Ms Fleet has opened up about becoming pregnant at 15 after being groomed and raped by an older man.

She says that, despite the man telling her to have an abortion, she chose to continue with the pregnancy and gave birth to her daughter, now 23, who she says is the “absolute love of my life”.

Ms Fleet says, “I really want to be a voice for all of those people, all of those women that have children in far from ideal circumstances.”

There are over 3,000 conceptions every year from rape. Becoming pregnant after assault, which is a terrible and traumatic event, is an indescribably difficult situation to be in. Life offers free, qualified, non-judgmental counselling and skilled listening to anyone experiencing unexpected pregnancy and we are keen to spread the word about our services in order to reach any woman who needs support.

Life works hard to reach every woman in the UK who finds herself in an unexpected or crisis pregnancy, or who needs someone to talk to due to pregnancy loss or any of the many circumstances surrounding this issue.

Our National Helpline counsellors and skilled listeners are qualified, compassionate and impartial. We also have support services that go further than the free counselling we offer.

We help tens of thousands of women every year through our services. All the way from mailing out free, discreet pregnancy tests to offering housing in one of our 19 multiple-occupancy Life houses for pregnant women and those with a baby. We want to create a world where no one faces pregnancy or pregnancy loss alone.

Life offers a heartfelt thank you to Natalie Fleet MP for having the courage and determination to tell this story. We believe it will encourage other women to seek support, no matter what the situation.

Get in touch with Life here if you are looking for support, help us spread the word by sharing our news and social media posts, or by signing up to our mailing list.

The post Pregnant after assault: A courageous story appeared first on Life.

The number of abortions in England and Wales has reached a record high, with a quarter of a million abortions in a year, directly correlated with the cost-of-living crisis. The financial climate makes it more difficult than ever to have children, with recent studies by BPAS finding that financial factors influenced the decision to have an abortion for six in ten women.

Life supports women who are experiencing traumatic circumstances who become unexpectedly pregnant. They could be facing homelessness, experiencing domestic abuse, or simply living below the poverty line and unable to provide for themselves.

Kerry Smart, Life CEO, said, “It is a tragedy that so many women in the most unimaginable of circumstances are facing unexpected pregnancy without the proper support they need.

“We’re launching our Emergency Appeal to assist women in crisis who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant and need support with life-changing decisions. We provide a counselling and skilled listening service which gives a safe space for women to explore and express their feelings, fears, and anxieties. We help women talk through all of their pregnancy options – abortion, parenthood, and adoption – and what these might mean for them. And we help with removing unnecessary barriers to continuing the pregnancy with our non-directive support.

“Emily, one of the thousands of women we helped last year, says: ‘I’m so grateful that I got Life’s help, and for Gemma, my Support Worker, who is like a mother and at the same time a friend. You listen without judgment and provide a safe place. I was afraid while pregnant and abandoned by my child’s father how I would be able to provide for my child and have a future. But the help and donations from supporters have given me hope for the future. I cannot thank you all enough.’

“In addition to helping Emily and her child, here’s the positive difference Life made last year thanks to our generous supporters:

• We supported an estimated 1,045 women to have their children when they may have felt this was not an option for them.
• We counselled 5,733 people who needed someone to listen. As they consider their options, they are surrounded by acceptance and a safe place to explore their emotions.
• We housed 171 women (and their children) who were homeless or unsupported. This means that, at the moment of decision and the transition into parenthood, we are there to help them flourish as a mother.

“We ask you to stand now with the women we support. Join the team creating a world where no one faces unexpected pregnancy alone.”

The post Pregnancy support charity Life launches Emergency Appeal to assist women in unexpected pregnancies during cost-of-living crisis appeared first on Life.

I’ve been volunteering teaching weekly or fortnightly cooking life skills since around August 2022.

What do you most enjoy about volunteering for Life?

I love getting to know the girls and their babies, earning their trust and bonding with them over cooking!

What has been your best volunteering moment?

The loveliest time has been meeting one client who was pregnant throughout our cooking sessions, seeing her pregnancy progress and then finally meeting her baby for the first time! That was very special.

What’s one interesting thing about this role that someone might not know?

It’s amazing how rewarding volunteering is –  seeing the clients grow in confidence in the kitchen is fantastic!

What advice would you give to anyone considering this volunteer role?

Definitely go for it! It’s very fulfilling and enjoyable to meet new people and feel you are making a difference.

Thank you for all you do, Oli!

