UNAPOLOGETICALLY HER. EMPOWERED TO DREAM
Meet Michaela
“I created LEIF because I know how much it can matter when one person sees something in you before you can see it in yourself.
LEIF is about giving girls space to grow, to ask questions, to feel supported and to start building a life that feels like theirs.
Totally and beautifully empowered”.
LEIF was founded by Michaela Bonfield.
The nonprofit organisation was named after her danish grandfather, Leif Bergstedt.
Michaela knew what it is was like to grow up without the support and reassurance that every young person should have.
She experienced homelessness from the age of 15 and spent years trying to work out who she was, where she belonged and what kind of future she could build for herself. There were people along the way who helped her, but there were also times when she needed more support, more guidance and someone to remind her that her circumstances did not have to define her.
Since then, Michaela has spent her career working with children and young people, particularly those who are struggling with confidence, mental health, belonging or difficult experiences outside school.
She founded and led Herts Schools Outreach, a children and young people’s mental health charity which supported more than 5,000 young people across Hertfordshire and beyond. Through that work, Michaela worked closely with schools, families and communities, creating support for young people who needed someone in their corner.
Her work has been recognised through national and regional awards, including being named in the WISE100 list of most influential women in social enterprise, receiving a Chamber of Conscience Gold Award, and winning Innovative Service Awards for her work with young people.
In 2024, Michaela received personal recognition from His Majesty King Charles III for the impact of her work supporting children and young people.
LEIF comes from both Michaela’s professional experience and her own life.
She created it for girls who may be doubting themselves, carrying more than people realise, or trying to find their place in the world. Girls who deserve support before things become harder, and who deserve to feel confident about the woman they are becoming.
Unapologetically her
About LEIF
LEIF exists because too many girls grow up feeling that they need to be quieter, smaller or less themselves to fit in.
We know that confidence is not always loud.
Sometimes it is a girl putting her hand up for the first time. Saying no to something that does not feel right. Applying for an opportunity she would usually talk herself out of.
Beginning to believe that her future can look different.
LEIF gives girls space to talk, reflect, build confidence and think about the woman they are becoming.
Our programmes bring together honest conversation, practical support, creativity, positive role models and experiences that help girls feel more secure in themselves. We want girls to leave feeling clearer about their strengths, more confident in their choices and more able to take up space in the world. Empowered.
LEIF is not about telling girls who they should become.
It is about helping them see that they already have something amazing to offer.
what we believe
We believe girls deserve more than being told to “be confident”.
They deserve adults who listen properly. They deserve opportunities to explore who they are without judgement. They deserve to feel safe asking questions, making mistakes and imagining a life that feels bigger than the one in front of them.
We believe in empowerment.
The way a girl sees herself can shape the relationships she accepts, the opportunities she goes for, the boundaries she sets and the future she believes she is allowed to build.
Helping girls everywhere step into the beautifully, strong women they are becoming.
Work with LEIF
LEIF works with schools, colleges, universities, community organisations, funders and partners who want to create meaningful opportunities for girls.
Whether you are looking to bring a programme into your setting, fund places for girls or explore a partnership, we would love to hear from you.