The NCAP network (the National Christian Alliance on Prostitution) is a collaborative association faciliatated by Beyond the Streets (www.beyondthestreets.org.uk). The NCAP network exists to unite, equip and empower organisations seeking to offer freedom and change to those involved in prostitution through sharing resources, experience and working in partnership.
While many people have yet to acknowledge it, prostitution is a major problem in the United Kingdom. Human trafficking has recently hit many people’s agendas but there still remains lack of awareness of the many lives destroyed by other types of sexual exploitation which includes prostitution. While drugs, abuse and domestic violence are often contributing factors, people involved in prostitution come from a wide variety of backgrounds and bring with them an equally diverse range of issues to be addressed. Whether they are in flats, on the streets or in massage parlours, people caught in prostitution need to know that there is both hope and opportunity for change.
In 1999 the NCAP network was started to support those wanting to exit prostitution. Having recognised some of the difficulties faced by those who work in the sex industry and the groups seeking to reach out to them, the NCAP network provides opportunities for shared learning and mutual support. Like the clients groups they work with, the affiliated NCAP projects are diverse, representing a broad spectrum of beliefs and practice.
At the heart of the network is the desire for projects to work in partnership as a way to further the effectiveness of providing support to the people each project is working with.