Macmillan Q Lab

Macmillan Cancer Support is proud to be partnering with Q, hosted by the NHS Alliance, to deliver an innovation Lab.  

Join us to shape creative solutions that could make cancer care fairer for people living with cancer across the UK.

How long is the Macmillan Q Lab?

The Macmillan Q Lab lasts for 9 months. That’s 9 months to work creatively to design better solutions for neighbourhood health and fairer cancer care.

What will I do as part of the Q Lab?  

• You will take part in a series of workshops, facilitated peer learning and coaching on a design process, as well as getting access to expertise from Q and Macmillan, and helpful tools to support your thinking.  
• Through collaboration and thoughtful design, we can turn the idea of ‘care closer to home’ into real, practical change for people living with cancer.  
• Together, we will come up with better ways to support the people having the worst experiences, who often live in the most under-served communities.  

Who can get involved?  

• There are two ways to get involved: as an individual, or as a team. You need to form your team before you apply – so start thinking about who you want to work with.  
• Teams are made up of community organisations and public sector organisations working together.  
• Individuals can join the Lab to learn about the topic and share their experience and knowledge, either from lived experience of cancer or caring for someone with cancer, or from professional experience.  

Joining a Lab is not about having a specific expertise: it is all about having the right mindset.

We are looking for people who are curious, open to new ways of thinking, inspired by making cancer care fairer, and motivated by bringing care closer to home.

What funding is given?

Teams will be given £75,000 for 9 months, with an opportunity to apply for up to £200,000 more to put their ideas into practice over a further 12 months.  

There is also funding to cover reasonable expenses for individuals with professional experience, with lived expertise of cancer or of caring for someone with cancer.  

• Q Lab is an innovation lab that tackles knotty problems in health and care services.
• We know finding solutions to difficult problems in health and social care can be challenging. It requires imagination and creative thinking.  
• Q Lab supports people to come up with solutions, enabling you to experiment and learn in a safe space through a structured design process. Joining a Lab also gives you the skills and methods to put ideas for change into practice. 
• You will get the chance to develop your project, strengthen your skills for change and work with a passionate group of people on a shared goal.  
• More on the Lab is available on the Q site.