Huge Thank You to our clients and Congratulations to our team – Together we raised £5,890 during Will Aid 2023.
Will Aid 2023 Campaign
Throughout November 2023 we volunteered our time and expertise and waived our usual Will writing fee for simple Wills in support of Will Aid. Instead of our fee, our clients made a donation to Will Aid to be distributed among nine worthy charities to help support their vital work.
Will Aid takes place every November, and participating solicitors volunteer their time and expertise. The Will Aid campaign has raised more than £24.7 million in donations and many millions more in pledged legacies, for its nine partner charities since launching in 1988. We are delighted to announce that together we raised over £5,890 for Will Aid 2023 campaign, making Blackwood & Smith one of the highest donating firms in the whole of Scotland! This year’s efforts bring the firm’s total contribution to the campaign up to an impressive £38,571! As a firm we are massively proud of our clients and solicitors for raising such significant amounts in support of worthy causes.
As a firm we have always recognised and embraced our duty to give back. The Will Aid Campaign has a dual purpose of encouraging people to have their Will drafted by a solicitor whilst at the same time raising money for charity. Our belief in the importance of both of these objectives make our decision to participate in the Will Aid campaign an easy one.
Jonathan Chase, chair of Will Aid, said:
“Huge congratulations to the team at Blackwood & Smith LLP for raising such a staggering amount this year. It’s amazing that so many solicitors give their time to volunteer so generosity, using their expertise to help people gain peace of mind by getting a professionally written will while fundraising for our incredible charities who do such crucial and life-changing work in the UK and around the world."
“On behalf of all the partner charities, a massive thank you and well done to Blackwood & Smith LLP and all the firms who have taken part this year!”
Peter de Vena Franks, campaign director, added:
“What a great team effort from everyone who has taken part in this year’s Will Aid campaign. Thank you to everyone who has harnessed their expertise and generosity to give their time, helping to protect people’s wishes and also supporting such worthwhile partner charities who are changing lives for the better.”
Donations support nine of the UK’s best-loved charities - ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, Sightsavers, SCIAF (Scotland) and Trocaire (N. Ireland).
Why is it important to make a Will?
A Will is a legal document that provides details of your wishes on your death. These instructions typically include directions about the distribution of your assets (your house, bank accounts, pensions and digital assets); a Will can also deal with the care of any children.
If you do not have a Will, the Succession (Scotland) Act 1964 will dictate how your estate assets including your money or property are distributed. The law of succession is not personal to you and your assets may not be distributed in the way you expect or wish. A well drafted Will can simplify the legal process for your loved ones after your death and save an unnecessary court process.
It is important that you update your Will if your personal circumstances change. An out of date Will may not reflect your current wishes at the time of your death.
What has Will Aid achieved?
Will Aid started in 1988 and since then with the help of the legal profession the charity will-writing campaign has raised over £24.7 million for worthy causes.
The Will Aid charities work with the most vulnerable people near and far. The sums raised by the campaign have helped to transform the lives of people in need, both here in the UK and all around the world. To find out more about the life-transforming work of the Will Aid charities please follow this link which will redirect you to the dedicated page on their website www.willaid.org.uk/will-aid-charities
Since Will Aid began it has encouraged more than 345,000 people to make their Wills through the campaign.
Will Aid is a fantastic campaign, one which Blackwood & Smith are extremely proud to take part in. Thank you to all our clients for their generous donations and to our solicitors who gave their time and energy to support such worthwhile charities.
Contact Us
If you would like to discuss an existing or new Will our experienced private client team would be delighted to this over with you. Please call us on 01721 720131 or fill in our online enquiry form https://www.blackwoodsmith.com/contact-us
