The proceeds from the Day for Life collection taken in England and Wales on 1st July 2007 will principally go towards the work of Life - an organisation which provides a nationwide care service for pregnant women, unsupported mothers, women with problems relating to pregnancy, fertility or infertility, or suffering from the effects of abortion.

For more than thirty years, Life has been one of the busiest and most high profile charities in the UK. At the heart of its mission is a conviction that opposition to abortion and the misuse and destruction of human embryos is not enough on its own.

We must present an alternative; a positive alternative

This is how we at Life describe our support and education services for mothers, fathers, families, young people and infertile couples.

• We envisage a society where abortion is unnecessary – even unthinkable.
• We look forward to a time when the mass manufacture, manipulation and destruction of human life in laboratories is no longer accepted and tolerated.
• We hope that one day all young people will have access to relationships and sex education that stresses faithfulness, self-respect and permanence, rather than being deceived by the current moral vacuum in sex education, leading to hurt, emptiness and promiscuity as they search for meaningful sexual encounters.
• Our caring work is the embodiment of our vision.

We hope and believe that we are providing the template for how society will approach pregnancy, relationships and infertility in the years to come.

The Life Fertility Care Programme

We do not just say to an infertile couple that IVF is wrong. We show them a different – and better – way to deal with their problems; a holistic, non-intrusive and natural way that respects life and helps couples to learn about their fertility. The Life Fertility Care Programme is a whole person process, taking into account not only the physical aspects of fertility, but also the emotional and ethical needs of the couple. Support and counselling are as much a part of the treatment as is the medical management.

Life Caring

Life’s nationwide Pregnancy Care Centres offer a confidential “safe space” where women can access free pregnancy testing, emotional support and counselling. We also offer information on pregnancy and abortion and provide practical support for mothers and their babies. For obvious reasons, the majority of those who visit our Care Centres are women, but increasingly we find ourselves talking to men and wider family members. They too can be adversely affected by abortion, for example if their partner or relative has an abortion without their knowledge or against their will.

Apart from these face-to-face services, we also run a National Helpline, staffed by our most experienced counsellors and skilled helpers, available 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 5pm on Saturdays. This is complimented by Text-to-Talk, our most accessible and confidential information and support service. Anyone who needs to talk – in confidence – sends us a message and we reply to them by text or by phone if they decide they want to speak to someone.

Life Housing

One especially important aspect of our work is performed by Life Housing. Life houses first appeared in the 1970s when Life supporters offered assistance to women who became homeless during pregnancy. Our supporters opened houses in various locations across the UK in order to provide a home and support to women who found themselves in this vulnerable position.

Thanks to the hard work of our supporters we were able to develop a national supported accommodation service. Life Housing provides accommodation and support for those who need it; most are vulnerable young women. We have over thirty houses and we help young mums to develop much-needed practical skills, whether that is how to look after young children or how to compile a CV and make a good impression at a job interview.

Over recent years there have been many changes to legislation and funding streams that have affected providers of supported accommodation. Life Housing has adapted in order to meet these changes. Houses that were run by local Life Groups have become centrally managed and the majority of our funding now comes through the Government’s Supporting People programme.

Life Education

What Life Education sets out to do is to present up-to-date, relevant information in a coherent and challenging framework, using interactive presentations to stimulate debate. They visit schools all over the country, engaging with students and debating and discussing a huge variety of subjects, from abortion and embryo research to euthanasia and reproductive technologies. "A really upbeat day, compact but delivered in a fresh and interesting way to keep attention. Really good!” - A student, 15, from London.

The future: onwards and upwards

Our work in schools is a vital part of our work and is a key component of our long-term strategy to care for women, uphold human dignity and promote respect for life. Our ultimate aim is to reach every child and young person in Britain with the uplifting, empowering and optimistic pro-life message. We want every child to recognise their own unique human dignity and be willing to stand up for the vulnerable and the voiceless.

www.lifeuk.org