Hundreds of pro-lifers recently gathered in Staffordshire for SPUC’s 2023 Youth Conference, the largest of its kind in the UK. The annual three-day event aimed to Educate, Inspire and Empower young people and equip them with the tools they need to spread the pro-life message.

“It was the best conference so far”, said one inspired delegate.

In February, delegates at SPUC’s Youth Conference were empowered to speak the truth with compassion, to be voices for the voiceless in their own lives and to take another big step closer to a future where abortion is unthinkable.

Delegates of all ages, from across the UK, heard from high-profile pro-life speakers about how to better promote a culture of life in their own lives. The event was also a great opportunity for pro-lifers to make lasting connections and friendships.

Workshops also helped delegates engage with vital and sometimes difficult pro-life issues.

Josh Brahm, a keynote speaker, said: “I was really impressed with SPUC as a result of speaking at their conference, because the students were not only engaged; many of them were familiar with some of the basic principles I was training them on!

“SPUC is clearly doing a great job training young pro-life advocates to be effective in a culture that is very pro-choice.”

Witty and informative speakers

Among the guest speakers was Isabel Vaughan-Spruce who spoke about her recent arrest for silently praying in an abortion clinic “buffer zone”, and about the need to be radically pro-life, despite the undoubted challenges faced by pro-lifers in the UK.

Delegates also heard from Kevin Duffy, SPUC’s new Director of Education, a “recovering abortionist”. He shared his powerful testimony of conversion to the pro-life cause after working for many years for Marie Stopes International, the pro-abortion giant.

The witty Josh Brahm of the Equal Rights Institute encouraged delegates to lead with compassion when engaging with others as pro-lifers. He also emphasised the need to truly listen when talking to people, and to meet them where they are.

The event also saw Hayley speak bravely about her experience of abortion coercion, a shockingly widespread issue that blights the lives of many UK women.

And Dr Dermot Kearney, former President of the Catholic Medical Association, spoke about his efforts to help women through abortion reversal pills, and the challenges he has faced confronting a pro-abortion establishment.

Reflecting on this year’s event, Dr Kearney said: “The Youth Conference was a wonderful, joyful and highly educational event. It was uplifting to meet so many young people so enthusiastic about defending the value of human life from conception to natural death. The future for the pro-life movement is assured.”

Delegates praise “best conference so far”

Project Truth Team Member Maria, who spoke to delegates about Project Truth’s successes last summer, praised “the best conference so far… The speakers were outstanding; each very knowledgeable in their field, interacted with the audience really well, and shared many powerful personal testimonies.”

Another attendee, Joe from Nuneaton, praised the Youth Conference as “enlightening and emotional but thoroughly enjoyable”.

He continued: “I learnt about the depths of coercion at every step of the abortion process and more importantly how to combat it with compassion and truth. The talks were inspiring and the people I met even more so. If I could recommend one event to persuade someone of the pro-life position, it would be this one. You can truly feel the love each person has for the dignity of human beings in every interaction you have.”

Mhairi, a student from Dundee, also had an engaging and worthwhile experience. “By attending I have definitely gained confidence in presenting the pro-life position in a compassionate way”, she said. “Hearing a first-hand story of abortion coercion was a stark reminder of the effects that abortion has on both the unborn child as well as their mother and wider family…

“Josh Brahm explained various ways of communicating with people in order to effectively argue from a pro-life position and this, along with all the other talks, has inspired me to be more actively pro-life.

“Lastly, meeting other young like-minded people was a reminder that we are not alone and that a future where abortion is unthinkable is definitely on the horizon!”