Inspiring environments

England - Crewe

Crewe's brand new Macmillan cancer unit is the first of its kind in Central and South Cheshire. Combining medical, emotional and practical care for people affected by cancer, the £2.7million unit is there for every step of a person's cancer journey. The centre has a physiotherapist, dietician and an occupational therapist, a chemotherapy suite, consulting rooms and a team of Macmillan nurses. There's also an information and support centre and a benefits adviser to offer practical help with finances. But the beautifully designed garden is the heart of the building, allowing people affected by cancer and their families somewhere peaceful to relax.

Built in association with the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, over £1 million was raised by the local community to get the unit up and running, providing a real community feel to the space. Alice Edmond, a Macmillan community fundraiser in Cheshire said:

'The local people really got behind the appeal and the money quickly started coming in. We now have a cancer unit to be proud of.'

Find your local Macmillan information and support centre|

Wales - Wrexham

A joint venture between Macmillan Cancer Support, the local Shooting Star Appeal and the North Wales NHS Trust, gave Wales its first Macmillan cancer information centre in Wrexham recently. Full of useful resources for people affected by cancer, and their families and carers, the centre gives practical and emotional support, as well as medical information.

Pam Wedley, Wales' first Macmillan Cancer Information and Resource Facilitator, is based at the centre, ready to help people find the information they need:

'I'm passionate about giving people access to the right information at the right time and in the way they want it. I want to make sure that every single person affected by cancer gets good quality, accurate and timely information to support their diagnosis.'

You can order Welsh language publications for free at Be.Macmillan|

Northern Ireland - Belfast

Open since December 2006, Belfast's Support and Information Centre serves the whole of Northern Ireland, where 20 to 30 people are diagnosed with cancer every day. Founded in association with Action Cancer, Ulster Cancer Foundation and Belfast City Hospital Trust, the Macmillan centre offers support and information for people living with cancer and their families.

It's based in a beautifully restored 19th century building, and offers space to relax and talk, as well as counselling services, art therapy, meditation and other complementary therapies. A patient at the centre said:

'The building itself is wonderful. I didn't realise how much architecture itself could raise my spirits. The wooden floors, big windows with views, the colour scheme and artwork, all help.'

Find out what's happening in Northern Ireland|

Scotland - Perth

Completed in the autumn of 2009, this new specialist Macmillan unit provides expert palliative care for thousands across Perth and Kinross. Based at Perth Royal Infirmary, it provides in-patient and day care services, including a hair salon, craft room and therapy rooms. Up to 10 in-patients will benefit from rehabilitation and end of life care, with nearby accommodation for families, a multi-faith room, coffee bar and a garden to relax in.

Carole Morton, Senior Macmillan Development Manager for the North of Scotland had this to say about the new unit:

'The new unit will provide the Perth & Kinross community with expert specialist palliative care for both in-patients and out-patients in a state of the art facility which will be sensitive to the needs of both patients and their families. The community and corporate partners have been extremely generous in fundraising for this excellent local facility.'

Find your local cancer information and support centre in Scotland |