The Asset Alliance Group Scottish Rally Championship is delighted to announce that this year’s charity partner is Maggies.
About Maggie’s
Our story
Our founder Maggie Keswick Jencks used her own experience of having cancer to create a new type of cancer care. The first Maggie’s opened in Edinburgh in 1996, and we now have 24 centres across the UK and 3 abroad.
The Lanarkshire centre opened in 2014 and is based in the grounds of Monklands Hospital. We are there for people across North and South Lanarkshire to offer support with cancer.
Our approach
We know that when you’re diagnosed with cancer you need much more than just medical treatment.
You might need information about how treatment will affect you; emotional support and practical advice; a place to go where you can meet and talk to people who are going through the same things.
Here with you
We’re here for anyone with cancer and their family and friends, whatever kind of cancer, and whatever stage they’re at.
All our support is free, and no appointment or referral is needed.
There’s also no time limit on our support, we’re here for as long as we’re needed.
Professional support
Maggie’s isn’t part of the NHS – we’re an independent charity – but our centres are beside major cancer hospitals across the UK and we have excellent relationships with our partner hospitals.
Many of our staff are NHS-trained and all our Cancer Support Specialists have expert knowledge about cancer and treatment.
Our centres also have psychologists and benefits advisors who are available for anyone with cancer and those close to them. We also work with experts who provide exercise groups, yoga, nutrition advice and much more.
How does Maggie’s help?
Our workshops, courses, one-to-one and group support help people to change the way they live with cancer.
We focus on the things that really make a difference, like money worries, help with stress and anxiety, managing side-effects, and relationship and family support. Our support has been shown to improve physical and emotional wellbeing and to help people take control when cancer turns life upside down.
Understanding every person’s individual circumstances is central to what we do and means we can guide them to the support that will help them the most.
A friendly space
We work with some of the best architects in the world to design our centres because we know that light, colour and a connection to nature can help people to feel better.
Every Maggie’s is thoughtfully designed to be calming and welcoming; a place to escape from the clinical environment of the hospital. There are no reception desks and no clocks; instead, we have comfy sofas and plenty of time.
Our centres have large open spaces for group activities and a kitchen table to chat to other people. We also make sure there are plenty of peaceful corners for quiet moments and a chance to gather your thoughts.
Healing architecture
If you’ve ever been to a Maggie’s centre, you’ll know that they are special places, and many of them have won awards for their architecture and design.
This is because we know that great design and architecture can help the people who come to us for support feel better – and help us to give the best possible cancer support.
Every Maggie’s is a unique place that fits perfectly into its surroundings – a home from home that’s designed to feel nothing like a hospital.
Our buildings
Every one of our centres is original and surprising, yet they all feel like they are part of the same family. They all:
- are calm, friendly and welcoming places, full of light and warmth
- have a kitchen table at their heart
- offer glimpses and views of the nature that surrounds them
- provide thoughtful spaces to find privacy as well as places to come together as a group
Our gardens
Our architects and interior and landscape designers work closely together from the very beginning of the project to make sure there is a strong connection between the outside and inside space.
The people who come to Maggie’s should be able to look or step outside from as many places as possible, even if it’s only into a planted courtyard.
We ask our landscape architects to use plants that will add colour, scent and interest throughout the year.
Funding
We do not receive any government funding and are able to provide the cancer support that we do fully through fundraised income. We do this in a variety of ways, by putting on fundraising events, applying for community trusts & grants, working alongside local businesses, groups and associations and holding bucket collections in the local area.
You can find more details about Maggies at https://www.maggies.org/
