Clan unveils new five-year strategy and website to grow impact across communities

Clan has unveiled a new five-year strategy and website as the charity aims to grow its impact as a trusted third sector partner providing cancer support across the north-east, Moray, Orkney and Shetland. 

The charity’s 2030 strategy asserts how the organisation will continue to lead in delivering person-centred cancer support across its geography while influencing policy and addressing inequalities in accessing support. 

The approach follows the successful completion of the charity’s previous 2022-2025 strategy which outlined how the charity would successfully recover from the COVID pandemic. 

The charity helped 2,306 people impacted by cancer across its communities in the last year with 35% of clients being referred by NHS practitioners for complementary emotional and physical support services. 

The objectives outlined in the new strategy support the ambitions of the Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-33 and closely align with the Scottish Cancer Coalition priorities for equity, lived experience-led services and system collaboration.

Fiona Fernie, Clan’s CEO, said: “The next five years are pivotal for cancer support in Scotland and the third sector has an increasingly important role to play as demand and inequalities persist.

“Our new strategy outlines how we aim to strengthen the personalised, accessible and holistic care that complements the work of the NHS and social care partners, further establishing Clan as a leader in delivering person-centred cancer support.”

The strategy details five outcome led themes:

·                     Person-centred, holistic cancer support

·                     Workforce and volunteer sustainability

·                     Strategic partnerships

·                     Digital transformation and data insight

·                     Financial resilience 

The focus areas of each theme are detailed in the strategy document.

Alongside the strategy launch, the charity has also unveiled a new website aligned to its strategic priorities of equity in access and digital transformation. The new platform improves the way clients access information and enhances opportunities for corporate and community supporters to help fundraise the £2.7million needed annually to run Clan’s services. 

The website now offers users a profile selector to provide a tailored web experience, a step-by-step guide for accessing care, a live testimonial wall where individuals can share their experiences of Clan and an interactive what’s on calendar which profiles events and support groups across the charity’s geography. 

Developed by Aberdeen based design, brand and digital agency FortyTwo Studio, the site is fully accessible with an integrated assistive toolbar which allows users to customise their experience with features including text to speech, language translation and styling adjustments.

Fiona added: “Our much-anticipated new website is the result of an organisational wide exercise to ensure our clients and supporters can find exactly what they’re looking for online on a modern, fully accessible platform which clearly communicates Clan’s purpose and role in cancer care.

“The launch of the site and our new strategy signals a new era for Clan as we continue to modernise and strengthen how we approach improving the quality of life for people during and beyond a cancer diagnosis.”

Clan Cancer Support is the largest, independent cancer support charity in the north of Scotland and provides emotional and physical support to anyone impacted by a cancer diagnosis, including the individual, their family, carers and friends. 

The charity provides free professional counselling, complementary therapies, health and wellbeing activities, information and dedicated support for children and families across north-east Scotland, Moray, Orkney and Shetland.