Solicitors urged to highlight Remember A Charity Week

More than a million gifts in wills have been donated to charities over the past decade, according to figures released today by the Remember A Charity consortium.

The news comes at the start of Remember A Charity Week (6-12 September 2021), a public awareness campaign to encourage people to consider leaving a gift in their will. A collaborative initiative, the campaign brings charities together with 1,300 legal professionals to champion legacy giving across the UK. 

Now in its 12th year, the 200-strong consortium is now calling on solicitors across the country to join its network of professionals taking part in this year’s campaign and sharing information with clients about gifts in wills. 

Head judge of Dancing with the Stars, Len Goodman, is supporting the campaign, having altered his own will to include a charity.

Data from Smee & Ford shows from 2010-11 to 2019-20, 100,000 charitable legacies were made each year, with cumulative legacy income to UK charities exceeding £23bn. The number of charitable bequests is predicted to rise by 30% over the coming decade.

Rob Cope, director of Remember A Charity, commented: “Legacy giving can be transformational for UK charities and it’s wonderful to consider the phenomenal impact of those gifts. Donations have long been on the rise, but the global pandemic has accelerated that growth, shining a spotlight on the critical role of charities in our communities and the importance of will writing. This funding is critical for the sector as we strive to build back and strengthen resilience for whatever the future holds.

“Remember A Charity Week is a great opportunity for legal advisers to open up conversation about gifts in wills and to help ensure that all clients are aware of the opportunity of including a gift in their will, after taking care of family and friends.”

Remember A Charity runs a Campaign Supporter scheme for legal professionals, offering information and resource about raising the topic of gifts in wills with clients. Find out more at this link.