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The Sir Peter Rigby Charitable Trust is to help bring the support of national cancer charity Maggie's to the West Midlands for the first time, in a leading gift that will benefit hundreds of thousands of people across the region.

There are currently no Maggie's centres anywhere in the West Midlands, meaning people in the region have had no access to the wide-ranging support the charity offers.

The Trust's gift will help change that, establishing the region's first dedicated centres and partnering with Maggie's as it marks 30 years of support across the UK.

With the Trust's backing, initial plans will bring Maggie's centres to the sites of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, to deliver free cancer care to thousands of patients, while family members who have suffered in silence for years will also gain access.

The partnership between the Sir Peter Rigby Charitable Trust and Maggie’s, aims to ensure people across the region can access vital support to navigate diagnosis, treatment, and life with and beyond cancer.

New polling from Maggie's, published 18 June, shows more than nine in ten people in the West Midlands say dedicated support centres would be valuable with mental health and emotional support were identified as the biggest gap in care, followed by financial advice.

From one-to-one sessions with a psychologist to benefits advice, Maggie's provides a wide range of practical and emotional support when navigating the challenges that every stage of cancer brings for people.

Maggie's, which has been supported by Her Majesty the Queen as President of Maggie's for 18 years, also provides support and care for family and friends impacted by cancer.

Sir Peter Rigby, pictured above, said: "Millions of people in the West Midlands face a cancer diagnosis without the support they need, in a region with an enormous gap in support as well as some of the lowest survival rates in the country.

“This partnership with Maggie's means hundreds of thousands of them will not have to pretend they are OK anymore. It will provide much needed support to people at a time of their lives when they need it most. If you are lucky enough to succeed, you have a duty to share it and Maggie's is such a worthy cause."

Dame Laura Lee DBE, Chief Executive of Maggie's, pictured above, said: "It is wonderful to receive such a transformational gift in our 30th year – there is no doubt that this donation will turn into a lasting impact for people in the West Midlands impacted by cancer. We know our support is badly needed in the West Midlands, and Sir Peter's generosity is leading the way in bringing our expert cancer care to the people living in the region – we are beyond grateful for this kindness and commitment.

“In 1996, our vision for a different type of cancer care was nothing short of groundbreaking but with the number of people with cancer set to rise rapidly over the next decade, we want to support millions more visits to our centres and eventually have 60 Maggie's centres across the UK.

“Thanks to Sir Peter Rigby building a legacy of hope, people in the West Midlands will soon be part of this story and benefitting from our vital, life changing support in a warm and welcoming centre where our professional staff will give them the tools they need to cope at possibly the hardest time of their lives."

Colleagues from QEHB have already been involved in shaping plans for Maggie’s Birmingham, recognising the positive impact this will have on patients who may be struggling with the wider emotional and practical challenges of cancer.

Sally Austin, Director of Operations at QEHB, said: “This is a really positive and important development for our patients and the communities we serve. We know that while treatment is crucial, many people need additional support to cope with the emotional and practical impact of a cancer diagnosis.

"A Maggie’s centre at QEHB will provide that support in a way that is accessible, compassionate, and tailored to individual needs. It will complement the excellent care our teams provide and make a lasting difference to so many people.”