The Sir Bobby Robson Institute

Help us build a world-leading cancer trials research centre

Sir Bobby Robson believed passionately in giving people hope and that belief inspired everything his Foundation has achieved. 

His vision inspired his Foundation. Now it’s building a world‑leading cancer trials research centre.  

Construction of the Sir Bobby Robson Institute is now underway at the Freeman Hospital. But this is only the beginning. To complete and fully equip this world‑leading cancer trials research centre, we need your support. 

Together, we can bring his most ambitious vision to life. 

About the Institute

The £30 million Sir Bobby Robson Institute will sit directly opposite the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital. 

Part of Newcastle Hospitals, the Institute will: 

• Increase clinical trials capacity by 50%, giving more patients access to pioneering treatments 

• Accelerate the development of life‑changing and life‑saving drugs and therapies 

• Bring together clinicians, researchers and patients in one purpose‑built, state‑of‑the‑art centre 

Create breakthroughs that will be felt across the North East, North Cumbria and North Yorkshire and around the world. 

This is a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to transform cancer research and care in our region. 

How can you help?

Sir Bobby called his Foundation “his last and greatest team.” 

Now, this is your chance to play your part. Help us continue his legacy and create a beacon of hope for patients in our region. 

Thanks to the dedication of incredible fundraisers, donors and supporters, of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, we have already raised over £26.5 million towards this landmark project. 

To complete and fully equip the Institute by 2027, we need your help to raise the final funds. 

There are so many ways you can get involved — from taking on a challenge event, to hosting a coffee morning, do your own fundraising, or making a personal or corporate donation. 

Every gift, no matter the size, will help create a beacon of hope for people facing cancer across our region. 

If you’d like more ideas or want to talk about how you can support the Sir Bobby Robson Institute, get in touch with our fundraising team or visit our website for inspiration, resources and ways to get started. 

My dad always believed football was about more than winning or losing. To him, it was about people, turning up for one another, sharing hope, and being part of a team. That same spirit sits at the heart of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which my dad described as his last and greatest team. It continues to guide us as a family as we work towards the opening of the Sir Bobby Robson Institute.

Mark Robson Chair, Sir Bobby Robson Foundation

How your support will help

This is about so much more than bricks and mortar. Having a world-leading cancer trials research centre in Newcastle will help to increase cancer trials capacity by 50% over the next five years – meaning more patients will have access to life-changing and life-saving treatments.  

Clinical trials are where the future of cancer care begins. They offer patients access to the latest treatments long before they become widely available and are essential in improving survival rates and quality of life. 

Real stories, real impact

Your kind donation will contribute towards funding the Sir Bobby Robson Institute, a new world‑leading cancer trials research centre at Newcastle Hospitals. Our target for this appeal is to raise £30 million. If, for any reason, we are unable to use your donation as originally intended, for example, if project costs change, additional funds are raised beyond the amount required, the needs of patients or the hospital change, or the project becomes no longer deliverable, Newcastle Hospitals Charity reserves the right to redirect your gift to support the hospital’s most urgent needs.