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The MY LIFE programme is available free of charge for you to download. If you would like to dowload the programme to use please click on this link which will allow you to fill in a form with your details. You will then be e-mailed the link for downloading all the MY LIFE programme files.

Alternatively, you may buy the booklets direct from the publisher by filling in an order form and sending it with your cheque to SCS Design and Print. Their address is on the form.

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jennifer Jordan and RIDE co-founder Gordon Hunt with pupils from Christ's College, Guildford

My Life

My Life is a new alcohol and drug education programme for children aged 11 written by the RIDE Foundation based in Surrey. Professionals in the field of drug and alcohol addiction as well as health advisors, police, teachers and young people themselves have all contributed in the writing of this programme. Many of these people were present as was the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jennifer Jordan and RIDE co-founder Gordon Hunt.

The launch took place in Christ’s College Guildford, the first school to teach this new programme. The teachers and pupils were very enthusiastic about ‘My Life’. Mr S Green the College Principal and Mr J Payne, Assistant Principal and Head of PSHE and Humanities were thanked for their hospitality and enthusiasm.

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jennifer Jordan gave a short speech where she emphasised the importance of what is the essence of this programme: learning to have the confidence to say “No thank-you” to drugs and alcohol.

RIDE realised long ago that drug and alcohol education should start at a very young age. Gordon Brown has recently indicated in a number of speeches that he is in total agreement with this principle. My Life was written for children aged 11. RIDE has three further programmes: two are run in primary schools and are aimed at children aged 7 and 9; while the last programme is for secondary school pupils aged 13.

The Ride programmes are used in over 200 schools nationwide as well as schools in Portugal and Gibraltar. They deliver materials as required by the National Curriculum for PSHE. Teachers in general agree that the lessons are well planned and stimulating to deliver. Pupils have commented on them being clear and easy to use as well as being ‘urban’ and ‘cool’, whilst parents report that the programmes encourage dialogue with their children on sensitive subjects.

RIDE has reacted to the changing circumstances of young people and three of their four programmes have been re-written and updated over the last two years. For this programme, as with previous programmes, specialists in the field of drug and alcohol education as well as health educationalists and teachers met on a number of occasions to contribute towards the writing of this programme. Within a short time,

RIDE had recruited 6th formers from Claremont School in Esher and Rydens School in Walton-on-Thames to ask pupils in a number of other schools across Surrey what they felt the young people in the relevant age groups needed to know when facing issues such as bullying, personal safety, peer influence, drug and alcohol misuse. What resulted from their discussions was a programme that these young people regard as not only being vibrant and appealing but also effective in giving them the education that they are searching for, and helping them tackle these issues.

RIDE thanks Surrey Police Chief Constable Bob Quick for giving his whole hearted support for this programme. The RIDE Foundation has been working with Surrey and Metropolitan Police Officers for over 12 years now and we have always been grateful for their professional advice and willingness to come into schools to help deliver these programmes.

PC Julian Crabbe, Surrey Heath Youth Intervention Officer - Surrey Police
Having been involved in the last 6 years with RIDE I know that its programmes offer a constructed approach to making informed choices, when dealing with the situations that young people face.

Giving them the knowledge they need to deal with those situations, in a way that is varied and interesting, is by far the best way to address this particularly difficult area of their development.

There are many educational programmes which schools could benefit from but the new “My Life” resource will be a great asset and I am looking forward to being part of it.

Matt Hayman, Surrey Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT)
In order to teach good quality drug education in schools, teachers need quality materials and regular training. RIDE has consistently developed high quality materials that continue to be popular with schools in Surrey, the new "My Life" pack follows this tradition and Surrey DAAT were pleased to contribute to the content of the packs.

Brian Kingston, Anti-Social Behaviour Officer for Surrey Borough of Spelthorne
Having delivered parts of the RIDE programme to schools over many years and seen its obvious benefits, I am pleased to have been asked to assist with the writing of the new version of RIDE 2000 [My Life]. The new content and design is superb.

Sarah Lyles, Healthy Schools/PSHE Adviser at Four S
Research clearly shows that effective drug education needs to take a holistic approach, which builds upon young peoples' knowledge and skills also giving them the opportunity to reflect upon their own, and other peoples' attitudes and values. RIDE is based upon these principles and provides young people with the opportunity to explore scenarios appropriate to them. Building confidence, assertiveness, and self-esteem supports pupils in developing the capacity to refuse unwelcome offers and make informed and considered decisions; this is at the heart of the RIDE programme.

Bob Quick, Chief Constable of Surrey Police
In developing the ‘My Life’ programme, RIDE has produced another comprehensive educational resource for young people in Surrey. This builds upon the successful modernisation of their programme, beginning with ‘Choice’ in 2005. Surrey Police is keen that all schools in Surrey provide good quality drug and alcohol education to support our work and that of our partners in tackling drug and alcohol misuse within the county.

Dr. Gillian Weaver, 2005 report for Surrey Drug Education Team
RIDE was research driven, developmentally appropriate, broad-skills based, provided social resistance skills and had interactive teaching styles, provided teacher training and was rigorously evaluated.

APCOM awards 2007
The designers of ‘My Life’, SCS Design and Print of Somerset, have recently won two 2007 APCOM (Association of Print and Communication Managers) Awards for this book. The judges commented specifically on the “effectiveness of the design for this specific age group and subject matter” and on “the excellent quality of the solid colours printed.”

The RIDE Foundation

The Mansion, Claremont Drive
Esher, Surrey KT10 9LY
Telephone: 01372 467708
E-mail: info@ridefoundation.org.uk