Archer Project, said: "If we look at the level of homelessness in both Sheffield and wider areas at the moment, and we know all the good work that is going on to move people away from homelessness – and still more people are coming to the streets.”
This comes amid a rising trend in homelessness across Sheffield. For instance, the government’s annual rough sleeping snapshot in autumn 2024 reported a 68% increase in the number of people sleeping on the city's streets - and that figure likely only scratches the surface.
The Archer Project does aim to put a stop to this increase with the work they carry out and instead support a stable housing environment.
2024 was their busiest year to date, they supported 1,223 individuals and served 24,445 meals, a dramatic increase from 2023. Last year they also facilitated 205 therapeutic activities, and supported 27 Partner Volunteers in their Partnership Programme.
NOMAD is a partner of The Archer Project who look to move those supported by the project into suitable living conditions.
They focus on providing innovative housing and support services to help people transform their lives and achieve independence.
Karen Awdhali, Head of Services at NOMAD, said: “I took a phone call about a 19-year-old, and it made me think of my own son who was the same age at the time. The caller said, ‘If you don’t take his case, he’ll be on the street.’ That was the turning point for me.”
NOMAD’s average monthly referrals have more than doubled since November 2023.
The aim is then for care to be delivered to help people set strong foundations for readjusting to living in this stable accommodation.
This allows people like Jay to move off the streets and away from temporary living situations and into a permanent home.
“They helped me get my identity back - become who I am again.”
Social housing: lack of homes leaves system in crisis
Over 1.3 million people are on waiting lists for social housing in the UK - the highest number in 11 years.
Shelter reported that last year saw only 11,400 social rent homes built, but a separate 23,000 were lost due to sales, demolitions and the conversion of long-term empty homes.
The number of people waiting on local authority housing registers is up by three per cent to roughly 40,000 from the previous year - the most since 2014.
Research from the New Economics Foundation (NEF) also revealed that 41 per cent of council homes sold under the Right to Buy Scheme are now on the private market.
The Right to Buy Scheme, introduced by Margaret Thatcher's government in 1980, allows people to buy their council homes, moving many of them into the private market.
A Freedom of Information request by the NEF found that the number of homes bought under the scheme and now on the private market has grown by 3.2 per cent in the past ten years, which means 109,000 more homes are now let privately.
The lack of social housing stock leaves many waiting for a house in temporary accommodation at a high cost.
Cllr Douglas Johnson, chair of the Housing Policy Committee for Sheffield Council, said: “This creates a big financial pressure on the council, which has a knock-on impact on every other area of council spending.”
Rising costs affect the council's provision of social housing, with a Sheffield Wire FOI request revealing that Sheffield Council spent £42 million on exempt accommodation alone in 2024/25.
Last year councils spent £2.3 billion providing accommodation for households experiencing homelessness - that’s £6 million per day
This is not solely a local problem, with Shelter reporting that councils including Dartford, Hastings and Crawley spent over half their council tax income on temporary accommodation last year.
Hannah Rich, of Shelter, said: “Temporary accommodation is costing councils eyewatering sums.
“Last year councils spent £2.3 billion providing accommodation for households experiencing homelessness - that’s £6 million per day.
“As costs continue to grow, councils spend more of their budgets on temporary accommodation and a growing number are at risk of bankruptcy.”
Many living in social housing also experience maintenance problems, such as mould and damp, which sometimes go unfixed for long periods of time.
Unfit living conditions like these can lead to both physical and mental issues for residents.
The Government is set to pass Awaab’s Law later this year, which will bring in greater powers to regulate landlords and ensure such living conditions are fixed.
The legislation follows the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020 as a result of a severe respiratory condition which a coroner ruled was caused by prolonged exposure to black mould in his Rochdale home.
City council’s bill revealed for housing Sheffield’s vulnerable people
Nearly £135 million has been spent on housing vulnerable people in Sheffield over the past five years - new figures have shown.
Exempt Social Housing aims to provide shelter to people including those who are homeless or victims of domestic abuse with providers paid directly by the local authority.
These accommodation claims are passed on to housing providers who shelter these people. They allow them to gain funds from the government and provide shelter and support to tenants with mental health problems, substance abuse issues, and alcoholism, among other issues.
Douglas Johnson, chair of Sheffield Council's Housing Policy Committee, said: “People end up in this type of accommodation through a number of routes. The one unifying feature is that many of these residents need support and are vulnerable without the right support being in place.”
There are 81 registered housing providers in Sheffield who claim the exempt accommodation housing benefit. A Freedom of Information request by Sheffield Wire has revealed the amounts spent by the city council on exempt accommodation..
Over the last five years, the authority has spent nearly £135 million on exempt accommodation claims.
