Your photo could bring comfort to cancer patients at new £3.5m Antrim support centre
Moyra Mills, Macmillan Cancer Service Improvement Manager and Amy Wilson, Macmillan Information and Support Manager, are encouraging the public to take part in a photography competition, with selected images set to go on display in the new Macmillan Information and Support Centre at Antrim Area Hospital.
Wednesday 11 November 2026
A photograph of a peaceful coastline, woodland or glen could soon offer a moment of comfort to someone facing cancer, as the public is invited to help shape a new £3.5 million support centre at Antrim Area Hospital.
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust, in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, has launched a photography competition inviting people across Northern Ireland to submit landscape images for display throughout the new building.
Due to open in spring 2027, the Macmillan Information and Support Centre will provide practical, emotional and wellbeing support for people affected by cancer across the Northern Trust area, including Ballymena and the wider Mid and East Antrim community.
The competition offers local photographers, whether experienced or simply passionate about capturing the outdoors, an opportunity to contribute to a space designed to support patients and families during some of their most difficult moments.
Creating a place of comfort and reassurance
The centre's design draws inspiration from Northern Ireland's natural beauty, with selected photographs intended to help create a welcoming and calming environment for patients, carers and loved ones.
Alongside support for adults affected by cancer, the new facility will provide dedicated services for children and young people who have received a cancer diagnosis.
It will also support young people whose parent, sibling or another family member is living with cancer, recognising the impact a diagnosis can have on the wider family.
Moyra Mills, Macmillan Service Improvement Lead, said:
“A cancer diagnosis can be life-changing, not only for the person receiving treatment but also for the people who care about them. We want this new centre to be a welcoming and supportive space where people can find information, reassurance and comfort during a difficult time.”
A photograph that could make a difference
Organisers hope the images will offer more than decoration, providing moments of calm and reflection for people visiting the centre.
Ms Mills explained:
“Through this competition, local people have an opportunity to help shape that environment. A beautiful photograph can provide a moment of calm, reflection or escape when it is needed most.”
With the landscapes of County Antrim offering everything from the Glens of Antrim and the Causeway Coast to tranquil woodland and loughside scenery, there is plenty of inspiration for local entrants.
Photographs capturing the changing seasons are particularly welcome, allowing the centre to reflect Northern Ireland's natural beauty throughout the year.
How to enter the photography competition
Entries must feature one of two landscape themes:
• Lough and coast – photographs capturing Northern Ireland's loughs and coastal landscapes.
• Woodland and glens – images showcasing woodland scenery and the country's glens.
Organisers are especially interested in photographs taken during different seasons, from spring greenery and autumn colours to winter landscapes.
Professional photography equipment is not required, and high-resolution smartphone photographs are welcome.
The entry requirements are:
• Format: Digital photographs only.
• Quality: High-resolution images suitable for printing and display.
• Deadline: Entries must be emailed before 31 December 2026.
Encouraging people to take part, Ms Mills said:
“From our stunning coastline to our beautiful glens and woodlands, we would love to receive entries from across Northern Ireland and, where possible, images that capture these landscapes throughout the seasons.”
She added that smartphone photographs are welcome, provided they are of sufficiently high resolution to be printed.
A £3.5 million investment in cancer support
The new centre represents a £3.5 million investment in services for people affected by cancer, with Macmillan Cancer Support contributing £2.5 million towards the project.
The facility is currently under construction at Antrim Area Hospital and is expected to open in spring 2027.
It is intended to improve access to information, emotional reassurance and practical guidance, while providing a dedicated environment for people navigating the challenges of a cancer diagnosis or supporting someone close to them.
Members of the public who would also like to contribute financially to the project can donate through the Antrim Macmillan appeal at:
For those entering the photography competition, the contribution is a different kind of gift. A familiar view of the coast, a quiet woodland path or the changing colours of a glen could become part of a place where people facing cancer find reassurance, support and a moment of peace.
