Our partnership with Scottish Widows

Find out more about our partnership with Scottish Widows. 
A red silhouette of someone above the words Scottish Widows. Their hair and cape are blowing in the wind.

Key facts

  • We've been working in partnership since 2021; the partnership was extended in 2023 for a further five years until 2028
  • Faster claims payments and specialist support for customers living with cancer
  • Cancer support training for Scottish Widows' employees.

About our partnership

“We are proud that at Scottish Widows we are not only able to provide financial security and peace of mind for our customers, but alongside Macmillan we are also taking on the future together by providing vital support to those living with cancer and their families at a difficult time”. - Rose St Louis, Protection Director at Scottish Widows

Scottish Widows and Macmillan Cancer Support have been working in partnership since 2021 to help ensure that Scottish Widows’ customers living with cancer receive the best possible support. Together we have provided financial support to over 1,130 and unlocked over £400k in financial gains. 

We are working to help Scottish Widows’ customers get faster insurance claims payments through a Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). Scottish Widows Advisors can speak directly to the CNS to confirm an individual’s cancer diagnosis instead of waiting for a medical report from the GP. This can help reduce the time it takes to process an individual critical illness insurance claim.

Scottish Widows colleagues are trained to ensure they have the confidence and know-how to support customers living with and affected by cancer, and to educate them on Macmillan’s services and available support.

Find out more about the Scottish Widows and Macmillan partnership on their website.

Living with and beyond cancer in 2025

In 2026, together, we launched the ground-breaking Prevalence Report: Living with and beyond cancer in 2045, using Macmillan's insight and expertise, combined with Scottish Widows' actuarial expertise.

 

Richard Simcock from Macmillan speaking at an event with Scottish Widows
Image: Richard Simcock, Chief Medical Officer at Macmillan, at the Prevalence Report launch

 

Our work shows that, cancer prevalence between 2025 to 2045 has been projected to increase by 58% (i).

This means that in 2045, a projected 5.4 million people will be living with cancer, compared to 3.4 million people in 2026.

Find more about these findings and statistics in the full report and technical methodology.

Watch a video about the Prevalence Report.

(i) Prevalence Report: "Living with and beyond cancer in 2045" (2026, Macmillan Cancer Support and Scottish Widows)

Key statistics from the Prevalence Report

58%
Between 2025 and 2045, we can expect to see a 58% increase in cancer prevalence in the UK. In real terms, that means by 2045 there will be 5.4 million individuals and their families who will have had to deal with the emotional, physical, and financial impact of their cancer diagnosis and treatment.
68%
By 2045, a larger proportion of women will be living with and beyond colorectal cancer than men – 82 per 10,000 and 79 per 10,000 respectively. For women aged 40–59 the proportion is projected to increase by 68%, compared to 24% for men.
87%

The number of men and people assigned male at birth living with and beyond prostate cancer is set to increase by 87%, rising from 600,000 in 2025 to 1.1 million in 2045.
We could expect 1 in 32 men and people assigned male at birth to be living with and beyond prostate cancer in 2045, rising to 1 in 6 in the over 80s.

Become a corporate partner

Talk to our team today

Contact the team at corporate@macmillan.org.uk or call us on 0300 1000 200. For fundraising opportunities, please email fundraising@macmillan.org.uk.