The new organisation is based on the successful Dorset Life Education operation.  Chairman of the Trust, Diana Sale said “Our young children are facing increasing pressures to damage their health at a very young age because of poor diet and early exposure to drinking, smoking and substance abuse. Through our comprehensive series of school based programmes, delivered by specially trained Educators, we work with schools to give young children the skills and knowledge to make their own healthy choices in life. Our aim is to visit all primary aged children every year until they are 11 with fun and memorable programmes. We teach them that their bodies are special and what could happen if they don’t look after themselves. We also discuss and use role play to develop coping strategies in how to overcome peer pressure and help them avoid behaviour that might damage their health.”

Penny Leyland the Chief Executive of Life Education Wessex said “For me having the ability to expand into new areas is the most exciting part of our merger. Across the Wessex area there are over 140,000 children very much in need of our services. We will be working closely with all schools and education authorities to this end. Our expansion programme will also see the development of new programmes targeting older children. However, our ability to expand will as ever require more funds from corporate and community sources”.  

Schools who would like to know more about the new region and how they can request a visit from Life Education  should contact Jeanette McPhail on 01305 871050 or visit www.lifeeducationwessex.org.uk 

Life Education Wessex is an independent Charity and local operating Trust of a national organisation Life Education. Its objectives are to teach children about their physical and emotional health and wellbeing; how their bodies work and the risks of alcohol and drugs as well as helping them to understand key issues such as bullying, how to tackle it and how it can affect others. Life Education also introduces ideas about assertive behaviour and resisting peer pressure.

Life Education Wessex region sees over 72,000 children every year across the counties of Dorset, Somerset and Devon. They see over 40,000 children in Dorset alone which is over 90% of the catchment. In the Wessex region there are over 200,000 primary aged children

Life Education’s specially-trained educators teach nearly a million children every year nationally in mobile learning centres which visit primary schools across Britain. The learning centres are fun, memorable and use special effects and puppets, including the very popular giraffe – Harold.

Life Education’s work has been praised by Ofsted, Sure Start and the DCSF as well as healthcare luminaries such as Lord Robert Winston. 

Research has repeatedly shown (nida.nih.gov) that reaching children early on, at primary school, with vital messages on drug awareness is by far the most effective way of preventing drug use in later life.

Life Education also works with parents in special parenting assembly workshops and other parenting programmes to make sure the messages they teach to children are backed up at home.