Awards mark St Nichols Hospice Care’s record-breaking Wills Weeks which raises nearly £40,000

The efforts of local law firms have been celebrated at an awards ceremony after their work sees a record-breaking amount raised for a local hospice during its Wills Weeks campaign.

Each year, legal advisers throughout West Suffolk and Thetford prepare wills for clients in exchange for donations to St Nicholas Hospice Care, and with 229 wills completed during 2017’s Wills Weeks campaign the total has broken all previous records with £39,274.50 raised.

Nick Duncan, the hospice’s Legacy Officer, said: “Everyone should have a current valid will but roughly two-thirds of the population doesn’t, so we’re very keen to provide an incentive for people to do the right thing.

“We’re also very fortunate to have so many supportive legal practices in the area, with 16 firms taking part in our 2017 campaign.

“It’s immensely gratifying to see so many wills being written or updated last year and we’re delighted that the amount raised exceeded our expectations to such an extent.”

To celebrate the campaign’s success, firms were presented with certificates and awards at a special ceremony, which took place at Cecil & Larter’s SEAT car showroom in Bury St Edmunds.

The event also marked the launch of a new hospice initiative, which promotes local law firms as St Nicholas Hospice Care goodWill Legal Advisers.

Nick said: “Although the main Wills Weeks campaign takes place during June, many legal advisers now offer wills throughout the year.

“In addition, they conduct monthly legal surgeries for our patients and families at the hospice building and at our Haverhill Hub, they offer ad hoc telephone advice, and they help us to secure the gifts that people are kind enough to leave us in their wills.

“St Nicholas Hospice Care goodWill Legal Advisers is a way of declaring to the outside world that a firm actively supports the hospice and is an acknowledgement of the extent to which we value their support.”

The charity’s 2018 Wills Weeks campaign begins on 4 June, with dates advertised from April onwards.

Pictured above are representatives from some from some of the law firms involved in St Nicholas Hospice Care’s 2017 Wills Weeks campaign, which raised £39,274.50.