Maggie’s, the charity that provides free practical, emotional and social support for people with cancer and their family and friends has applied for planning permission to bring a Maggie’s Centre to Oldham.
Built within the grounds of The Royal Oldham Hospital, the new Centre will complement the excellent clinical care offered by the hospital and will be the charity’s second Centre in Greater Manchester, following in the footsteps of Maggie’s at The Christie.
Maggie’s Oldham has been made possible by the enormous generosity of the Stoller Charitable Trust, which has fully funded the Centre.
Norman Stoller, CBE, CStJ, DL, of The Stoller Charitable Trust and principal donor adds “Across Greater Manchester we are lucky to have the highest standard of treatment and care for cancer. I am proud to have helped complete the funding of Maggie’s at The Christie and also to support the building of Maggie’s Oldham, which alongside Maggie’s at The Christie, will offer support to complement this excellent medical care and ensure that Greater Manchester is truly a world leader in cancer care.”
Maggie’s Oldham has been designed by dRMM, an international studio of architects and designers, whose projects include the Tower of Love Festival Headland in Blackpool, Rundeskogen in Norway (with Helen & Hard Architects), WoodBlock House and Kingsdale School in London. The studio is renowned for creating architecture that is innovative, high quality and socially useful and will use this expertise and experience to create the calm, uplifting environment so important to the people who visit and work in Maggie’s Centres.
Maggie’s Chief Executive, Laura Lee said, “A cancer diagnosis and treatment brings with it tough questions and difficult emotions which can leave many feeling isolated. The programme of support that we will be offering at Maggie’s Oldham will help to improve the physical and emotional wellbeing of people with cancer across the region.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with the Royal Oldham Hospital and dRMM Architects on this project. The Centre, designed by dRMM is built around a sloping garden, offering rooms full of light and garden views creating a calm and uplifting environment for everyone that visits the Centre.
“Maggie’s Oldham will be our second in the North West following in the footsteps of Maggie’s at The Christie which is due to open in early 2016. Submitting our planning application is an exciting step forward in bringing a Maggie’s Centre to Oldham and in fulfilling our ambition to provide the highest quality cancer support to the people of the North West.”
