The behaviour of adolescents, especially in relation to risk taking behaviours has been the subject of numerous headlines across the UK over past years. The use of risk taking behaviours such as smoking, drugs, alcohol and unsafe sex contribute to social problems, morbidity and mortality. If unchecked these behaviours can develop into habits that impact young people’s physical and mental health and well-being.
More than 40 years of research have provided evidence of LifeSkills effectiveness under different conditions, with different providers and with different populations and age groups. The programme is effective with different groups of children and young people and the reductions in risk taking behaviours are long lasting. Studies testing its effectiveness have found that LifeSkills can reduce the prevalence of risk taking behaviours in children by up to 75% with effects lasting 12 years. LifeSkills is a universal programme, designed for whole-class in school delivery.
This research aims to understand the impact of the LifeSkills programme following its implementation in Waltham Forest schools.