Current Project

Project 2023-24

TAMAR

Tamar are a charity that began in 2013 out of the ministry of All Souls Langham Place. They seek to reach and support sex workers in Westminister, particularly reaching women who have been trafficked. The name Tamar is a biblical name and there are two stories in the bible of women called Tamar, who were both badly mistreated by men and society. However, both of these women feature in the lineage of Christ. They matter because of God’s divine purposes to bring about salvation to all the world, through their stories. The compassion, dignity and justice that shines through these stories foreshadows how Jesus himself would treat women on the outskirts of society.

The charity Tamar has reached hundreds of individuals and continues to speak hope into the lives of many women suffering the horrors of the sex industry.

The work of Tamar is done by volunteers and offers hope through physical, practical, emotional and spiritual support. Beginning with small but meaningful acts of kindness like supplying home baked cakes, Tamar seek to show women that they are worthy of love and deserve to be treated as people, not things.

Practical support can include helping women to book their own medical appointments and travelling with them to the appointment, thus supporting women struggling to access basic healthcare. Having someone sit with you in the waiting room is as necessary as someone helping to fill in a long complicated form at the registration desk. Assistance with other types of paperwork (for example NI applications) is also crucial as many of these women have low literacy and may not have immediate access to online forms or even have the data to input. Tamar provides one-to–one English lessons to those who need them. This is especially important for trafficked women or refugees who have found themselves trapped in the sex industry.

When there are more extensive needs that Tamar don’t have the resources to handle, they signpost to a network of local commissioned services (from health to recovery and support services).

Tamar regularly visit those who are in safe places of work. Understanding what these women’s day to day looks help, better informs volunteers how to help. Of course, there are times when this isn’t possible, so finding alternative places to meet up like a coffee shop or library allows Tamar volunteers to be creative about how they meet women.

The horrific reality is most of the women Tamar come in contact with will be suffering extreme loss, trauma, fear and will be enduring several emotional, financial and sometimes physical difficulties. Tamar offer confidential personal advice including formal and informal counselling. These conversations are often messy and require a wealth of patience and compassion. The volunteers at Tamar understand it is not their job to fix people or solve all their problems, but to journey alongside individuals whilst they make the transition to a new life.

It is such a privilege to sit with women while they pour out their suffering to the all-knowing, all-loving Saviour, confident that he is good and hears our cries. For many of these women someone offering to prayer with them is an overwhelming act of care as it shows you are ready to listen and wish to bring them before God.

To find out more about Tamar via their website, https://tamarwestminster.org/ There is also an option to provide your email address so they can include you as part of their prayer mailing list.

In Zechariah 7:8-10 we read this,

“And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor.”

God gives us this duty to protect those who are vulnerable, not purely because this is how a flourishing society works, but because at our core we are image-bearers. Made to reflect God’s character.  Isaiah writes in chapter 41:17 :

“The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.”

We are called to serve in this way as we demonstrate Christ’s redeeming love to all who are lost. God made them and is the only one who can truly rescue people from hopelessness. Tamar’s ethos is rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ that calls us to love, support and share what we can with our neighbours. Jesus did not come to condemn but to give life to the full. For this reason Tamar aim to love the girls as Christ loves them, wholeheartedly. It starts with knowing that there is support available and a rescue plan for those who are trapped, and to know that someone cares deeply about their welfare.

Tamar’s objective is to be a friend to those who want support, to offer non-judgmental and confidential advice, to fight against injustice, and speak up for those who don’t have a voice.

Here are some ways you can prayer for Tamar:

  • Westminster as a borough - that through the work of Tamar, those who live, work and travel through this area will begin to see changes in their community
  • Sex worker in the area - for safety against violence and freedom from slavery.
  • Customers who use their sex services - for conviction and justice.
  • Conviction for trafficking gangs and networks.
  • Tamar’s relationship with the women. May these be deep meaningful connections that bring gospel fruit.
  • The team's emotional, spiritual and physical well-being. The work of the Tamar team is incredibly grueling and can only be done if Christ is the source of our strength.

Grace King
The Globe Church