The post “It’s amazing how rewarding volunteering is!” appeared first on Life.

Kerry Smart, Life CEO, said:

“Life is a national pregnancy support charity creating a world where no one faces pregnancy or pregnancy loss alone. Our person-centred online pregnancy listening service was inspired by the Samaritans and is non-coercive and non-judgmental. The charity is an associate member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and adheres to their ethical guidelines.

“Here’s what we’ve heard from some of our 178,834 clients in the last 2.5 years, who tell our story better than we can:

• ‘All I have received from you is acceptance, listening, and care. The words thank you does not seem anything in comparison for what you have done for me but Thank you.’ (2022)
• ‘It’s wonderful to have a charity that is there to support all women whenever they need it.’ (2022)
• ‘I never once felt judged by the Helpliner. They just accepted me and where I was at.’ (2020)
• ‘If it wasn’t for that kind, compassionate, and sympathetic message I received from one of your workers when I was pregnant and in a vulnerable position, I wouldn’t have the beautiful, bright, and happy 17-month-old little girl I have today. Thank you so much for the incredible work you do.’ (2020)

“Transparency is important to us, so people using our listening services are told that we do not refer for abortion or give information on abortion providers. This adheres to ASA guidance. We are also displayed on Google as not providing abortions.

“Anybody who’s facing pregnancy or pregnancy loss – including considering an abortion or who has had an abortion – can use our services. We advertise so that anyone who would like to use our services can do so.

“We support measures that will reduce the rate of unplanned pregnancy, increase support and services so that women and their children can thrive, improve adoption access, and make British society more child- and parent-friendly. This provides other options than abortion and expands rather than restricts women’s choices. No matter your opinion on abortion, we can all work together to create this world. This should be the conversation we are having around abortion.

“If clients wish to explore medical topics, we inform – not advise – using NHS information in skilled listening sessions. As a pregnancy support charity, we have no intention to give out incorrect or misleading information. We make no comment on specific organisations’ materials. We agree that attempts to mislead or give false information are wrong.

“In 2022, we were awarded the Trusted Charity Mark by the NCVO in recognition of our excellence as one of the UK’s largest pregnancy support charities.”

Notes to editors

• Life’s terms of service for clients – https://lifecharity.org.uk/our-services/pregnancy-matters/terms-of-service/
• Life’s impact – https://lifecharity.org.uk/impact/

The post Life statement on our services appeared first on Life.

Mrs Ward, a midwife for 36 years and a school governor for 26 years, has also spent over three decades volunteering for Life. During the 1990s she was involved in fundraising and running a Life Pregnancy Care centre in Burton.  She has worked with other volunteers and local agencies to provide baby clothing and additional supplies to local mothers and babies. Mrs Ward and her husband John have also been working at the Derby Life Charity Shop since she retired five years ago.

Mrs Ward said:

“Whatever I have done, either during my working life or as voluntary work, I have always been grateful for the people around me, we are a team trying to work together. My greatest support has been from my husband John and son and daughter, I thank them so much. I would encourage anyone to get involved in some way with voluntary work and to show commitment to a cause you believe in because every day volunteers do make a difference.”

Life’s Director of Advocacy Liz Parsons said “For five decades, volunteers like Anne and John Ward have enabled our charity to provide much needed support to those facing pregnancy or pregnancy loss. Their love and respect their desire to help make the lives of other people better, demonstrate this charity’s caring and compassionate ethos. Volunteers like Anne and John are the heart and soul of Life and we cannot begin to thank them for their service.

We are delighted that Anne Ward has been recognised at the highest level for her selfless community work. We encourage others to follow her example and join Life and other organisations which are working to make a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable in our society.”

The post Life congratulates longstanding volunteer in Burton for her Queen’s award appeared first on Life.

A mum in one of our Houses has a violent partner.

A volunteer with learning disabilities is joining the team.

How would you keep them safe?

Life’s a national pregnancy support charity. So far in 2020, we’ve helped more than 30,000 people. A lot of the people we help are in difficult situations. They’re vulnerable. So it’s our job to do everything we can to keep them safe – clients, staff, and volunteers. This is called “safeguarding.” And Life’s safeguarding must be top-notch.

What have we done?

This is why we’ve spent the better part of the last year doing a massive safeguarding review. This included:

• Getting expert advice: A complete external audit by an experienced team from the Helplines Partnership.
• A brand-new structure: A better way of working.
• Topping up our knowledge: High-level training for the new safeguarding team.
• Commitment to excellence: A custom-built tool so that we can check our safeguarding regularly.

