Life Choice Programme

Life Choice Programme
The Life Choice Programme is a sex and
relationships and life skills programme, using the
RealCare Baby as a focal point and stimulus.
I N T E R V E N T
E A R LY
I O N
•
S
E
R
V
I
C
E
•

Life Choice
Programme
The Life Choice Programme
has been designed for young
people aged 14 and over.
Whilst this programme is
aimed at young people who
have a desire to become
young parents, it can also
be delivered as a universal
prevention programme, which
consists of seven sessions.
Session 1: When is the right
time for me?
Key Message
• The right time is different
for different people but the
law states that young people
should not have sex before
the age of 16
• Everyone has the right to say
no
• Even if you have had sex
once, it does not mean you
have to keep on doing it.
You can step back at any
time - it’s your choice
Session 2: Am I strong enough
to say No?
Key Message
• Nobody has the right to
force us to do anything we
don’t want to do
• Doing things just because
our friends/boyfriend/
girlfriend want us to may
lead to feelings of regret
• Even if you don’t feel
confident inside, you can
use the strategies we
have looked at to portray
confidence
Session 3: The pregnancy test
is positive. What now?
Key Message
• Becoming pregnant does not
mean you have to become
a parent. There are other
options.
• It is important to have all
of the information that you
need to make an informed
choice that is best for you as
an individual
2

Session 4: How would my life
change as a teenage parent?
Key Message
• Priorities change when you
become a parent
• You cannot necessarily do all
of the things you want to do
• Caring for a baby is not the
sole responsibility of either
parent - it should be a shared
responsibility
Session 5: Where did it all go
wrong?
Key Message
• Having a baby doesn’t
necessarily strengthen
relationships. It is, in fact,
a difficult, exhausting
and emotional time that
can put a huge strain on
relationships
• A secure relationship is
the best starting point for
becoming parents
Session 6: How do I look after
my baby?
Key Message
• Caring for the virtual
baby should be as real an
experience as possible.
Young people should not
stay at home all of the time
to care for the baby and
should experience taking the
baby out.
Session 7: How did it go?
Key Message
• Improved self-esteem and
confidence can help us to
make the right choices
• Caring for a baby is
challenging at any age, but
is particularly challenging for
young parents
• Having a baby can put a
huge strain on a relationship
After completing the seven sessions, young people are given a
realcare baby, to look after for three nights. An agreement is put
in place with parents/carers, to ensure that the young people
have full responsibility for the realcare baby.
All elements of this programme are assessed and evaluated.
Young people will have the opportunity to reflect on their
learning experience as well as receiving constructive feedback
from the tutor.
3

“They should run this for all girls who are 14 and over.”
Parent of a young person who was on Life Choice
“I thought it would be a laugh, it was so hard, I was
knackered after the first night.”
S, 17 years old
“I came back in 1 hour of taking the doll, it
wouldn’t stop crying.”
K-14 years old
“Babies are so expensive, and I never thought
about that until I did the workshops”
A, 16 years old
London Borough of Hounslow
Civic Centre, Lampton Road
Hounslow TW3 4DN
Telephone: 020 8583 6600
www.hounslow.gov.uk
If you would like to offer this
programme within your setting,
please contact: Early Help Hounslow
on 020 8583 6600 or
email:singlepoint@hounslow.gov.uk
October 2013