Sir Peter Rigby Charitable Trust Supports Maggie's Cancer Centre in the West Midlands
We are proud to support the Sir Peter Rigby Charitable Trust to bring Maggie's cancer support to the West Midlands for the first time
If you feel there may be an opportunity to support, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with Iain Johnson (iain.johnson@allect.com) and Charlie Kentish (charlie.kentish@rigbyandrigby.com).
Leading gift from the Trust will establish the region's first ever Maggie's centres, in Coventry and Birmingham, bringing free expert cancer care to hundreds of thousands of people.
The Sir Peter Rigby Charitable Trust is to 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 unique, wide-ranging support the charity offers. The Trust's gift will 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 both Coventry and Birmingham, two cities with urgent need for improved cancer care. These developments will deliver free cancer care to hundreds of thousands of patients, while millions of family members who have suffered in silence for years will also gain access.
It is the Trust's leadership that has set these plans in motion. Sir Peter Rigby has backed Maggie's to address what he describes as an enormous gap in local cancer support.
NHS hospitals in the West Midlands face major challenges amid growing numbers of people receiving a diagnosis and increased need for care. The partnership, made possible by the Trust, 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 today, shows overwhelming demand: more than nine in ten people in the West Midlands say dedicated support centres would be valuable.
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.
The major charity, 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 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."
Maggie's Chief Executive Dame Laura Lee DBE 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."
Professor Andy Hardy, Chair of West Midlands Cancer Alliance and Chief Executive of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS University Hospitals said: "With growing numbers of people receiving a cancer diagnosis and needing treatment across the West Midlands, the support of Maggie's has never been more important and it has never been more needed.
"Making the centres a reality wouldn't be possible without the incredible generosity of the Sir Peter Rigby Charitable Trust - we are delighted to play a role in this partnership, which will make such a big difference to people who are treated at Coventry and across the region. The work that Maggie's does is an integral part of cancer care - we are really looking forward to working with them right across the West Midlands so that no one needs to face cancer alone."
The centres the Trust is making possible will spare West Midlands families the long journeys that others have had to make to reach support.
Jenny Cronin's husband Aindi was diagnosed with cancer in January 2021 and sadly died the following year.
Jenny, who has three children with Aindi and lives in Birmingham, said: "I heard about Maggie's when Aindi was first diagnosed, but our nearest centre was in Cheltenham, and it felt so far away. Aindi's therapy was so intensive and made him so unwell that spending an hour in the car was pretty much impossible.
"When Aindi felt well enough and we eventually made it to Maggie's, it felt like a weight had been lifted the moment we walked in. We instantly felt so much better just by being in the building, and we both appreciated being able to talk to someone who really understood.
"If there had been a Maggie's in Birmingham, I think we - me, Aindi, my children and the other family members who supported him - would have been in there all the time, from day one.
"Aindi believed that every cancer patient should have a Maggie's, somewhere they can find peace and relaxation, amid the chaos of treatment and scans. Somewhere they can feel cared for and understood.
"Before he died, we talked about campaigning for a Maggie's centre in Birmingham and raising money to make that a reality. It is wonderful that what Aindi wished for is coming true, and I'm so pleased that people from across the West Midlands will soon be able to easily access the amazing support Maggie's provides."
Jenny's sister, Rosie Hawker, works as a physiotherapist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and has been part of the project group for Maggie's Birmingham. Rosie said: "After seeing what an incredible impact the support from Maggie's had on Aindi, Jenny, and all our family throughout some of the darkest times, I wanted to do everything I could to bring Maggie's to the West Midlands.
"It has been a privilege to be part of the project group behind Maggie's Birmingham and to watch as initial ideas became concrete plans for an amazing new centre.
"I also know first-hand how pleased clinical staff are to know that a Maggie's is coming to the hospital. We see patients who are struggling and in need of more support, but we don't always have the time to help or anywhere to signpost people to. Having a Maggie's will make such a huge difference to so many people in the area, including families like ours."
To find out more about Maggie's please visit maggies.org.
About Maggie’s
Since the first Maggie’s centre opened in 1996 in the grounds of the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, Maggie’s has redefined what cancer care should be, offering free psychological, emotional and practical support for people with cancer as well as their family and friends.
In 2026 we will have more than 30* Maggie’s centres across the UK. We also have a growing international network with centres in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Barcelona and Netherlands and a centre planned in Stravanger, Norway.
(* 30 includes 27 operational centres plus centres in Cambridge and Liverpool under construction and Coventry, Kent and Bristol planned)
In 1996 our vision for a different type of cancer care was nothing short of groundbreaking. 30 years on, we’re still at the forefront of compassionate person-centred care that changes lives.
In 2025, Maggie’s supported 338,928 visits* – a 4% increase on 2024 and our highest number on record. In total, we supported 1 in 7 new cancer diagnoses across England, Scotland and Wales. *visits refers to support facilitated by our programme staff and includes face to face; on the phone and online.
Our vision is to have 60 Maggie’s across the UK – one at every NHS cancer centre.
Over the next 30 years we want to support 25 million visits to centres from people with cancer and people who love them.
Everyone with cancer deserves a place like Maggie’s. We want to continue to grow so that we can support everyone impacted by cancer in the UK.
It costs nothing to come into one of our centres – but it takes all of us to keep it that way.
In our 30th year one of our key objectives is to raise £30 million to help us support more people to live well with and beyond cancer as well as family and friends impacted by cancer.
We have been at the forefront of cancer care thank to the kindness of our supporters. To find out more about becoming a Friend of Maggie’s visit here.
Maggie’s President is Her Majesty The Queen.
Maggie’s Chairman is Stuart Gulliver.
Maggie's Chief Executive, Laura Lee was awarded a Damehood in 2019 for her services to people with cancer.
For more information visit maggies.org
About the Sir Peter Rigby Charitable Trust
The Sir Peter Rigby Charitable Trust (charity number 1209638) founded and chaired by leading businessman Sir Peter Rigby, supports charitable initiatives that promote innovation, encourage enterprise and tackle social inequality - reflecting a lifelong commitment to helping others. The Trust is the main vehicle for Sir Peter to undertake his personal philanthropic endeavours. Recently funded projects include:- The Sir Peter Rigby Digital Futures Institute at Aston University, The Sir Peter Rigby Centre for Enterprise at the University of Liverpool and The Sir Peter Rigby Coronation Food Hub in Birmingham.
One of the UK’s most respected and successful business leaders and a dedicated philanthropist, Sir Peter launched his founding company, Rigby Group with a £2,000 loan in 1975, growing it into one of the country’s largest privately owned business groups, with a turnover of £4bn. Sir Peter and his family believe success in business goes hand-in-hand with giving back to society and local communities and are proud of their commitment to making a difference where help is needed most.
.avif)
