Hard (for us) … to reach – The real truth about this often misused phrase

Like a sticky label that resists all attempts to be removed from a piece of luggage, we cling to some terms or phrases long after they have ceased being useful.

‘Hard-to-Reach’ is one such label. What’s wrong with it is the implication that it is somehow a group’s own ‘fault’ that it cannot be reached. It conjures up an image of people hiding behind a rock. ‘Seldom-Heard’ is a much better, if also imperfect phrase.

But the real significance of this phrase is that it says more about us … than them.

Groups are seldom, objectively, ‘hard to reach’. It’s just that it is harder for some organisations than others to engage with certain stakeholders. Being ‘hard-to-reach’ is not a function of these groups, but more likely to reflect the challenge some public bodies face in building and sustaining the right relationships. This is not because they aren’t doing their jobs properly; it’s the result of their roles, their status and the way in which they are perceived.