Green Bridge Community Housing has received the biggest claim since 2020, with over £9 million claimed in 2024-25. Overall, the housing provider has claimed over £25 million since 2020.
Sheffield City Council has spent £42 million on providing housing benefits under exempt living accommodation claims in 2024-25.
The claim for Housing Benefit under exempt accommodation has risen in Sheffield over the years. There were 3,210 claims in 2020-21, before it dropped down to 2,636 in 2022-23. However, there has been a sharp increase since then, with the number of claims reaching 3,641 and 3,995 respectively in the last two financial years.
While the council provides funding under these claims, they do not regulate or check if the quality of the housing and other benefits are well maintained.
The authority also said it was unaware of exactly how many individual Sheffield residents are currently living in exempt accommodation, but added that there were 2,418 housing benefit claims for such properties.
The average rent for exempt accommodation in Sheffield is £287 per week with the lowest being £70 and the highest £589.
The authority also revealed that it does not have one single service that oversees the provision of exempt accommodation in Sheffield.
A spokesperson said: “The council does not currently have the power to oversee these services or to ensure that standards are upheld.
“However, where the council commissions exempt accommodation, the appropriate procurement and contract management, the council ensures the relevant standards are upheld.”
The council said it was not aware of any complaints being made by tenants in exempt accommodations.
The spokesperson also added that it was not responsible for the provision of all exempt accommodation in its area.
Social housing: what is it and who is it for?
Four million people were living in social housing across the UK last year, with 261,000 households being added to the list in the previous 12 months.
The system provides secure and affordable accommodation for those who are vulnerable, on low incomes or people with disabilities.
According to Shelter, the average weekly rent in a social home is £89 - a figure which is set by the Government and is £107 less than the cost to private renters.
Who provides social housing?
Social housing is generally provided by local authorities or housing associations. This is the case in Sheffield where the city council manages its own stock of housing.
Housing associations are not-for-profit organisations that provide secure, affordable housing for those in need. They act as independent, social landlords and own, manage and let their own housing. According to Sheffield City Council, there are currently 18,000 homes in the city owned by housing associations.
The types of social housing are:
- Permanent housing: Social housing that a tenant can stay in permanently if they stick to terms of the tenancy. These are only issued by local councils and have waiting lists for accepted applicants. Types of permanent housing include self contained houses, council housing, and supported housing.
- Temporary housing: A short-term fix for those who are either homeless or awaiting permanent housing. Types of temporary accommodation include hostels, B&Bs and self-contained flats leased by the council.
- Emergency housing: Temporary accommodation provided to people in need of immediate crisis housing. The main types used are hostels, B&Bs and emergency shelters.
- Supported housing: This is normally reserved for those in need of care, such as older people, disabled people and people recovering from addiction.
Who is eligible for social housing?
Social housing is generally for individuals or families with low income, or problems such as disabilities, health problems or homelessness.
For a household to be classed as ‘low income’, it needs to be earning less than 60 per cent of the UK’s median household income, which currently stands at £36,700 (Office for National Statistics).
The Department for Work and Pensions showed in 2023/24, that around 17% of people in the UK were in relative low income.
In the year 2023-24, 27 per cent of new social lettings went to homeless people and 44 per cent of new lettings were to households with at least one resident with a physical or mental health condition, expected to last a year or more, according to Government figures.
Thirteen per cent of social lets in 2023-24 were given to non-British residents - four per cent European and nine per cent non-European.
Cllr Douglas Johnson, head of Sheffield City Council's Housing and Policy Committee, said: “The one unifying feature is that many of these residents need support and are vulnerable without the right support being in place.”
“I want another child, but I’m too scared”: Inside the UK’s maternity crisis
Maternal death rates in the UK are at a 20 year high, as maternity care plummets further into crisis.
Despite this, the Department of Health has proposed a staggering £93m in cuts to service development funding for maternity care.
Following the Ockenden review, which highlighted poor maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS trust, revealing at least nine women and 201 babies, could have survived if given a better standard of care. As a consequence £95m in additional funding was pledged to be used for maternal care by NHS England.
However, due to changes to the Department of Health, only £2m of this funding is confirmed to be spent on maternity care in the year 2025/26.
At a time of such clear failings, Sheffield Wire's campaign, Maternal health: Unseen threat, unequal care, is unearthing what lays at the foundations of the crisis.
From midwives on the front line to mothers falling through the cracks, to an extended period of underfunding leading to less autonomy for mothers, alongside burnout and fear amongst midwives and a tick-box approach to birth.
Combined this results in a lack of adequate maternal and mental health support for new mothers, with disastrous consequences.
One mother explained how the traumatic birth of her daughter left her with a severe fear of hospitals which eventually forced her to quit her job as a nurse.
