About us
In an unjust world, Unfold helps people get to where they want to be. Led by the people it serves, Unfold provides individual and group‑based support that enables people to navigate - and collectively dismantle - the structures of oppression that hold them back.
Unfold is a bold, agile and growing organisation with a friendly, energetic and welcoming team. Formerly known as Westminster Befriend a Family, it has deep roots as a local charity powered by volunteers who support young people and families to identify and achieve goals that matter to them. Today, Unfold delivers mentoring and peer‑support groups across Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and neighbouring boroughs.
While Unfold’s services are open to everyone, the organisation focuses on those facing the greatest barriers to inclusion. Key programmes include:
Broadening Horizons – weekly mentoring for young people ages 10-25.
Mentoring for Mums – support for women with children aged five and up.
Women’s Support Group – a weekly safe space for women to connect and build friendships.
At the centre of Unfold’s services and programmes are their aims:
Confidence – building a growth mindset and boosting wellbeing.
Independence – developing goal-setting skills and lasting autonomy.
Connectedness – linking people to groups, services or activities that meet their needs.
A defining feature of Unfold is its governance model, which is intentionally built around shared power and lived‑experience leadership. The Women’s Advisory Council and Youth Advisory Council - made up of people who use Unfold’s services - hold real influence over strategy, decision‑making and organisational priorities. These councils are not symbolic; they are central to how Unfold governs itself. Their insights shape programmes, challenge assumptions and ensure decisions remain grounded in the realities of the communities Unfold exists to serve. This co‑governance model requires humility, transparency and a willingness to slow down when participation demands it.
Over the last five years, Unfold’s income has grown five‑fold, its mentoring reach has expanded more than ten‑fold, and its staff team has increased from 1.6 to 12. With nearly 60% of income secured through multi‑year grants, the organisation is now developing its next five‑year strategy -one that anticipates continued growth, a sustained focus on quality and impact, and a deepening commitment to social justice.
Finances
Unfold has experienced significant financial growth over the past five years, with income increasing five‑fold to approximately £700,000. This growth has been driven by a strong and diverse funding base, underpinned by income secured through multi‑year grants that provide stability and confidence for long‑term planning. The organisation has strengthened its financial resilience while expanding its services and deepening its impact across local communities. As Unfold develops its strategy, it is building on this solid financial foundation to sustain quality, support continued growth and embed an even stronger social justice focus across its work.
Read more on the Charity Commission website.
Equity, diversity and inclusion statement
Unfold is proudly an inclusive organisation that celebrates individual identities and the richness they bring to its community. The charity is committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive society, focusing its work on people who face the greatest barriers to inclusion. Equity, diversity and inclusion are embedded in Unfold’s culture and governance, with lived‑experience leadership at the centre of how decisions are made.
Through its Women’s Advisory Council and Youth Advisory Council, people who use Unfold’s services hold meaningful influence over strategy and priorities. This shared‑power model ensures that Unfold’s work remains grounded in real experience, shaped by those most affected by inequality, and guided by humility, transparency and respect.
Prospectus is committed to ensuring that its recruitment processes reflect these values. We will take active steps to ensure a fair, accessible and equitable process, removing barriers wherever possible and involving lived‑experience voices meaningfully in assessment and decision‑making.