Macclesfield: Sort your will out, and support East Cheshire Hospice in the process
One appointment you make in October, could be the most important of your life, and indeed afterlife.
Will Month is back in Macclesfield once again, raising vital funds for a beloved local charity. And with 2024 statistics suggesting more than half of Brits do not have a will, why not make this charity promotion a chance to get your affairs in order?
The annual event, which benefits East Cheshire Hospice, sees solicitors and will writers waive their fees for a whole month, to raise money for the palliative care centre.
Macclesfield Nub News met with East Cheshire Hospice corporate fundraiser Luke Oldham, and Tytherington willwriter Joe Etherington of Moneybox Wills and Trusts to find out more.
"How the will month works is, as a service provider, the people who like to make a will would come to us and make an appointment as normal," Joe explained.
"They will get provided our usual service, as they would come to us any time of year.
"The difference being throughout October, the fee for a simple will that we would have charged, we don't charge the client.
"We ask the client to make that amount as donation to East Cheshire Hospice.
"They can do that in a number of ways. Either by cheque, or calling up, or making a donation personally. All of which, can be GiftAided, to the benefit of the Hospice.
"But also, the last couple of years, the Hospice have provided us with a very handy QR code, so people can make a donation at our office, during the same appointment that we write their will."
In Will Month 2023, over £14,000 was fundraised for East Cheshire Hospice.
That covers the Hospice's operating costs for roughly a day-and-a-half.
Moneybox Wills and Trusts was one of the participants last year, and will be this year as well.
For last year's will month, it was Moneybox's record amount raised for the Broken Cross and Upton ward charity, with almost £6000 fundraised.
"The money from Will Month is a huge benefit to the Hospice," said Luke.
"It helps keep the Hospice open and provide that service to the people that really, really, need it.
"The services the Hospice provides are obviously incredible important to those that need them.
"We are helping people at the hardest time in their life for themselves, and their family.
"And Will Month is especially close to our hearts because death and end of life planning, is something that is very, very difficult for most people to think about, let alone actually start the planning process.
"So we want to try and make that as easy, and experienced as well can, because it is vital that you have that in place, so we are really grateful for people like Joe at Moneybox and all the other solicitors who offer their time to help people do that.
"It almost feels like an extension of our service, it is not just a fundraiser, which is why it is so important for us."
Five legal advice firms are taking part in Will Month 2024.
The line-up is a mixture of new supports of Will Month, and ones like Joe Etherington from Moneybox Wills and Trusts, who have done it before.
GPW Tax and Law of Church Street, and Stratford Solicitors in Poynton have also signed up.
And last but not least, Estate Planning Solutions, who according to Luke, are in the process of opening a new branch in Macclesfield.
It will be the fourth year Moneybox Wills and Trusts have took part, and four years ago Moneybox themselves were established!
"We started our relationship with the Hospice four years ago", said Joe.
"We raised just under £6000 in Will Month last year, [a remarkable feat, given £14,000 was the total fundraised across all local legal professionals which took part].
"I love working with the Hospice. I think all Hospice's across the country do a fantastic thing.
"Losing a love one is probably one of the most difficult, if not the most difficult thing, any family member will have to go through.
"The service Hospices' provide, really are so special to so many people. East Cheshire Hospice has got such a great relationship with everybody around Macclesfield.
"Clients that come to us throughout the year, many of his have been touched by East Cheshire Hospice and include them in their wills. It is not just for will month, that our clients support them.
"But to be able to dedicate a few weeks to help them out, is really no issue."
Throughout the Will Month, there are a lot of supporters, and while there is no obligation to include the Hospice in your will, on top of the donation (that would normally go towards paying for their services), many participants do choose to leave legacies to the Hospice as well
"It is not just throughout the month of October that we see a lot of legacies left to East Cheshire Hospice," shared Joe.
"It is just a testament to how special this place is for the community."
"On behalf of everyone at the Hospice, I'd like to say a huge thank you to all the solicitors for their support, time and efforts in Will Month," Luke said.
"Not only because it helps keep the Hospice going with donations, but it also keeps that conversation going around end of life planning, which for our service is what we always want to promote.
"Thank you to anybody who chooses will month as now, the way to support.
"It does make a huge, huge difference, every donation that we take in does go directly to helping people who need it, in the worst time of their lives, so thank you so much for their consideration, thank you so much for choosing to donate to East Cheshire Hospice, we hope you get the excellent services from the solicitors, that I know, having spoken to Joe, are all amazing at their jobs.
"It is a really, really good time, not only to make sure that you have got something in place for you and your loved ones, but to make sure you are doing good by making the choice to do it now."
If you are sitting on the fence or putting off writing a will, even with this support of a historic Macclesfield institution, Joe went on to detail more benefits of writing a will.
"A benefit that is often overlooked is simply by having an effective will, it does make administration of the estate far similar," Joe said.
"Some other benefits of having a will, for younger parents it means they can attach guardians to their children so they know their children can be looked after.
"Certain circumstances with wills and help with tax planning, and preserve assets for future generations, they can make sure that your estate is dealt with."
"And that is exactly the sort of expert advice that you do not realise you do not know," chimed in Luke.
"Which is why this scheme is doubly important, not only is it a way of donating to the Hospice, but because that service is there to make sure people are aware of exactly what end of life planning is, and what it can do for you and the people around you."
Want to book Joe? October may not have started yet, but start your Will Month enquiry today!
Get in touch by calling 01625 573521 or email [email protected].
Macclesfield: You can follow Moneybox Wills and Trusts on Facebook. Click HERE to head to the Moneybox Wills and Trusts website.
You can find more about Will Month on the red link in this sentence, or contact [email protected] / 01625 433477.
A brochure about will month can also be read HERE.
Moneybox Wills and Trusts are a sponsor of Macclesfield Nub News.
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