The Association of Jersey Charities, together with the Jersey Charity Forum, is encouraging islanders to consider leaving a donation to a local charity when creating their will, as part of Jersey Legacy Week.
Taking place this week (11th – 17th September), Jersey Legacy Week coincides with Remember a Charity Week in the UK and aims to highlight both the importance of making a will and the impact gifts left in wills can make to charitable organisations, no matter how big or small.
Over the course of the week, the Association of Jersey Charities (AJC) will be running an online campaign through its social media channels to explain how easy it is to make a will and highlight how doing so can help loved ones and make things a lot easier at what could otherwise be a very difficult time.
In addition, the campaign will urge islanders to consider making a gift, large or small, to a cause close to their heart through their will, featuring a number of case studies and video stories.
UK figures show that the number of adults aged 40+ who have left a gift to charity in their will has risen by 43% in the past decade, while total reported legacy income rose in 2022 to reach £3.3bn, a 13.2% increase on the previous year’s £2.9bn (Legacy Foresight).
Commenting on Jersey Legacy Week, Kevin Keen, Chairman of the AJC, said: “The concept of legacy giving has continued to gain traction in the wake of the pandemic, with more and more people considering including a gift to a charity in their will. It’s a vital source of income for charities, which are still under enormous pressure to deliver vital community services in a highly pressurised inflationary environment.
“Creating a will is the best way to protect the people and causes you care about – and including or adding a charity gift in your will can make a big difference. This Legacy Week, we’re keen to encourage islanders to think about ‘willanthropy’ – creating a will to benefit others and leave a legacy.”
Claudine Snape, CEO, Dementia Jersey added: “Leaving a gift in your will can make a huge difference. Dementia is the fastest growing disease affecting the over 65s here at the moment, and we’ve seen demand for our services explode over recent years. It’s really important we carry on growing as a charity so that we can continue to help the rising number of families that need our services. Support, including through legacy gifts, really couldn’t come at a more important time.”
Further information can be found on the AJC website.
Pictured: JLW Mencap highlight importance of Legacy Week
