HUNDREDS of Huddersfield's sex workers - some just teenagers - have been helped by a pioneering scheme steering them away from prostitution.
Money for the Sweet - Sex Worker Empowerment, Education and Training - scheme has just been assured for another year.
It is now hoped that guaranteed, long-term cash support can be secured.
Last year, 450 people - 108 under 17 - were helped.
The figures include people working in the sex trade, as well as those in danger of becoming involved.
Simon Massey, community safety manager with the Kirklees Community Safety Partnership, said the young people seen by the service were all at risk.
"Some will be involved with street walking, but some of them won't be.
"It's about preventing it at an early stage and identifying why they are heading in that direction."
Mr Massey added: "Prostitution and street walking is just a visible symptom of causes which are much broader."
He also said Sweet's role was about trying to tackle the roots of those causes, "rather than just trying to get it off the streets".
Thanks to Sweet, sex workers can approach doctors, police liaison officers, drugs workers and a range of volunteer helpers.
The nationally- acclaimed scheme is to receive £100,000 from Kirklees Council's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and £82,000 from the Kirklees Community Safety Partnership and Drugs Action Team.
The grants were approved at a meeting of Kirklees Council's Cabinet.