Why should you care?

You might be wondering why we’re taking the time to tell you this. It might even seem like corporate jargon. But it’s fundamental to who Life is.

• Working to a high ethical standard.
• Keeping everyone safe across our many different departments.
• Committed to caring for everyone we meet.

Your trust in Life is something we take seriously. A client’s trust in Life is something we take seriously. As we pursue our shared mission, we know that the people we help must always come first. That’s why safeguarding is so important. As the Charity Commission recently said:

“No charity is so large, nor is its mission so important that it can afford to put its own reputation ahead of the dignity and wellbeing of those it exists to protect.” – Tina Stowell The Rt Hon Baroness Stowell of Beeston MBE, Chair of the Charity Commission

See also: Life – A Trusted Charity

The post How to keep 30,000+ people safe appeared first on Life.

#1: Help Life Retail

As the government lifts lockdown and lets shops open, our Retail stores need to hit the ground running and bring in income to Life.

1. Save your pre-loved items

• A dress, handbag, and necklace for £11? They could house a mum and baby for a day, giving them the skills they need to live independently.
• Asummer top, jeans, footwear, and handbag for £24? They could keep the helpline and online services going for an hour.

Any pre-loved items of yours can be turned into money to fuel Life’s services. Books, accessories, bric-a-brac, clothing, art, DVDs, rag – we can use anything.

2. Donate your pre-loved items to us safely

Donate to a Life shop, clothing bank, or clothing box.

We can only take your pre-loved items at our shops or clothing boxes once lockdown is lifted, so please only donate when the doors are open.

Our clothing banks are always open for donations.

3. Buy

Grab yourself a bargain – and help yourself bounce back from lockdown! – at a shop, or online at our Life eBay or Amazon accounts.

Where are you?

Click the buttons below to see a handy map and PDF showing where we are:

Map PDF

When are shops reopening?

As of 2 July, here’s the situation:

• In the week commencing 29 June: Derby Clothing, Derby Furniture, Breaston, Wolverhampton, and Nuneaton shops reopened
• In the week commencing 6 July: No shops will reopen
• In the week commencing 13 July: Blackpool, Rugby, Weymouth, and Kingstanding shops will reopen
• In the week commencing 20 July: Manchester, Eastleigh, and Gerrards Cross shops will reopen. If lockdown restrictions have eased enough, we hope to reopen the Belfast shop in this week as well

We’ll let you know about the Leicester shop once we have more info.

All shops will reopen at reduced hours (09:30-16:00 Monday to Saturday) except for Manchester and Weymouth, who’ll reopen 09:30-16:00, Monday to Sunday.

The map and the PDF also include telephone numbers so you can ring ahead to check that the shop is open.

How do I donate or buy safely?

We’ve taken every precaution to keep you safe in our shops. Watch Charlotte Cox, National Retail Manager, taking you through what we’ve done.

1. You’ll find hand sanitiser on the shop entrance and exits
2. All shops will enforce social distancing
3. Your shop donations will be quarantined securely for 72 hours before being sold
4. Changing rooms are closed
5. You have a 14-day return policy

#2: Online shopping

a) Shop at Life online

Grab yourself a bargain online at our Life eBay or Amazon accounts.

You can also support Life by doing your online shopping – at no extra cost to you! Here’s how:

b) AmazonSmile

When you use AmazonSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of your spend to the charity of your choice – at no cost to yourself.

1. Go to https://smile.amazon.co.uk and register “Life 2009” as the charity you support.
2. Then, log in to Amazon through https://smile.amazon.co.uk. It’l take you to the same Amazon site, with access to the same products, prices, and services.
3. Shop as you would normally, happy in the knowledge that Amazon now will donate 0.5% of your spend to Life.

c) Easy Fundraising

We’ve registered Life with EasyFundraising, which means over 4,000 shops and sites will now donate to Life for free every time you use EasyFundraising to shop with them. These donations will help so much, so please sign up to support us – it’s completely free and doesn’t take long.

Register here: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/life/

#3: Do our NCFE Level 2 Counselling Course

Life’s counselling course trains potential volunteers for work on our Pregnancy Matters Online service, as well as anybody else who’d like to learn counselling skills. Learn more about the Online service, and its work during COVID-19, here.

