News In Focus
16 February 2010
Will Aid makes a million
Will Aid, the charity will-writing campaign, raised over £1 million in donations for the first time with its most recent event last November.
Money is still coming in at a brisk rate and will continue to do so for some months yet, but the organisers today announced that with over 9,000 people across the UK having been given the impetus to make a will, the £1m barrier has been broken.
Under the campaign, solicitors volunteered to draw up basic wills during November 2009 to give clients the opportunity to make a donation to Will Aid rather than paying the solicitor's usual fee. Donations also attracted Gift Aid.
Many solicitors reported their busiest Will Aid month ever. "Feedback from solicitors has been very positive with participants feeling it was a very worthwhile and enjoyable project, which introduced them to many new clients and presented their firm in a positive light", the campaign office said today.
Many of the will makers also promised legacies worth over £5.3m to the Will Aid charities.
Claire Routley, chair of Will Aid, said: "Our thanks go out to the many dedicated solicitors who give their time each November, and who have achieved so much."
Campaign managerShirley Marsland added: "At a time when many charities are feeling the pinch, it's great to be able to report that Will Aid has bucked the trend. We are very grateful to the generous solicitors who worked so hard for Will Aid. They are a wonderful example of what can be achieved with hard work and enthusiasm. The legal profession doesn't always get a very positive press and this is a brilliant way of showing the public that solicitors not only provide efficient legal services, but also have a caring face."
The campaign will run again this November. Click here for more information.