How we talk
Putting people at the heart of our work
Our written communications should always demonstrate how people affected by cancer
are at the very centre of our work and how we take our lead from them in order to
meet their needs. Wherever possible we should avoid describing people with cancer
as having things done to them – passive recipients of care and support – but demonstrate
how people with cancer make choices for themselves in conjunction with those involved
in their care. We frequently use stories of people with cancer, their families,
Macmillan health and social care professionals, supporters and staff. Wherever possible,
we should use first person quotations.
Please contact Mark Harland on 020 7840 4911 to discuss your needs.
Avoiding pigeon-holing people
Do not define groups of people by one characteristic such as disability, age, race,
colour, religion or sexual orientation. For example:
| Appropriate | Inappropriate |
|---|
| deaf people | the elderly |
| gay men and lesbian women | gays |
| Jewish people | Jews |
| black people | blacks |
If you need to refer to a group of people who may be defined by common racial, cultural,
religious or linguistic characteristics, please remember this is a sensitive issue.
‘Black and minority ethnic communities’ is a currently accepted term for minority
groups.
If you have any queries about what to say or write, please contact Melanie Lee on
020 7840 7801 or Sarah Myers on 020 7840 7820.