LIFE was founded in 1970 and this year is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

LIFE is a national charity which provides a professional range of services for men, women and couples with pregnancy-related issues.

The organisation is run by dedicated professionals and volunteers and has four main departments: Caring, Education, Housing and Fertility Care.

LIFE Caring offers practical and emotional support during pregnancy, which include free pregnancy tests, clothes and other equipment. Care centres also provide support to women who are facing a crisis pregnancy, giving them time and space to talk through their options. This enables them to make an informed choice about whether or not to continue with their pregnancy. Counselling is also offered to clients who are suffering after an abortion or pregnancy loss — often many years after the event. All of its counselling services are free, confidential and non-directional.

LIFE Education is focused on young people in schools. The education team give talks about sex and relationships, and encourages debate about real-life issues such as abortion and euthanasia. For children in Year 6, the Life Before Birth talks show them the wonder of new life and the development of the unborn child.

LIFE Housing offers supported accommodation for single mothers and their babies. Through the LIFE Skills Programme, tenants learn kitchen skills, health and safety, money and budgeting, parenting techniques and other skills.

The LIFE FertilityCare programme is an exciting concept in reproductive healthcare based on a unique method of charting fertility cycles. It can be used by couples to help them to plan to achieve or avoid pregnancy, so is a true method of natural family planning. One in six couples experience difficulties in conceiving, so this system helps couples to identify and treat the causes of infertility, giving them a natural, low-cost alternative to assisted reproductive techniques.

LIFE also provides help for children aged 0-5 with life-limiting or debilitating illnesses through Zoë’s Place hospices.

If you can spare a few hours a week and have skills in listening/counselling, administration, networking or fundraising then LIFE would love to hear from you. Training and on-going support is available.

Contact Sarah Finch on 01865 202435 or email oxfordcarecentre@lifecharity.org.uk