| Life | |
| Type: | Charitable organisation |
| Hq Location: | Tancred Close |
| Hq Location City: | Leamington Spa |
| Hq Location Country: | United Kingdom |
Life is a major pregnancy and maternal support charity in the United Kingdom, which has made national headlines for its anti-abortion message.[1] [2] The charity was founded in 1970 by husband and wife Jack and Nuala Scarisbrick.[3] [4] Catholics and evangelicals form the majority of Life's membership and support.[5] For the year ended June 2021 the charity had a turnover of £3.4 million.[6]
Life offers counselling and support on pregnancy and pregnancy loss; practical support for pregnant women experiencing homelessness; and education on abortion and other pregnancy-related topics. The charity's flagship activities include a national advice hotline and a series of shelters for young expectant mothers.[3] Life opposes abortion and has lobbied against the practice in the United Kingdom, including by giving talks in schools.[1] [2] Co-founder Nuala Scarisbrick was quoted as saying that political opposition to abortion must always be accompanied by "real, meaningful support to women in crisis pregnancies".[3] Life has also opposed experimentation based on the cloning of embryos.[7]
In 2011, the Life telephone advice line and some Life Care Centres were criticised for providing inaccurate information about abortion, and for using emotive language.[8] In response to the story, Life said that it had reviewed many of its procedures and protocols.[9] Also in 2011 the Conservative government caused controversy when it appointed Life, which stated that its services included counselling and information on pregnancy and adoption, to its advisory group the Sexual Health Forum, replacing the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS). Ann Furedi, the chief executive of BPAS, said: "We find it puzzling that the Department of Health would want a group that is opposed to abortion and provides no sexual health services on its sexual health forum."[10] The Liberal Democrat's Evan Harris opposed the organisation's inclusion on the forum.[11]
In 2014, the Oxford University Student Union banned the charity from advertising its services at Oxford University following a complaint that its counselling and publicity were directive. In response the charity said that it offered non-directive skilled listening rather than advice.[12]
Life made headlines in 2017 for receiving taxpayer funding from the newly introduced tampon tax in the United Kingdom, with campaigners arguing that taxpayers should not be subsidizing anti-abortion organizations.[1] [13]
In 2019 Life expressed opposition to the Royal College of General Practitioners decision to support the decriminalisation of abortion.[14]