10 Questions: Gill Nowland

Gill Nowland is the CEO of the Easton-based charity One-25. 

Five nights a week the One25 van goes out onto the streets of Bristol offering sex workers help, advice, food and hot drinks. 

The majority of women they help are addicted to drugs, 80% are homeless, suffer chronic ill health and are malnourished. 

The charity also offers drop-in and casework services reaching around 300 different women each year.

What was your earliest ambition? Throughout my childhood, I only ever wanted to be a nurse.

If you were mayor of Bristol for the day, what would you do? Ensure the lives and needs of vulnerable and marginalised women in Bristol are understood and their needs are fully met.

What is the greatest achievement of your life so far? Almost 14 years’ involvement with One25. I started as volunteer in 2000, took paid employment with One25 in January 2004 and have been CEO for almost five years. 

What ambitions do you still have? To see One25 further develop services and achieve long-term financial sustainability, so more women are able to leave life on the streets and build new lives free from poverty, abuse and addiction.

What’s your biggest extravagance? I have been visiting a beautiful village on mainland Greece for about 25 years where I now own a small apartment. It has become ‘home from home’ and somewhere I am able to completely relax, unwind and escape from the pressures of life and work.

In what place in Bristol are you happiest? I love the big open spaces in Bristol – particularly the Downs. In my ‘running’ years and when training for Bristol Half Marathon (to raise funds for One25!) I loved running on the Downs with all the other runners. You never felt alone. It felt like one big Bristol running club!

How physically fit are you? Well, I don’t run anymore but I now aim to complete 3 Bikram yoga classes per week. 

Where is your favourite holiday destination? Greece – Epidauros on the mainland but I also love exploring the many beautiful Islands

Can you sum up Bristol in a sentence? Exciting, richly diverse, steeped in history with great people, culture, food and shopping – something for everyone from farmers’ markets to Harvey Nics!

What is your favourite secret spot in Bristol? I love Gloucester Road. I spent much of my childhood living close to it. Back in the early 1970s my sister and I would often spend our Saturday afternoons browsing the shops. Today I still love browsing the wonderful selection of shops, cafes and restaurants, and I still love catching up with my lovely sisters in one of the cosy coffee shops. 

You can find out more about the work of One25 at www.one25.org.uk