Where there’s a Will, there’s a way… to help your local community

Friends of the Family are proud to be one of eight local charities who have come together to create Legacy Action Week, running from 7 to13 April 2025! Read on to find out more about what’s going on and where you can come along for a chat with the team…

Almost half of UK adults don’t have a Will, according to research by financial services provider Canada Life. In Winchester, that could equate to as many as 60,000 people currently without a Will. So, what’s your excuse?

Results from the report reveal that some of the most common reasons for people not making a Will include the fact people don’t feel they have enough assets to pass on, they think their partner will automatically inherit everything anyway, they’re too young to write a Will or that writing a Will is too expensive.

To highlight the importance of having a Will in place, eight local charities have joined forces to create Legacy Action Week, taking place next month, where they’ll be showcasing the support you can provide to your local community when leaving them a gift.

Friends of the Family, Winchester Hospice, Trinity Winchester, Play to the Crowd , St John’s Winchester, Winchester Gold, Winchester Youth Counselling and Winchester and District Young Carers will be represented at a week of events this April to highlight the important impact leaving them a gift in your Will can make. They’ll also be hosting a free event for local people to help explain everything you wanted to know about writing a Will and the difference you can make to your community when you’re gone.

The ‘Everything you wanted to know about Wills but were too afraid to ask’ event will take place at Chesil House on Wednesday 9 April from 10am to 1pm. Solicitors and other legal professionals will be on hand to answer your questions and dispense their expert advice on Wills, probate and other important matters at this free event for local people. There’s no need to register your attendance, just drop in at a time that suits you.

Each charity taking part is different and the way they use any gifts left to them in Wills will impact the local community in a range of ways. For Friends of the Family, a gift of £1,000 will enable us to train one volunteer befriender to provide support and friendship to a local child facing difficult times for one year. Your gift means we can be there. There for the boy who is being bullied at school and losing his self-confidence, and for the girl who is so shy that she hides behind the sofa when visitors come.

“I really like having Sharon as my befriender, she’s a keeper!” Rosie – a child from our 5s to 13s Befriending service

A range of events will be taking place across the week which runs from 7 to 13 April and all are free to attend for those wanting to find out more.

Events:

• Monday 7 April, 6.30pm to 7.30pm, Theatre Royal Winchester – The stories we leave behind: Remembering a charity in your Will. An entertaining and insightful evening where we lift the curtain on legacy giving – what it means and why it matters.
• Tuesday 8 April, 2.30pm to 4.30pm, Trinity Winchester – Drop in afternoon for Trinity Winchester supporters. Find out how your gift can help end homelessness in the city.
• *Wednesday 9 April, 10am to 1pm, Chesil House – Everything you wanted to know about Wills but were too afraid to ask at Chesil House. The chance to ask your burning questions about Wills, probate and more.
• *Thursday 10 April, The ARC, 11am to 1pm – Drop in event. Meet our charities, find out more about them and the significant impact your gift to them in your Will can have on them and the work they do.
• Friday 11 April, 3pm to 5pm, Winchester Hospice – Tea @ 3. An opportunity to enjoy tea and cake in the award-winning hospice garden with an optional tour to see where generous donations are put to good use.

*Friends of the Family will be in attendance at these events. Come and say hello!

Further information about all of these events, and more, can be found at www.legacyactionweek.com

To see how your legacy could make a huge different to Friends of Family, see: www.fotfwinchester.org/support-us/remember-us/