Equality, diversity and inclusion at Cancer Research UK

We exist to beat cancer, and beating cancer means beating it for everyone

Our vision is a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) play an important role in helping us achieve this.

We published our first EDI strategy in 2021 and since then made significant progress to ensure that everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in the work we do. We’ve refreshed our strategy because we’re operating in a dynamic environment and it’s important that we respond to new evidence, opportunities and challenges. We also want to build on what’s worked and innovate in new areas.

Our strategic priorities

Our vision and strategic priorities are based on our initial EDI strategy. For each strategic priority, we’ve identified focus areas, prioritised initiatives and developed performance metrics to measure our progress.

Reduce cancer and health inequalities through our work and in partnership with others

We know that cancer doesn’t affect everyone equally. It’s our duty to address cancer inequalities through our work by publishing the best evidence and through the research that we fund.

Develop a more inclusive and diverse research community through the research we fund

We've already removed several barriers to progression for our researchers, increasing the diversity in applications. We’re committed to making sure more diverse researchers are attracted to and stay in cancer research. We use our influence to ensure a diverse and inclusive research culture and we fund research of the highest quality that is relevant to, and where appropriate involves, a diverse population of research participants.

Build an inclusive and diverse culture for all our people – staff and volunteers – so they can contribute to our success and feel like they belong

We’ve made progress in diversifying our staff. Our new inclusive recruitment approach resulted in a 23% increase in the number of staff from an ethnic minority background. We introduced a heads progression programme for women in 2019 achieving at least 50% women in director and executive director roles. In our graduate and intern programmes, we saw an increase to 50% graduates from an ethnic minority background. The images we use in our publications are now more diverse, as are the people whose stories we use to showcase our work.

Ensure inclusion and diversity across our governance and leadership

We know that having an inclusive environment with diverse perspectives is essential in robust decision making, so we're inclusive in how we engage our staff, supporters, researchers’ community, volunteers and people affected by cancer when making decisions. We reviewed the way we recruit to make sure we always employ the best leaders and advisors with broad skills and perspectives so we can better reflect the communities we serve.

Engage with people in ways that are inclusive, relevant and accessible

Each year, we reach approximately 38 million people with our patient information and more than 60,000 people face to face with our health information. We have a responsibility to make sure our information is easy to access and understood by audiences from all backgrounds. We’ve started work to remove barriers which could prevent people from accessing our content by introducing accessible formats for our reports, webpages, and videos. We’re also working towards making our web content more accessible to disabled people. We still have some way to go but we will get there.

Our principles

1. We’ll use research and evidence, and continuously improve, adopt best practices and learn from others

2. We’ll use our influence to promote equality and inclusion in cancer research and care

3. We’ll champion dignity and respect in every interaction

4. We’ll seek to tackle cancer inequalities and be anti-racist as it relates to cancer

5. We’ll partner and collaborate with organisations to accelerate progress towards our objectives and mission

Our people

Our cancer and health inequalities strategy 2025-2030

EDI is a core element of our organisational long-term strategy: Making Discoveries. Driving Progress. Bringing Hope. which we launched in 2022, while our research strategy (also launched in 2022) has ‘reducing cancer inequalities’ as one of its three core principles.

This refreshed EDI strategy underpins these two core strategies and is itself complemented by our more detailed cancer and health inequalities strategy and our forthcoming EDI in research strategy (to be published in 2025). This ensures that our EDI activity is integrated across Cancer Research UK.

Making an impact: Staff Networks

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