|
|
||
St Ann’s Will Week March 26 - 30
St Ann’s Hospice, which provides free care for more than 3,000 people
each year from Greater Manchester, will be running its annual Will Week from
March 26 to 30
Nearly 50 local solicitors from all over Manchester give their time free to write a standard Will in return for the client making a donation to the Hospice. The campaign, sponsored by United Co-op – your Community Retailer, has raised more than £50,000 for St Ann’s over last three years with an average donation between £50 and £100 per Will.
Gifts in Wills or legacies left to St Ann’s account for up to 20% of voluntary contributions received towards the running the Hospice, where 89.4p in every £ raised goes towards the support of patient care.
Cheadle solicitor Andrew Taylor said: “St Ann’s Will Week encourages the general public to get their affairs in order whilst raising valuable funds for the Hospice. It has my wholehearted backing and I am pleased with how well my clients have reacted to the initiative.”
St Ann’s fundraiser Fiona Reed said: “Seven out of ten people die without making a Will, and with the rise in property values, many more people are falling within the inheritance tax threshold of £275,000.
“So it may be a good time to consider making a Will or updating an existing one if your family circumstances change such as becoming a grandparent, moving house, divorce or marriage. For an existing Will is automatically revoked upon marriage unless the Will is written in anticipation of the wedding.”
A practical fact sheet on making a Will is available on the St Ann’s website at www.sah.org.uk/giftinwill together with a list of nearly 50 local solicitors who will be taking part and supporting Will Week throughout Greater Manchester. Alternatively phone St Ann’s fundraiser Fiona Reed on 0161 498 3664.
Why make a will?
· Any gift you make to a registered charity, like St Ann’s, will be free of Inheritance Tax, which means the full gift you leave to the Hospice would be received, rather than 40% going to the Government
· Making a Will ensures that your loved ones are provided for, and you control the allocation of your assets, which in the absence of a Will or any family, could be claimed by the State.
Get ready for a Black, White and Bling Ball in aid of St Ann’s Hospice. It is being organised by beautician Sarah Vaughan, proprietor of Peaches ‘n’ Cream beauty salon in Timperley, in memory of her mum, Shirley Greaves.
The ball at the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham on March 17 is part of St Ann’s Tribute Fund for Mrs Greaves, who would have been 70 this year.
“I can’t thank St Ann’s enough for what they did for my mum, and I just hope that raising money for the Hospice goes a little way to help others get the care they deserve,” said Sarah.
Sarah is also staging an Open Day at her salon on Friday March 23 from 2.30 pm to 7.30 pm in aid of St Ann’s, and two of her salon staff, Hollie Davies and Suzanne Francis, are planning a sponsored run around Timperley the same day.
A host of prizes are being lined up for the charity ball. Tickets priced £22.50 can be obtained from Sarah on 0161 980 1524 or by emailing peachesncreambeautysalon@hotmail.com
To set up a Tribute Fund in aid of St Ann’s, email tributefunds@sah.org.uk or phone 0161 498 3662
For further information: Rex Garratt, Communications Officer: Tel 0161 498 3628 Mobile 07870 581093 or email: rgarratt@sah.org.uk
A call is going out for volunteers to help out at two new charity shops St Ann’s Hospice will be opening soon on the outskirts of Greater Manchester.
A new shop will open in Monton Road, Monton, near Worsley, on March 12, and another in Palatine Road, Northenden, near Sale on March 19. Anyone interested in volunteering or dropping off donations for either shop can call in from February 16 while the premises are being fitted out ready for trading. Alternatively phone St Ann’s Volunteer Officer Nina Savage on 0161 498 3653.
Anthony Lord, St Ann’s Hospice Trading Manager, said: “This will mean we will have nine shops in the Greater Manchester area helping to raise much needed funds to provide free treatment for over 3,000 patients year. To ensure success, we are looking to recruit a number of volunteers to support the shop manager.”
Manchester lawyers are advising their clients to leave a legacy to their local charity to save them from falling into the inheritance tax trap that is ensnaring millions of ordinary families.
It follows a warning from insurance company Scottish Widows that rising house values have seen soaring numbers caught up in 40% inheritance tax once the value of all assets, including home and savings, goes above £285,000.
Now a growing number of solicitors are endorsing the Heartfelt campaign launched by four leading charities in Manchester to avoid the tax grab. St Ann’s Hospice, the Christie Hospital, Henshaws Society for Blind People and the Together Trust for the welfare of children, which all rely heavily on legacies for their very existence, are getting support from lawyers for their initiative.
Actress Sue Nicholls, better known as Audrey from Coronation Street, who is backing the Heartfelt campaign, said:” Leaving a legacy to one of these local charities will help to ensure that they are still here to offer their invaluable care to the local community for many years to come and I heartily support this initiative.”
Hugh Jones, Head of Trust & Probate and a Partner at Pannone’s law firm in Manchester said:” Despite good intentions, most people neglect to make any provision for charity in their wills. But the plain fact is that inheritance tax affecting more and more estates. A gift to charity is exempt from inheritance tax, so making a Will with provision for a charity like those in Heartfelt makes good economic sense.”
Tom Clark, Legacies Officer with Henshaws said: “A growing number of solicitors in Greater Manchester are now endorsing our campaign and are advising their clients of the option to leave a legacy to their local charity as a way to reduce inheritance tax.”
St Ann’s Hospice fundraiser Fiona Reed remarked: “Seven out of ten people die without making a Will, and with the rise in property values, many more people are falling within the inheritance tax threshold.”
Toni Leden, Appeals Director at Christie’s commented: “We are asking solicitors to point out to their clients the tax advantages of leaving a legacy to their local charity.”
David Poppitt, Fundraising Manager of the Together Trust, pointed out another bonus in addition to denying the taxman hard earned money. “It’s a proven fact that people who decide to leave a legacy to charity in their Will seem to live longer. Apparently it reflects a well ordered lifestyle which engenders longevity,” he explained.