Another woman shares her experience with HELLP syndrome - a rare and difficult to diagnose form of preeclampsia - that tragically led to son's death, and left her fighting for her life. She is now calling for a better understanding of women’s health.
Sheffield Wire also explores the impact a shortage of midwives is having on women’s right to choose home births, and the changes that campaigners are calling for.
Maternal health: Unseen threat, unequal care is #DemandingBetterBirths, and aims to prevent more women suffering in a broken maternity system.
Cardiac crisis: the hidden struggle for heart health in the young
Over 100,000 people in the UK are waiting for vital heart screenings while the theft or vandalism of more than 100 defibrillators is leaving people at risk by limiting access to life-saving tests and equipment.
According to experts, these gaps in access are putting lives in danger - especially for young people who are unaware of underlying heart conditions.
In Italy, where screening is mandatory for all young people engaged in sport, cases of young sudden cardiac death have fallen by a massive 89%.
But in the UK, NHS guidelines mean free echocardiogram heart screenings are only provided for young people when a cardiac death has occurred in the family, or through the work of charities such as Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).
CRY provides around 30,000 appointments for 14 to 25-year-olds each year.
An ECG is a procedure where electrodes are placed on the chest to monitor heart activity. Despite its simplicity, cost and access remain significant barriers with private screenings priced at around £80 per test.
Gillian and Barry Wilkinson’s world turned upside down in 2016 when their 24-year-old son Daniel died from an undiagnosed heart condition while playing football. Since then, they have set up the Daniel Wilkinson Foundation in his name, raising money to fund heart screenings for young people and supply defibrillators to grassroots sports clubs.
Dr Tim Chico, a cardiologist at the University of Sheffield, argues that what is actually needed is more reliable testing, but Dr Steven Cox, CEO of CRY says the NHS and the National Screening Committee undervalues ECG as a diagnostic tool.
Sam Russell, 26, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest playing hockey in February 2025. His teammates gave CPR as others desperately tried to find a life-saving defibrillator. Sam has now raised over £8,000 to pay for ten defibrillators and offer CPR training.
A Sheffield Wire Freedom of Information request has revealed that 124 defibrillators have been stolen or damaged in the UK during the last two years leaving communities without life-saving equipment.
And figures such as this, alongside the long wait for screenings, highlight the need for mandatory screenings more than ever.
Paul Gregory lost his daughter Lauren to a sudden cardiac arrest when she was 29. Since then he has campaigned to place a defibrillator in every corner of football stadiums across the UK.
And we have also heard from Sheffield Sharks who screen their senior players before every season and are now making changes to ensure all young people are safe and ready to play at any age.
Our campaign brings together real-life stories, expert insight, and a national call to action to ensure regular heart screenings for all young people.
“Sober not boring”: How Queer rave keeps the party going without the hangover
The vibe at a Queer sober rave is “a little bit wild and a little bit wholesome” according to organisers who run alcohol-free LGBTQ+ events.
The House of Happiness was launched after its founders realised there was a gap in the market for dry, daytime, events which mimic a traditional night out.
Neil Hudson-Basing, one of the co-creators, was inspired to help create the raves after he gave up alcohol for health reasons six years ago. He was looking for a “big, bold, colourful party”, as opposed to the wellness or recovery themes that often dominate LGBTQ+ sober events.
“What we [other founders] love is partying," says Neil, who began working on House of Happiness in October 2022. "None of us have an addiction or recovery story, none of us are interested in wellbeing or mindfulness.”
With DJs, dancers, a photographer, and a fully stocked alcohol-free bar, the parties are everything you would expect from a typical club – without the 3am stumble home.
Neil described how the culture around alcohol and excessive drinking within the Queer community draws people in and makes it difficult to get sober.
A 2024 report by Drinkaware found 70% of LGBTQ+ drinkers engage in binge drinking, and members of the community are more likely than the general population to list coping and fitting in as reasons they consume alcohol.
We wish that people knew how fun and how crazy life can be without alcohol - life can actually be better
Neil found people less understanding when he chose to get sober for health reasons as opposed to those who stop drinking because of addiction. “When you choose to give it up for lifestyle reasons it’s a harder sell to get your friends on board," he says. "People don’t take you seriously, they’ll take the p***, they’ll try and tempt you. I’m coming up to six and a half years sober and I’ve still got friends that are weird about it.”
Neil also explained how LGBTQ+ events have traditionally catered to cisgender, gay men, and that The House of Happiness has tried to counteract this by focusing on inclusivity, with rules including “respect space, respect pronouns, respect individuality".
“We’ve all felt that feeling of not belonging, whether that is at a regular club where everyone is hammered or in a gay club because you don’t fit a certain mould. We wish that people knew how fun and how crazy life can be without alcohol - life can actually be better.”