St Elizabeth Hospice announces return of annual Wills Month

Independent Suffolk charity St Elizabeth Hospice has announced the return of its annual Wills Month, an initiative which encourages people to consider the distribution of their estate after their death.

Research shows 54% of people of UK adults are currently without a Will and this annual initiative by St Elizabeth Hospice is calling on people to write or update their Will this May.

As part of Wills Month, the charity has partnered with eleven solicitors and will writers to offer a Will writing service, with the registration window for booking appointments opening on 1^st April.

Each organisation has dedicated a number of appointments throughout May and will be providing their services free of charge, but clients are encouraged to make a donation to St Elizabeth Hospice which provides free services to improve life for people living with a progressive or life-limiting illness throughout East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

Lynn Maskell, Legacy Officer at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “Having a Will in place is one of the best things you can do for your loved ones as, during an emotionally difficult time, it provides them with your wishes of how you would like your estate to be distributed.

“For people without a Will in place, after they have died, their estate may be distributed in a way which may reflect their wishes.

“If you are considering leaving a gift in your Will to St Elizabeth Hospice, no matter what size, please be assured it will be very gratefully received and it will make a real difference not only today but in the future and help the hospice to continue supporting local people and their families during difficult times in their lives.”

Every year the hospice cares for more than 3,000 Suffolk patients and their families at a cost of £12.9m, of which 70% is raised by the community through gift donations in wills, St Elizabeth Hospice’s retail shops and local fundraising activities; with one in five patients cared for by funds donated by gifts in wills.

St Elizabeth Hospice’s Wills month has been held annually since 2016, raising more than £68,000 for the hospice during this time. This year solicitors including Prettys, Ross Coates Solicitors, Haywards Solicitors and Fairweather Law are supporting Wills Month.

Louise Goodenough, Senior Partner from Haywards Solicitors, added: “St Elizabeth Hospice are a local charity and only receive a small amount of government funding. Therefore for all the hard work they do to support families with all sorts help and care, not just end-of-life cancer care, they need all the funding they can get.

“We are pleased we can support their work. It’s great a way to get a Will in place and support a local worthy charity. So many people still don’t have a Will which can cause all sorts of problems for families on death, or their estate not going to their intended Beneficiaries.”

St Elizabeth Hospice is an independent Suffolk charity providing free services to improve life for people living with a progressive or life limiting illness throughout East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

Centered on an individual’s needs, the hospice provides specialist support, whenever and wherever it is needed, whether at home, in the community or at the hospice.

To find out more about St Elizabeth Hospice’s Wills Month call 01473 723600 or visit www.stelizabethhospice.org.uk/support-us/make-a-donation/make-a-gift-in-your-will/wills-months

www.rememberacharity.org.uk/making-a-will/what-is-free-wills-month/