Rochdale solicitors support Will Aid

Will Aid's 25th anniversary

Solicitors in Rochdale are supporting Will Aid, a special partnership between the legal profession and nine of the UKs best loved charities as well as supporting the events 25th anniversary.

During November, participating solicitors waive their fee for writing a basic will and invite clients to make a donation to Will Aid instead, supporting nine UK charities, including the NSPCC.

Solicitors in Rochdale that are taking part in the event are Latimer Lee LLP, Savas and Savage Solicitors Ltd, Dixon Thomasson, GLP Solicitors and Temperley Taylor.

Last year, the NSPCC received nearly a quarter of a million pounds in donations made to Will Aid. On top of this, much more was promised by people who chose to include the children’s charity in their wills through the scheme.

Belinda Thomasson, from Dixon and Thomasson, said: “It is helpful in getting the firm known and it helps us contribute to a good cause without it costing much. We have done it for the past three years and have raised between £2,500 and £3,000 for charity.”

Nicola Finbow, from Temperley Taylor, said: “We do it because there is not much scope to do something for charity in this industry. We recently took part in the Christies will week which is a similar idea and we want as many people as possible to write wills. This is the first time we have taken part in Will Aid and the partners just decided that this was the right time to do it.”

Anna Heeley, Associate Solicitor at Savas and Savage, said: “It is a good way to give back to charity. We do the work for free and give up our time and just ask the clients to make a donation, so we are still effectively giving to the charity.

"I don’t think we have done Will Aid before but we do a similar thing with the local hospice. The paperwork came through to us and we thought we would get involved.”

Since 1998 Will Aid has raised over £13 million to help transform people’s lives in the UK and around the world.

Alex McDowell, head of Legacy and Tribute at the NSPCC, said: “By kindly donating their usual will writing fees to the Will Aid charities, solicitors have helped to raise millions of pounds for good causes while also providing a great incentive for people to write or update their will.

"And after people have made provisions for their loved ones, they could do something amazing and consider leaving a small percentage of whatever’s left for the NSPCC’s work to protect children.”

Even though the Will Aid campaign takes place in November, bookings are being taken now. Appointments usually get filled quickly so early booking is advised.

The suggested donation is £90 for a single basic will and £135 for a pair of basic matching or mirror wills.