Doors open at Maggie’s Wirral
The purpose-built cancer support facility in the grounds of the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Bebington was funded by Chester charity the Steve Morgan Foundation.
North Wales contractor Carroll delivered the project, which is intended to support other Maggie’s cancer care services across the region.
It sits close to the Maggie’s Merseyside interim centre that has been in operation since 2014. At that time, it was hoped that the facility would support 3,000 visits a year – that number has now grown to 17,000 annually.
Maggie’s has become known for delivering spaces with an emphasis on design, such as at Oldham Royal and Manchester’s The Christie. The Wirral building has been designed by HB Architects.
The new centre is to provide more space, according to Maggie’s, allowing its professional team to deliver more of the organisation’s core programme, courses and support groups.
A library and private rooms will offer one to one and family support space away from the openness of the centre, allowing Maggie’s to support more people not ready for group support.
Steve Morgan, founder of housebuilding giant Redrow, said: “This is a very proud moment for everyone involved in the project. It is one of our largest capital projects to date, but our involvement has gone far beyond funding.
“We’ve been responsible for the planning, design, project management as well as the entire funding, which is almost unheard of for a foundation. My wife Sally first introduced the foundation to Maggie’s, and we have watched with pride as the building has come to life. It has been a real team effort.”
Centre head Kathy Wright added: “It’s wonderful to have a permanent centre here on the Wirral and we’re excited to be able to start supporting more people with cancer in the surroundings of a truly uplifting and inspirational building.”
Maggie’s Wirral will become the new name for Maggie’s Merseyside, with the former space set to be replaced by a garden.
There is also a Liverpool Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, which opened last year and is linked to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Morgan’s foundation is also supporting a Maggie’s centre there and has agreed a site, but work has not started yet.
Well done Steve Morgan and family, what a wonderful thing to do.
By Morse