Life
Company typeCharitable organisation
Founded1970; 54 years ago (1970)
Founder
HeadquartersTancred Close,
Leamington Spa
,
United Kingdom
Websitelifecharity.org.uk

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]

Activities

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]

History

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]

References

  1. ^ a b c Forster, Katie (5 April 2017). "Anti-abortion charity funded by tampon tax gives pro-life talks in 200 UK schools despite government guidelines". The Independent. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Protest held outside Breaston anti-abortion charity shop". BBC News. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Obituaries, Telegraph (27 September 2021). "Nuala Scarisbrick, whose charity Life has helped thousands of single mothers and their babies – obituary". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  4. ^ Gray, Freddy (21 September 2007). "I am a rather unsubtle sort of chap". Catholic Herald. p. 7. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  5. ^ Banchoff, Thomas (15 May 2011). Embryo Politics: Ethics and Policy in Atlantic Democracies. Cornell University Press. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-8014-6107-1.
  6. ^ "LIFE 2009 - Charity 1128355".
  7. ^ "First cloned baby -- report - May 2, 2002". CNN.com. 1 May 2002. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  8. ^ Quinn, Ben (2 August 2011). "Abortion: pregnancy counselling centres found wanting". The Guardian.
  9. ^ "Response to Guardian story on Crisis Pregnancy Care Services". Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  10. ^ Quinn, Ben (24 May 2011). "Anti-abortion group drafted in as sexual health adviser to government". The Guardian.
  11. ^ "Anti-abortion group joins government health forum". The Independent. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Pro-Life, Anti-Abortion Charities Banned From Advertising At Oxford University". HuffPost UK. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  13. ^ Quinn, Ben (28 October 2017). "Anti-abortion Life charity will get cash from UK tampon tax". the Guardian. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Royal College 'irresponsible' for supporting radical abortion laws". CARE. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2023.

External links

Abortion in the United Kingdom
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