Diversity, equity and inclusion statement

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Target Ovarian Cancer works to improve early diagnosis, fund life-saving research and provide much-needed support to anyone affected by ovarian cancer. 

Everyone deserves to be treated equally, fairly and with dignity. We recognise that many people are under-valued and treated differently because of who they are. This could be due to race, class, religion or belief, sex, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation and disability or a combination of these. By reaching and representing as many people as we can in our work, we will better reflect the communities we serve, make better decisions, be more innovative and have a greater impact on the lives of people affected by ovarian cancer.

Our commitments

Everyone is welcome at Target Ovarian Cancer.

We are committed to:

  • recognising and addressing inequalities that affect people who need our support, those who support (or could support) us, and our team
  • learning and challenging ourselves to embed equity, diversity and inclusion in our everyday practices and behaviours
  • making sure Target Ovarian Cancer is a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone

The steps we’re taking

We need to ensure that we fully recognise and understand how people are excluded and disadvantaged so that we can improve existing ways of working and behaviours. To ensure we deliver on our commitments we need to better understand the challenges in accessing the best possible diagnosis, treatment and support and in gaining the benefit of our services. 

Over the coming year, we've identified three key areas of work that will help us understand where we are now, and how we can improve:

  • Understanding the needs of people affected by ovarian cancer: Our actions and decision-making will be informed by and carried out in partnership with people from a range of backgrounds and experiences. We'll speak to the people we support, people we could support, those who support us, and our team, to inform our work on ovarian cancer and understand how we can better meet their needs. We'll use these insights to focus our immediate action on where we believe it'll make the greatest difference and develop a longer-term plan.
  • Working in partnership: We will develop partnerships with groups, organisations and individuals, improving our connection to diverse networks so we can better understand how we can develop.
  • Developing our team and leadership: Everyone at Target Ovarian Cancer has a role in making sure that we're an inclusive organisation which reflects the diversity of our society. We'll review and revise our strategy for the recruitment, retention and development of a diverse and inclusive workforce and board of trustees. Through training and ongoing dialogue, we'll support our team to reflect on their own experiences, assumptions and behaviours, and work in an inclusive way.

This is a statement to mark our commitment to these next steps. We'll use the insights gained from these efforts to develop more detailed plans and set new goals in 2021.