MADAM,

I thought that your readers would like to hear about a special partnership between the legal profession and nine leading UK charities.

Having your will written professionally can give you great peace of mind. Each November, you can use a local solicitor who has signed up to Will Aid and enjoy the added feel-good factor of giving to charity.

The Will Aid scheme means that, instead of paying your solicitor’s fee, you will be invited to make a donation to charity. The Will Aid charities are the British Red Cross, ActionAid, Age UK, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, SCIAF, Sightsavers and Trocaire.

Since being founded in 1988, Will Aid has enabled legal firms to raise more than £17 million for the charities. At the same time, the campaign has encouraged and helped thousands of people to write their wills. This year, we hope to raise even more than 2014’s total of over £1.7 million.

The British Red Cross helps people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are. We are part of a global voluntary network, responding to natural disasters, conflicts and individual emergencies. When writing a will, your first priority will of course be to provide for loved ones, but many people choose to also include a gift to a cause they feel passionate about. Leaving just 1 per cent of your estate to the British Red Cross could make an enormous difference to people in crisis.

Please note that it is advisable to call your local solicitor soon to make an appointment as Will Aid is a popular service. Just visit www.willaid.org.uk, call 0300 0309 558 or email [email protected] to find a solicitor near you. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to contact me directly on 01823 273710 if you have any queries at all.

Paul Morgan

(Community Legacy Manager

British Red Cross)