10th April 2026

Our NEW Language and Health Literacy Resource Library is now LIVE!

We’re excited to share our new Language and Health Literacy Resource Library, a practical guide to help us communicate more clearly, simply, and with genuine human connection.

Visit and explore the Language and Health Literacy Resource Library

Why language matters in health and care

The words we use every day in health and care settings are not neutral - they shape people’s experiences.

Done well, language can build trust, confidence, and connection. Done poorly, it can create confusion, distance, and even harm, and it can either “help or hinder” relationships between services and the people they support.

Health literacy plays a big part in this. It’s about people being able to find, understand, and use information to make decisions about their health.

When communication is unclear or overly complex, people can struggle to navigate services, follow advice, or feel confident in their care. That’s why improving language isn’t just a “nice to have”, it’s essential.

What the resource library offers

The new resource library acts as a central hub for anyone looking to improve how they communicate in health and care.

It brings together:

Practical tools to support clearer conversations
Guidance on using plain, inclusive, and accessible language
Learning from real experiences of people using services
Resources developed through co-production with people and communities

All of this is grounded in a wider commitment to personalised care, putting people, their experiences, and what matters to them at the centre of everything.

Built with people

A key strength of the library is how it has been developed.

This isn’t a top-down set of rules. It’s the result of co-production, working alongside people with lived experience to understand how language feels on the receiving end.

Through workshops, conversations, and shared stories, people have described times when language made them feel:

Heard and respected
Confused or excluded
Empowered or disempowered

Those real experiences have shaped the resources now available, making them practical, relevant, and grounded in real life.

Part of a bigger movement for change

The launch of the library builds on a wider programme of work across Lincolnshire to improve communication and tackle health inequalities.

From interactive Language and Health Literacy Development Days to ongoing learning opportunities, there is a growing focus on helping Lincolnshire's health and care workforce reflect on:

The words they use
The assumptions behind them
The impact those words have on people’s lives

As we highlight across our Language development work, even small changes in language can transform how people experience care.

Who is the resource library for?

The library is for anyone involved in health, care, or wellbeing, including:

NHS and local authority staff
Voluntary and community sector organisations
Frontline practitioners
Leaders and decision-makers

Whether you’re new to personalised care or already embedding it in your work, the resources are designed to meet you where you are.

A practical step towards more human care

At its heart, this resource library is about something simple but powerful:

Using language that people can understand, relate to, and act on.

That means moving away from jargon, assumptions, and complexity, and towards communication that feels clear, respectful, and real.

Because when people truly understand what’s being said, they are better able to make decisions, feel confident, and take control of their health and wellbeing.

Explore the library and start making a difference

Visit and explore the Language and Health Literacy Resource Library

Take a look, share it with your colleagues, and start reflecting on the language you use every day.

Because better words lead to better experiences - and better experiences lead to better care.

Join our next Language and Health Literacy Development Day on Thursday 10 September 2026

Join our next Language and Health Literacy Development Day on Thursday 10 September 2026 to explore how clear, inclusive language improves health and care outcomes.

Why it matters: Language shapes people’s experiences. This event challenges professionals to reflect on how communication impacts understanding, access, and equity.

What you’ll gain: Build practical skills, hear lived experiences, and learn how to make health information more accessible and empowering.

What to expect: An interactive, thought-provoking day with discussions, activities, and real stories that will stretch and strengthen your practice.

Event details:

Fee: FREE to attend
When: Thursday 10 September 2026, 9.30am - 4.30pm
Where: Boardroom, Bridge House, Sleaford, NG34 8GG
Who should attend?: Anyone who works in or with health, care and wellbeing or is connected to it through their roles.