Family Unit Trust: Ensuring no family should face cancer alone

Family Unit Trust, based in Miles Platting, was set up by Margaret Faith Edet after the experience her family faced when her young child was diagnosed with cancer and her husband was left fighting for his life.

Margaret, who is from Nigeria, took her eight-month-old baby to the doctor after noticing changes in their eye. The GP dismissed her concerns but several weeks later when her child’s condition worsened, she took her child to hospital where the family’s worst fears were confirmed. It was a rare and aggressive form of eye cancer.

At the time, Margaret was pregnant and her husband fell critically ill with a liver abscess. The family had no financial support or work authorisation from the Home Office – they faced immense emotional and practical challenges as they navigated their terribly difficult situation. In time, Margaret’s child was successfully treated for cancer, although they did lose their eye and her husband recovered from his illness and now helps her run Family Unit Trust.

From pain to positivity

Margaret says “From that painful experience came a promise – that no other family facing illness or crisis would feel alone, ignored or unsupported.” Family Unit Trust’s main beneficiaries are families and individuals affected by cancer, hardship and crisis, many of whom are on low incomes or at risk of homelessness. They support people who are struggling financially due to illness, unemployment or other challenging life circumstances. Their food support ensures no family facing cancer or hardship goes hungry.

By working with FareShare Greater Manchester, they say “we are able to extend this vital lifeline, providing not only food, but also comfort, dignity and community connection to those who need it most.”

Family Unit Trust offers a range of practical and emotional support services in addition to food support. They say “FareShare Greater Manchester has been a true lifeline to our charity since day one. Their food allows us to reach families and individuals who are struggling with illness, financial hardship or crisis”. They use the food to prepare and distribute nutritious food parcels for families affected by cancer, single parents, refugees and people facing homelessness.

A real impact

Margaret says that of the many people Family Unit Trust have helped since they started, one story stands out to her: a single mother undergoing cancer treatment who was struggling to feed her children. Margeret explains, “Through our partnership with FareShare Greater Manchester, we provided regular food support so she could focus on recovery without worrying about meals. Her children later joined our wellbeing and activity sessions, which helped them smile again and rebuild confidence. She also took part in our employability training, and is now volunteering with us. She told us, ‘You didn’t just feed my family – you gave us a fresh start.’”

In addition to the food and wellbeing support offered at Family Unit Trust, the organisation is actively raising awareness within the BAME community about cancer in general.

What next?

Family Unit Trust is currently preparing for its 5^th Anniversary celebrations with a Fundraising Gala Event in December. They will bring together their supporters, partners and community members to reflect on how far they’ve come and to raise vital funds that will allow them to continue the work they do. They are also launching a new Community Hub at their centre, where families can access food support, wellbeing sessions, employability training and social activities all under the same roof.

Margaret says the partnership between FareShare Greater Manchester and Family Unit Trust is about more than just receiving food, “it’s about partnership, community and hope. FareShare helps us make sure no one in our area goes hungry, while also giving us the chance to connect with people, rebuild lives and spread kindness when it’s needed most.”

For more information about Family Unit Trust and the work they do, check out their websites here: https://www.familyunittrust.org.uk/

If you are interested in joining the FareShare Greater Manchester Community Food Membership like Family Unit Trust, please get in touch with Karina, our Information & Membership Coordinator at membership@emergemanchester.co.uk or call 0161 223 8200.