Organisation aims / mission / values
- Every year, over 300,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the UK, facing tough questions, exhausting treatment and difficult emotions. These challenges affect not only those with cancer, but their family and friends, too. Maggie’s is there for anyone and everyone affected by cancer, offering a programme of support that has been shown to strengthen physical and emotional wellbeing.
- Built alongside the hospital, our Centres are uplifting places with professional staff on hand to offer the support people need: practical advice about benefits and eating well; emotional support from qualified experts; group of support by type of cancer; Art therapy and adapted physical activities; a friendly place to meet other people; a calming space simply to sit quietly with a cup of tea.
- The first Maggie’s Centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996 and since then Maggie’s has continued to grow, with 23 Centres at major NHS cancer hospitals in the UK and abroad. Maggie's also has an Online Centre.
- The National Cancer Survivorship Initiative Report by the Department of Health in 2013 highlights our unique approach to cancer care as example of best practice. Since 2000 our work has also been commended by the NHS Cancer Plan, NICE and the Cancer Reform Strategy.
- One in two people will develop cancer in their lifetime, so the need for cancer support has never been greater. We want our centres to be there to support as many of these people and their families. We aim to have 30 centres open by 2022. This means we can be there for 50% of the cancer population in the UK.
- In 2018, 67,000 people visited a centre for the first time. By 2022 we want to welcome 100,000 people with cancer and their family.
Maggie's programme of support