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Unlock: Our impact 2025/26

Unlock's impact page sets out its support in numbers for 2025/26. The charity, which advocates for people with criminal records so they can move on positively in their lives, supported 10,394 people through its helpline, its disclosure calculator was used 41,154 times, and its online information received 981,622 visits. Feedback shows people feel more confident, informed and equipped to overcome the challenges of having a criminal record, improving their chances of successful resettlement and reducing the social exclusion they often experience. Alongside direct support, Unlock is developing its policy and advocacy work to change the criminal records system.

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About

Unlock is an independent, award-winning national charity for people with criminal records. It provides information, advice and a helpline, and campaigns for fair access to employment, education, housing, financial services and everyday life.

Key Metrics

10,394 people supported through the helpline
41,154 uses of the disclosure calculator
981,622 visits to online information

Key Outcomes

  • People supported say they feel more confident, informed and equipped to overcome the challenges that can arise from having a criminal record
  • Support improves people's chances of successful resettlement and reduces the social exclusion they often experience
  • More people are able to secure opportunities, rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities, helping to reduce the risk of reoffending

Geography

England and Wales

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
8,033 children, adults and families affected by a disappearance helped in 2022/23
Key Metric 2
35,064 TextSafe® messages sent to missing children and adults; 2,960 Suicide Risk TextSafe® messages to high-risk individuals
Key Metric 3
40% of Lost Contact tracing cases successfully resolved; 1,000+ multi-agency professionals trained
30th anniversary year: over 10 years and £10 million raised by players of People's Postcode Lottery for Missing People's services
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
CHF 3 million+ total programme funding raised in 2025 — a record — with CHF 1.3 million redeployed directly to YMCA National Movements
Key Metric 2
2.5 million people reached through digital skilling initiatives via HP partnership across 30 YMCA partners since 2021
Key Metric 3
37,000 people directly reached per Community Wellbeing project (1.3 million indirectly); 85 new Change Agents enrolled from 44 countries
5,000 jobs to be created under Igniting Youth Futures (USD 5.2 million Accenture/Macquarie-funded); 750+ young people already reached at year-end
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
95 individual young people in under-16s groups; 85 in over-16s groups; 42 in Transformers (trans/non-binary); 114 young people supported through 385 one-to-one sessions
Key Metric 2
149 parents and carers supported across 44 online and in-person groups; 3,500+ participants in training and workshops across 97 sessions
Key Metric 3
96% of young people said Allsorts groups had been of help; 75% said coming to Allsorts improved their overall wellbeing
Won Investing in Children's Member of the Year Award for extensive youth voice integration; 100% of Summer Programme participants enjoyed activities