Awards host, Kyran Bracken, world-cup winning, former rugby union player and Dancing on Ice Champion presented the team with the award at the prestigious 2017 Macmillan Excellence Awards, held at The Radisson Blu Edwardian Heathrow Hotel on Thursday 16 November.

The Macmillan @ Glasgow Libraries was awarded the Integration Excellence Award, which recognises exciting new initiatives, products and services, that have improved the quality and experience of care for people living with cancer.

The programme was set up to fulfil the need for high quality information and support for people affected by cancer and the innovative approach has challenged the historically clinically-based cancer information and support service model to provide support in accessible, community-based settings.

Offering emotional and practical support to people affected by cancer, the innovative service operates across Glasgow’s 33 libraries and Scotstoun Sport Centre, to create a welcoming, friendly environment for people affected by cancer in the city, along with a citywide Outreach Programme which delivers services to hard to reach communities. A further eight services operate in West Dunbartonshire. Today, anyone affected by cancer is at most just one mile away from direct access to cancer information and support.

The team has built excellent partnerships across all local, regional and national sectors. As a result, they’ve integrated the programme into Glasgow’s existing cancer services and provided additional services within their library venues such as talking therapy and complementary therapy.

The awards, which are now in their sixth year, were developed to celebrate the outstanding work carried out by Macmillan health and social care professionals across the country. The event recognised excellence in three areas: service improvement, innovation and integration. 350 Macmillan professionals and representatives from Macmillan attended the awards ceremony.

Councillor David McDonald, Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow Life, said:

“It is wonderful that this vital service has been recognised with a prestigious Macmillan Excellence Award, and I would like to congratulate the staff and volunteers who work across our city to provide support for people affected by cancer.

“Thanks to their efforts and through this innovative partnership, not just between Glasgow Life and Macmillan, but also bringing together representatives from many providers across the city including Glasgow City Council’s Improving the Cancer Journey service, NHS and Cancer Support Scotland, more than 12,000 Glaswegians affected by cancer have been able to access emotional and practical support when they need it.

"Cancer can affect every part of people’s lives and its thanks to Macmillan @ Glasgow Libraries, we are helping to ensure that everyone in our city has someone they can turn to for a range of advice and support in their own community."

To find out more about the Macmillan @ Glasgow Libraries services please visit the website or call 0141 287 2999.

You can also call Macmillan Cancer Support free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am–8pm) or visit macmillan.org.uk