Sheffield Solicitors Ranked Top Northern Firm by Will Aid Charity
18th May 2016
Solicitors' firm Taylor Bracewell, with offices in Sheffield and Doncaster, have raised an amazing £12,890 for charity by taking part in the Will Aid scheme where they wrote Wills for local people and asked them only to consider making a donation to charity.
Their achievement ranks them as the top donating Will Aid firm in the whole of the North of Britain. John Coulthurst from British Red Cross paid the firm a visit last week to present them with a certificate to show their fantastic achievement and to let them know how the money they raised will be spent. He said: -We'd like to thank Taylor Bracewell and all the people who made their will during Will Aid month last November. The time donated by solicitors and the generous donations from everyone who made a will are already helping to save and transform lives around the world. Will Aid also gives people the opportunity to leave legacy gifts, and we are extremely grateful to everyone who chose to include the Red Cross in their will, making a promise that help will always be there when someone needs it in future. Whether it's responding to the recent flooding here in the UK or to the continuing humanitarian disaster in Syria, the donations and legacies from Will Aid mean we can continue to help people in crisis whoever and wherever they are in the world. Lauren Smith, Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate at Taylor Bracewell's Sheffield office, wrote nearly 160 Wills during the month of November, generously giving her time for free for the whole month. Will Aid, now in its 27th year, is a charity scheme that raises money for nine charities: ActionAid, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save The Children, Sightsavers, Age UK, SCIAF (Scotland) and Trocaire (Northern Ireland). The money raised is spent helping vulnerable people here in the UK and abroad. As well as raising funds for the Will Aid charities, the scheme helps to ensure that people in this area have a professionally drawn up Will. A Will is a vital document for every adult, no matter their age. Not only does it ensure that a person's money and possessions are distributed as they wish but it means that they have a say in who looks after any children they may have if something should happen to them before those children reach 18. Lauren said of her fantastic achievement: -I have taken part in the Will Aid scheme on several occasions and know how much benefit it can provide both clients and the charities. I like to do my bit for charity and using my expertise in this way is a much easier way than me trying to run a marathon although I would say it was just as tiring! I like the fact that Will Aid highlights the importance of making a Will whilst at the same time highlighting the fantastic work of the charities who support Will Aid. This year's Will Aid has been a great success with the total funds raised so far reaching an impressive £1.1M for the nine charities. Peter de Vena Franks, Campaign Director, is delighted with how solicitors and will makers have responded to the scheme. He said: -Over the years, the Will Aid campaign has made an amazing contribution to the work of the nine participating charities and this year was no exception. Thanks to the support and commitment of local solicitors that took part in this year's Will Aid, many people both in the UK and abroad will receive life changing support from the nine wonderful charities. And local people who used the scheme have the peace of mind knowing their affairs are in order thanks to having a professionally drawn up Will. Will Aid will run again in November 2016. Solicitors and anyone who wants to make a Will can find out more at the website www.willaid.org.uk