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The Vodafone UK Foundation

Welcome to Life Choices - an ambitious three-year programme funded by The Vodafone UK Foundation. Life Choices will combine on-the-ground and online services to provide young people with the support and information they need, enabling them to make decisions about their future and engage in the education, training or employment that's right for them.

The Vodafone UK Foundation has committed £5m over three years for Life Choices. This ground-breaking programme is led by YouthNet and delivered in partnership with The Foyer Federation, Rathbone and Skill.

Why Life Choices?

There are 7.2m young people (aged 16-25) in the UK today. 16% of them are not currently in employment, education or training. The Life Choices consortium has come together to provide a ground-breaking solution. Our aim is to empower and equip all young people to make informed life choices about employment, education and training.

We believe that all young people can learn, make progress, and achieve. With the support of The Vodafone UK Foundation, the consortium will create change, empowering and inspiring young people to achieve their ambitions and dreams.

"I'm not really sure I can say I've had any bad advice regarding studying because I wasn't really offered any...even when I was unemployed I never felt the Job Centre really helped me do anything. As I am today, I have no qualifications and no idea what career direction to take with my life." From the Life Choices focus group.

Life Choices is for all young people in the UK, but will reach the most disadvantaged and disengaged young people in the UK, specifically targeting:

Young offenders and those at risk of offending;
Young homeless people and those at risk of homelessness;
Young people with disabilities and learning difficulties.

What will Life Choices deliver?

The Life Choices programme will deliver five key areas of activity, targeting and supporting young people throughout the UK.

Life Choices engagement teams - we will reach young offenders and the most disengaged 16-25 year olds in their communities; in parks, on the streets, and in estates.
Life Choices workshopsrun in Foyers across the UK - we will engage and inspire homeless young people or those at risk of homelessness by providing them with intensive coaching, face-to-face support and peer advice.
Life Choices helplines we will give disabled or in need 16-25 year olds a wealth of information and advice through bespoke telephone, SMS (text messaging), online and email support.
Life Choices website – young people will have immediate access to information and advice under one virtual roof. The Life Choices website will use the very latest media to give young people a unique, exciting and inspiring online experience.
Life Choices Volunteers programme - we will engage a UK-wide network of young volunteers who will develop, support, and share Life Choices with, and for, their peers.

Transforming lives

Life Choices will transform the lives of young people in the UK most in need of our support, supporting them to (re) enter some form of work, study or training as a direct result of the programme.

"The genius behind this idea and what sets it apart from others, is that it doesn't just give ideas and advice from a sheet of paper, it gives a wide range of advice from the mouth, to on paper and a variety of concepts and formats online. It's advice that is designed to help people." From the Life Choices focus group.