Local people who took advantage of the opportunity to make their Will for free have raised almost £2,000 for the Will Aid charitable campaign.
Stephensons Solicitors LLP in Leigh participated in Will Aid back in November, during which the firms probate solicitors waived their usual fee for drawing up professional Wills, asking customers to instead make a suggested donation to Will Aid of approximately £75 per Will.
The firm has just received confirmation that the total amount donated to charities through its involvement in the scheme reached £1,930.
Will Aid is a campaign run every year by nine UK charities: ActionAid, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Help the Aged, NSPCC, Save the Children UK, Sight Savers International, SCIAF (Scotland) and Trocaire (N. Ireland).
Shirley Marsland, campaign manager for Will Aid said: “I am very excited to report that, for the first time ever, we have received over £1m in donations and Gift Aid. This is a marvellous achievement, which I know represents a huge amount of effort from all the solicitors who have taken part. But that’s not all. Will Aid will makers have also pledged over £5m in legacies which will be a valuable support for the work of the charities in years to come.”
Olwen Williams, partner and head of Probate at Stephensons, said: “Making a Will is a straightforward and simple way of protecting family and loved ones in the future. Yet it’s surprising that fewer than half of people have made one.
“We wanted to get involved in Will Aid to promote the benefits of having a Will in place and also as part of our commitment to giving something back to the communities in which we operate. We’re delighted with the amount generated for the charities through our participation. It will really make a difference to people here in the UK and all over the world.”
For further information on Stephensons’ Wills and Probate services, please call 01942 774395 or visit www.stephensons.co.uk.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Olwen Williams is a member of STEP, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She has also been appointed to the Court of Protection Receivers Panel.
The latest edition of Legal 500 ranks Stephensons as a top 60 UK law firm and the fifth largest legal practice in the North West. The firm has 26 partners and more than 350 staff in six regional offices in Manchester, Wigan, Bolton, Leigh and St Helens.
Media information: Lianne Tracey
Stephensons Solicitors LLP
T: 01616 966 229