Bute House hosts special reception to mark 30 years of ΠΗΜ½Β颹’s

Friday 06 February 2026


Staff and supporters joined First Minister John Swinney at Bute House to celebrate 30 years of the charity.


The reception marks 30 years since the first ΠΗΜ½Β颹’s centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996, and the expert support provided to millions of people and their families and friends since then.

ΠΗΜ½ΒιΆΉ Keswick Jencks developed the blueprint for the first centre while she was living with advanced cancer. Following ΠΗΜ½ΒιΆΉ death in July 1995, Dame Laura Lee DBE, who had been ΠΗΜ½Β颹’s chemotherapy nurse, worked with her family to ensure her vision became a reality.

There are now 27 ΠΗΜ½ΒιΆΉ centres across the UK, including eight centres across Scotland. ΠΗΜ½Β颹’s announced in August that a further centre will be built in Dumfries and Galloway, where ΠΗΜ½ΒιΆΉ was from.

ΠΗΜ½Β颹’s children, Lily and John Jencks, joined supporters, ambassadors and local volunteers to celebrate the milestone at , the official residence and workplace of the first minister of Scotland.

Lily Jencks speaks with First Minister John Swinney

ΠΗΜ½ΒιΆΉ 'vital in delivering Scotland's Cancer Strategy'

First Minister John Swinney said: β€œThe Scottish Government’s Cancer Strategy sets out a long-term commitment to improving care at every stage. ΠΗΜ½Β颹’s plays a vital role in helping to deliver that ambition by providing practical, emotional and psychological support that complements NHS clinical care.

β€œWe are proud to support ΠΗΜ½Β颹’s. Our prehabilitation pilot supported more than 2,600 people, and prehabilitation is now a core offer across all of ΠΗΜ½Β颹’s Scottish Centres – a powerful example of the NHS and charities working together to improve people’s experiences of care.

β€œOn World Cancer Day, marked under the theme β€œUnited by Unique”, which recognises that every experience of cancer is different, I want to thank every staff member, volunteer, fundraiser, partner and supporter who has shaped ΠΗΜ½Β颹’s over the last 30 years.”

Looking forward to the next 30 years

During the reception, Dame Laura Lee DBE described ΠΗΜ½Β颹’s vision for cancer care and how it has grown over the last 30 years:

β€œIt was an honour to be invited to Bute House to celebrate three decades of ΠΗΜ½Β颹’s and how the vision of ΠΗΜ½ΒιΆΉ Keswick Jencks over 30 years ago has helped so many people in our 27 centres across the UK impacted by cancer.

β€œΠΗΜ½ΒιΆΉ vision has guided us from the moment our doors opened in 1996 and will continue to resonate as we look to the future and support more people and their families impacted by cancer.

Thanks to ΠΗΜ½ΒιΆΉ, people now have a place of calm to come to, space to find expert support, and a place that helps them find joy.

β€œΠΗΜ½Β颹’s should be an immense source of pride for people in Scotland, and we look forward to the continued support from the government and people of Scotland as we look to the next three decades.”


Here for 30 years, here for good

Everyone with cancer deserves a place like ΠΗΜ½Β颹’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 your kind donations to keep us free of charge for everyone living with cancer and their family and friends.

Become a Friend of ΠΗΜ½ΒιΆΉ by donatingfundraising for us or getting involved, and help ΠΗΜ½Β颹’s to be here today, tomorrow and always.

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