Guest post by Peter de Vena Franks, campaign director of Will Aid
de Vena Franks: Will Aid boosts staff morale
A recent survey revealed that 59% of the population do not have paperwork protecting their loved ones in the event of their death.
The poll, commissioned by Will Aid, found that only 29% had an up-to-date will. These figures have increased upon last year, with 54% of participants without a will in 2022, and 49% in 2021.
Of those surveyed, many stated that a lack of time or assets meant they hadn’t made a will, while others were reluctant to talk about death.
Through Will Aid, solicitors can partner with nine of the UK’s best-loved charities and waive their fee for writing a basic will. Instead, they invite clients to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid – a suggested £100 for a single basic will and £180 for a pair of basic ‘mirror’ wills.
The Will Aid campaign is now live and receiving enquiries from across the UK but needs more firms to sign up and help meet this demand. Taking part not only helps raise vital donations for the charities, but also brings huge benefits to participating firms. The scheme has helped many firms to attract new clients and expand their firm’s brand and profile.
Whether you’re a new firm or a long-established business, taking part in Will Aid boosts staff morale and gives your colleagues a common goal to work towards, knowing their efforts are making a real difference for the will recipients and the wider community.
Taking part in Will Aid is a simple and easy way to provide a valuable local service – helping people who don’t have wills to finally put their affairs in order.
Whilst Will Aid month is November, every Will Aid client is able to engage a solicitor for additional work which can be charged over and above the cost of a basic will. Many Will Aid clients build a relationship with their solicitor and return to the firm for other legal work or recommend them to family and friends.
Lauren Smith, a solicitor at Sheffield firm Taylor Bracewell, says: “Since working on this campaign, we have had 700 new clients through the door. Those people might not have found us, but thanks to Will Aid we have been able to support more clients than ever before.”
When you take part in Will Aid, solicitors can control the number of clients that they take on. They can also choose to be on the remote list and reach clients all over the country. Being part of the remote list gives prospective will makers the chance to find and contact firms directly, no matter where in the UK they are based.
Will Aid also has a secure online dashboard to help firms keep track of enquiries, as well as PR materials to help raise the profile of the firm.
In addition to the financial benefits, Will Aid participants are supporting the nine partner charities who benefit from the campaign: ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, Sightsavers, SCIAF and Trocaire.
To take part in Will Aid, follow these simple steps: Call the Will Aid team on 0300 0300 013 or click here.
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