In 2024, over 2,500 corporate volunteers played a pivotal role in creating meaningful moments for people with cancer.
- They wrote thank you cards to our supporters, cheered on participants at our events and in total, gave over 7,800 hours of their time.
- They delivered almost 3,500 care packages to people living with cancer, bringing comfort at a difficult time.
- Staff volunteers at Hollywood Bowl locations across the UK hosted more than 100 Cancer Community Meet-ups, helping people living with cancer to come together and find support in one another.
Welcome Break volunteers
In 2024, more than 1,000 Welcome Break volunteers created over 1,500 care packages, which have been delivered to Macmillan Information and Support centres across the UK. These packages include carefully selected items such as warm clothing, skincare products, and comforting treats—estimated to be nearly £9,000 worth of thoughtfully donated items from colleagues and customers.
Staff volunteers assembled the care packages and hand-delivered them to their local Information and Support centres.
The Macmillan Information and Support Centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital shared how meaningful these donations have been:
“We are incredibly grateful to Macmillan Cancer Support and our local Keele Welcome Break team, who always arrive with a smile and are so enthusiastic and passionate about creating these wonderful care packages. These packs create a ripple effect of joy and kindness when we distribute them. We know this small act of kindness can make a huge difference to many cancer patients during what is an incredibly difficult and challenging time.”
One of the recipients of a care package at Christmas shared what it meant to them to receive such a generous donation from the Welcome Break volunteers:
“Anything that can put a smile on your face during treatment is very welcome. As someone going through this gruelling journey, I welcome anything that will lift my spirits, and this Christmas care pack did just that!”
Thank you to everyone at Welcome Break for your commitment, and the difference you've made.
Scottish Widows – The Macmillan Neighbours programme
Since the beginning of our partnership in 2021, over 500 Scottish Widows staff volunteers have contributed more than 3,000 hours of their time to volunteering with Macmillan.
Volunteers from Scottish Widows have supported Macmillan with a wide range of corporate volunteering opportunities—from teams of volunteers assembling and delivering care packages, to organising and hosting fundraising events to raise vital income for Macmillan.
One of the most impactful ways volunteers have supported Macmillan has been through their long-standing support of the Macmillan Neighbours programme. More than 140 Scottish Widows colleagues have trained as Macmillan Neighbours, offering a listening ear and helping signpost colleagues affected by cancer to local and national support services. Collectively, they’ve offered nearly 2,000 hours of support to colleagues affected by cancer since 2019.
Here’s what one Macmillan Neighbour had to say about their experience:
"I love being a Macmillan Neighbour and supporting colleagues affected by cancer. I’m very passionate about Macmillan, as they supported me privately during my own cancer journey. This is my way of giving back.”
And their support for Macmillan hasn’t stopped there. Lead Macmillan Neighbour Becky has also played a key role in championing the partnership across Scottish Widows—raising awareness, inspiring colleagues, and helping to rally volunteers from across the organisation to get involved. Scottish Widows teams have written over 7,600 heartfelt cards to Macmillan supporters. By covering the cost of postage of sending these cards to supporters themselves, they’ve also helped Macmillan save nearly £5,000.
One card recipient shared:
“Thank you for your lovely card and kind words of encouragement ahead of the London Marathon. It is very much appreciated and has certainly spurred me on! I’ll be looking out for the Macmillan cheerpoints on the day!”
Hollywood Bowl: Cancer Community Meet-ups project
Since our partnership began in 2023, Hollywood Bowl have been a vital part of our Cancer Community Meet-ups project – a new support initiative we’ve been piloting over the past year to help connect people with cancer in their communities. Hollywood Bowl staff across six different centres, from Birmingham to Dundee to Rochester, have regularly provided a welcoming space for people living with cancer to go along for a free game of bowling and a chance to connect with others in their local community.
“Meet-ups have given me a purpose and direction; it’s been wonderful to meet new people with similar experiences.” – Cancer Community Meet-up attendee
Thank you to all our incredible partners and volunteers
We love to see our corporate partner employees come together and give their time and energy to support our work. Thanks to their dedication, we’ve been able to support even more people living with cancer and we’re so proud to have our volunteers and partners as part of the Macmillan community.
