Our strategy

At Macmillan, we will do whatever it takes to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can. We’re going all out to find even better ways to help even more people who need our support. 
Read the strategy

Our 2024 plan

Our plan for this year focuses on the areas where we can make the biggest difference to the 3 million people living with cancer in the UK today. Our 2024 priorities to improve our services and support are detailed below:

  • Develop and launch our strategy for 2025-2030 shaped by the lived experience of people with cancer, with a focus on tackling inequities in cancer care and supporting people with the worst outcomes.
  • Transform Macmillan to be more efficient and effective by improving the way we work together, focusing on the impact of our services on people living with cancer.
  • Test new ways to deliver our services through social investment in end of life care, piloting psychological services, and trialing different community based support.
  • Help more people get the care that’s right for them by advocating, innovating and embedding personalised care initiatives across the four nations.
  • Work closely with our Macmillan professionals by ensuring they have the right tools, skills, support and resources to deliver excellent care experiences for people living with cancer.
  • Reach our 2024 income target by prioritising key fundraising activities such as gifts in wills, corporate partnerships, Coffee Morning and digital marketing. We’ll nurture relationships with our existing supporters to improve their experience.
  • Maximise our internal systems and processes to help improve data quality across the organisation and improve our relationship with everyone who engages with Macmillan.

 

A new open strategy

In 2024, we have gathered feedback from as many people as possible to help us develop a new strategy.

People with lived experience of cancer, healthcare professionals, volunteers, supporters, and partners have shared their ideas, thoughts and experiences to help us understand how Macmillan can have the greatest impact for people living with cancer.
Read about our open strategy

Our objectives

The number one.

We want everyone to know they can turn to Macmillan and how we can help them from the moment they are diagnosed.

We're famous for our amazing Macmillan nurses, but many people living with cancer, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals don't know how we can help them at different stages of a cancer experience.

We want to make sure they're all aware of the vital information and support we can offer.

The number two.

We want everyone to have a conversation about all their needs and concerns, and get the support that's right for them.

Making sense of the different support out there can be confusing, disorientating and sometimes impossible. Beyond the healthcare support in the hospital, thousands of people have no one to talk to about what they need or who can help.

We think everyone should have the opportunity to talk about their needs, whenever and wherever.

The number three.

We want everyone to have their vital needs met by high quality services.​

Right now, thousands of people are having to cope without the right support. We know that different people need different types of support at different times in their cancer experience.

Cancer affects much more than someone’s health. It can have an impact on a person's financial, practical and emotional health, particularly if cancer is treatable but not curable or if someone is at end of life. We have so much to offer when it comes to supporting people.

The number four.

We want to inspire more people to give to Macmillan so we can continue to be there for people when they need us most.

We are 98% funded by voluntary donations and 75% of our income comes from people who have had a positive experience with Macmillan, and we don't want to take this for granted.

We need to find new ways to generate income beyond traditional fundraising. We need to adapt and stay ahead by listening and responding to what our supporters want and expect from us for years to come.

The number five.

We want to improve the key processes which support Macmillan to do its work as efficiently and effectively as possible.​

We take our responsibility to our people seriously and know that there is always more we can do to improve how we work so that people with cancer receive the best support from us every time.

The number six written in black as a digit on a green circle.

We will reflect and represent the communities we serve in everything we do to support everyone living with cancer.

We want Macmillan to be an inclusive organisation, where everyone we work with, as a colleague, a supporter, or someone we support, feels that they belong.

To make sure we are doing everything we can for people who are diagnosed with cancer, it's essential for Macmillan to see, hear, and understand the people we support and see them as individuals.

Read more about equity, diversity and inclusion at Macmillan.

Our impact

Behind every number and statistic there is a person whose story matters. Here are just a few examples of how your support helps us to be there for people living with cancer.

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£310 million

 

We helped to secure millions in benefits through the advice provided by our Support Line and £310 million through our local Welfare Rights Services.

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110,000 supported

 

We supported around 110,000 people via the Macmillan Support Line.

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3,500 supported

 

Our Macmillan Buddy volunteers supported over 3,500 people living with cancer, offering support over the phone, via video call and at home.

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730,000 people

 

Our Macmillan nurses, Support workers and palliative care nurses reached approximately 730,000 people living with cancer.

Learn more about our impact

You might also be interested in...

Our values
Find out more about Macmillan's values and how we make sure we stick to them.
Our annual reports and accounts
Check out out annual reports and accounts to find out how we raise and spend our money.
What we do
Find out more about Macmillan and all the things we do to help people living with cancer.