Tom Brake MP calls on solicitors to take part in Will Aid

2.05.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 22nd Jun 2006

Tom Brake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, today urged local solicitors to take part in this year's November Will Aid campaign.

The Will Aid campaign puts people in touch with a solicitor who is prepared to make their will for free, and in return Will makers include a donation to Will Aid. The objective of this campaign is to encourage people to both make a Will and to donate funds which benefit various charities to help children, elderly people and families across the UK and around the world.

Donations are shared by the nine leading charities involved in the scheme: ActionAid, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Help the Aged, NSPCC, Save the Children UK, Sight Savers International, SCIAF and Trocaire. The suggested donation level is £75 for a single Will, £110 for a pair of wills or £40 for a codicil to an existing Will.

Will Aid is one of the UK's most effective fundraising campaigns. Since the campaign began, solicitors have helped raise almost £6 million in donations. The last Will Aid campaign raised £685,000 in donations from Will-makers to make a real and immediate difference to people in need around the world and £5.2m was pledged in legacies to the Will Aid charities. This money has been put to work to supply people with clean drinking water, food, health care, and education for children.

Tom Brake says,

"This campaign is crucial and effective because it encourages adults to make a will while helping to raise much needed funds for charities, which enables people to build their communities and improved their future. I would also like to commend participating solicitors who are working with Will Aid as they are doing so free of charge. Having a Will ensures financial security for families and loved ones, and these solicitors have seen the stress that can be caused when someone dies without a Will. Every adult should have a professionally drawn up Will and should review it regularly as circumstances change. I encourage more local solicitors to participate."

Solicitors wishing to take part or to find out more about the scheme, should telephone the Campaign Office on 01460 271178, visit the website www.willaid.org.uk or email enquiries@willaid.org.uk.