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Real Life Options is a young organisation, founded in 1992 by David Wandless (who was its Chairman and Chief Executive until July 2009) and others, with the aim of providing support and care to people with a wide range of disabilities.

The first services were opened in London in 1993, since when we have experienced steady but substantial growth. RLO opened its first Yorkshire and then Teesside services in 1995 and established itself in Scotland in 1998. Nottingham was the focus for new developments in the Midlands during 2004 and 2005.

In 2006 RLO expanded significantly, with new supported living services in Glasgow, Aberdeenshire and Northern England. This continued during 2007, in County Durham, Oxfordshire and Coventry. In 2009 we accepted the transfer of a number of services for people with severe learning disabilities in Birmingham; and opened a new West Midlands regional office.

2010 saw our first services open in Derbyshire, Aberdeen City and Moray, alongside further growth in Northern England. Services are now provided nationally for over 600 people. In 2011-12, Real Life Options has a revenue budget of £30 million and employs more than 1500 staff.

The Investors In People award is a national standard, that sets a level of good practice for the improvement of an organisation's performance through its people. Real Life Options is proud to have been recognised as an Investor In People in July 1997; this status was reaffirmed in 2000, 2003, 2006 and again in December 2009, when we are proud to have achieved the Investors In People Bronze Award.