The Birth of Family Unit Trust
Dedicated to my daughter, whose courage and resilience in the face of childhood cancer inspired the creation of this organisation, and to the loving memory of my mother, who passed away from Stage 4 Metastatic Endometrial Cancer on 16 May 2026.
Their journeys continue to inspire our mission to ensure that no family faces cancer, inequality, hardship, or loss alone.
(Mrs Margaret Faith Edet)
Our Story
Family Unit Trust was born from lived experience, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that no family faces cancer, health inequalities, hardship, or crisis without support.
Our story began in 2017 when my life changed forever.
At just eight months old, I noticed a strange white reflection in my daughter’s left eye. Initially, I hoped it was nothing serious, but as the days passed, the reflection became more noticeable and she began struggling to see properly. Concerned, we sought medical advice and were reassured that there was nothing to worry about. Trusting this advice, we returned home, unaware that this delay would have devastating consequences.
Seven weeks later, my daughter’s condition deteriorated significantly. We rushed to hospital, where a consultant immediately recognised that something was seriously wrong. Within hours, we were referred to specialists and received the devastating diagnosis of Group E Retinoblastoma, an advanced form of childhood eye cancer. Doctors explained that if the cancer had been identified earlier, treatment options may have been available. However, the disease had progressed so far that the only way to save her life was to remove her eye.
At the time, I was 36 weeks pregnant and facing another family crisis. My husband became critically ill with a life-threatening liver abscess and was fighting for his own survival. With limited support, financial hardship, and uncertainty about the future, I found myself navigating one of the most difficult periods of my life.
Watching my daughter undergo life-changing surgery was heartbreaking. Yet from that pain came a promise: No family should ever feel alone, unsupported, dismissed, or unheard during their most difficult moments. That promise became the foundation of Family Unit Trust.
A Second Cancer Journey
Years later, cancer struck our family again.
My mother began experiencing concerning symptoms, including unusual discharge, severe back pain, significant weight loss, and a noticeable decline in her health. For almost a year, she repeatedly sought medical advice. Despite her concerns and worsening symptoms, she was continually reassured that everything was fine. As the months passed, her condition deteriorated further. The pain increased, her weight dropped significantly, and her quality of life declined.
We knew something was wrong. Eventually, my mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Endometrial Cancer. The diagnosis was devastating. Supporting my mother through her cancer journey exposed another side of the healthcare system and highlighted the inequalities that many individuals and families face when trying to access timely diagnosis, treatment, and support.
I witnessed first-hand how difficult it can be for people to navigate healthcare systems, advocate for themselves, and ensure their concerns are taken seriously. Throughout her illness, we attended appointments, sought answers, coordinated support, and fought to ensure that her voice was heard.
What became painfully clear was that many people do not have someone to advocate for them. Many communities face barriers including cultural stigma, language difficulties, financial hardship, isolation, low health literacy, and mistrust of services. Others simply do not know where to turn when something feels wrong.
My mother’s journey highlighted the devastating impact that delayed diagnosis and health inequalities can have on individuals and families.
Despite her strength, courage, and determination throughout her illness, we sadly lost my mother to Stage 4 Metastatic Endometrial Cancer on 16 May 2026.
Her passing was devastating for our family. However, her legacy lives on through the work we do every day. The experiences of both my daughter and my mother revealed a painful reality: too many people experience delays, barriers, and inequalities when accessing healthcare and cancer support.
Their journeys continue to drive everything we do.
Why Family Unit Trust Exists
Family Unit Trust exists because we believe every person deserves to be heard, respected, supported, and empowered.
We are committed to being a voice for the voiceless and a source of hope for individuals and families facing cancer, illness, hardship, trauma, bereavement, and disadvantage. We understand that behind every diagnosis is a family trying to cope with uncertainty, fear, emotional distress, financial pressures, and life-changing decisions. Today, our work extends far beyond our personal experiences.
What We Do
Family Unit Trust delivers a wide range of community-led services and programmes, including:
• Cancer awareness, prevention, screening, and early diagnosis programmes.
• Culturally responsive health and wellbeing initiatives.
• Support for individuals and families affected by cancer.
• Advocacy and support for those experiencing health inequalities.
• Family wellbeing and resilience programmes.
• Support for children and young people affected by illness, bereavement, trauma, and disadvantage.
• Community engagement and outreach programmes.
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing activities.
• Social prescribing and community connection initiatives.
• Community cohesion and inclusion projects.
• Arts, culture, and wellbeing activities.
• Volunteer development and community champion programmes.
• Partnership working with schools, healthcare providers, local authorities, faith groups, and community organisations.
Tackling Health Inequalities
A key part of our work focuses on reducing health inequalities and improving access to support for underserved communities. Through our own lived experiences, we understand how difficult it can be to access information, navigate services, advocate for yourself, and receive timely support.
This is why we work tirelessly to improve awareness, strengthen community engagement, empower people to seek help earlier, and support those who struggle to be heard. We believe everyone deserves equal access to information, treatment, support, and opportunities to live healthy lives.
Our mission is simple:
To ensure that no family experiences the fear, isolation, delays, and inequalities that our family faced.
Our Impact and Recognition
Since our inception, Family Unit Trust has supported hundreds of individuals and families through community programmes, wellbeing initiatives, awareness campaigns, advocacy, volunteering opportunities, and family support services. Our work has been recognised through several prestigious awards and nominations, including:
• King’s Coronation Champions Award 2023 – recognised for outstanding voluntary service and community impact.
• Global Champions Award 2025– recognising our contribution to strengthening communities and promoting social cohesion.
• Culture, Arts and Wellbeing Leadership Award from CAHN (Caribbean and African Health Network) 2025– recognising leadership in community wellbeing, inclusion, culture, and engagement.
• Charity of the Year Award.
• Outstanding Social Behaviour Award (OSBA) 2023.
• National Diversity Achievers Award Nomination.
• Helping Hand Award Nomination.
• Community Impact and Inclusion Award Nominations.
These recognitions reflect the dedication of our staff, volunteers, trustees, partners, and supporters, as well as the resilience and strength of the communities we serve. While we are proud of these achievements, our greatest success remains the lives we have touched, the families we have supported, and the positive change we continue to create.
Looking Ahead
Today, Family Unit Trust continues to grow and evolve. Through our cancer awareness, family support, wellbeing, advocacy, community engagement, social cohesion, and health inequalities work, we are helping to build stronger families, healthier communities, and brighter futures.
Our vision is a future where every individual has access to support, every concern is taken seriously, every voice is heard, and no family is left behind. Every family we support, every volunteer we empower, and every life we touch brings us one step closer to that vision.
Together, we are creating lasting change and ensuring that no one faces cancer, hardship, inequality, or crisis alone.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Donate today.
Get involved.
Stand with us.
With your help, we can create a brighter, more hopeful future, one where no child’s symptoms go ignored, and no family faces cancer alone.
Cancer Impact in BME Communities
First Impact
Lower Cancer Awareness
Lower cancer awareness levels and lower levels of take up for screening services by BME communities is leading to both more advanced disease and poorer survival levels.
Second Impact
Worse Prognosis
Cancer patients known to be black were diagnosed with breast cancers with a worse prognosis than those in other ethnic groups. Their breast tumours were significantly larger, of higher grade, more likely to be node positive.
Third Impact
Unmet cancer information provision
BME communities have unmet need relating to the provision of cancer information. This has resulted in lower awareness of cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms and cancer services among BME communities.