Volunteering for Pregnancy Matters Online is a demanding but fulfilling role in a close-knit team of dedicated individuals. You can register your interest (with no obligation to continue) using this link.

Thank you for helping Life bounce back!

#bouncebackability

The post Help Life bounce back appeared first on Life.

Here are five great benefits that can come from volunteering for Life NI. 

1. It’s a great way to meet people 

Volunteering links you in with a whole group of people who have a shared interest, and helps you become part of a community. Not only can you meet people and make new friends, you can support each other, share experiences and improve your self-confidence. 

2. You can learn new skills  

When volunteering for Life you have the chance to develop many skills, including teamwork and communication. In our charity shops you can gain retail experience and customer service skills. Those volunteering in our hostel have the opportunity to complete a counselling course to help them work with vulnerable women.  

3. It’s good for both your mind and body 

There’s a strong link between volunteering and improved mental health and general wellbeing. Helping other people contributes to an increase in mood, and also provides a sense of self-accomplishment, which in turn combats stress and anxiety. It can also be physically beneficial, as being less stressed lowers blood pressure and lessens pain. 

4. It’s fun! 

You get to hang out with your friends, have a chat and work together to support women going through an unexpected or difficult pregnancy – what could be more rewarding than that?! 

5. It really makes a difference 

The greatest benefit of volunteering is the real impact you’ll have on the work we do at Life. You’ll help us to raise funds that go directly to helping us support women both in our hostels and through our community and practical support, as well as promoting our services. As a member of staff it’s always such an encouragement to see how passionate and hardworking our volunteers are, and how much they care about the work we do! 

But don’t just take my word on all these great benefits that come from volunteering for Life NI! Some of our volunteers have said:  

“…at Life NI we can see first hand the support and help it gives to those in need…” 

“I adore the heart behind Life NI . . . volunteering for this organisation is special as it doesn’t affect just one life but two!” 

“Not only is it a charity with a great ethos it is also giving back practically to the local community…” 

“…I really enjoy my time in the shop…everyone is so friendly and we get on really well…” 

Are you interested in volunteering with Life? 

Click here to let us know

The post Five great reasons to volunteer for Life NI!  appeared first on Life.

In 2018 I was incredibly blessed to become pregnant with my first child. The whole pregnancy journey was like an extraordinary lesson, even though I knew and picked up aspects of how my child would grow and develop in my womb. To see it first-hand was one of the biggest and emotive eye openers.  

When I was six weeks pregnant, I had to go for an emergency scan. To see my little raspberry sized baby on the screen for the first time, brought it home to me how vital and important it is to share with people how utterly amazing life is within the womb. My sonographer at this stage told me about how my babies’ heart would be beating and pointed out the size and weight my baby would be roughly at this six-week point. 

When I left the scan room, I felt emotional not only because of having that special moment of seeing my child for the first time, but I couldn’t help but think of those women who perhaps feel afraid, vulnerable and possibly alone; who are pregnant with a baby roughly the same age as mine. These are the women Life exists to serve.

My pregnancy journey solidified my desire to return to work for Life at the end of my maternity leave. As a result of my pregnancy an even bigger flame was ignited in me to create a world where no one faces pregnancy or pregnancy loss alone.

Therefore, I am proud to work for life. To work for a charity that strives to support, care for and help people in what can be a truly difficult period for them. And to help them meet that difficult period so that they can flourish.

The post Life is amazing appeared first on Life.

For this reason, Life has a Quality Assurance Committee made up of six Employees selected from Finance, Retail, Central Services, Pregnancy Matters, Life Matters® and the Deputy CEO. The committee meets monthly and uses the ‘Trusted Charity’ system, which is a Quality Assurance assessment for voluntary and other social purpose organisations as a tool to provide a means to analyse Life’s strengths and weaknesses and to set about improving our quality of service.

For funders and stakeholders the Trusted Charity Mark gives confidence that the charity they are working with is not only outward looking, but is inward looking as well ensuring it has processes in place to ensure its own governance and management are complete and up to task.

Level 1 lays the foundation on which to build a strong organisation, which we achieved last financial year, Level 2 requires organisations to be more strategic in their approach to achieving their aims and objectives and requires a systematic approach to planning and monitoring results and a greater focus on outcomes.

In 21 months, the committee has gathered enough evidence to demonstrate that we can apply for the Trusted Charity Accreditation Mark for Level 2 in June this year.

The post Life – A trusted charity appeared first on Life.