Today, September 6th, marks the start of Remember A Charity Week, an opportunity for charities around the country to raise awareness of passing on something wonderful by including a charity in your will after family and friends have been taken care of.

More kind-hearted Brits are leaving gifts to charities in their wills than ever before.

New research from Remember A Charity and Smee & Ford reports that a million legacy donations have been left in the past decade.

The data also reveals that the percentage of people leaving a gift to charity in their will has increased by almost a third (30%) over the past 20 years, with more people than ever choosing to support a charity close to their heart – even after they’ve gone.

Find out more about leaving a gift in your will

Former head judge of Strictly Come Dancing, Len Goodman, is also lending his support to the week, having altered his own will to include a charity close to his heart.

Len commented:

I am honoured to be supporting Remember A Charity Week for the fourth year running and to have the opportunity to meet some of the inspiring people working hard for a range of charitable causes.

I really hope this week will encourage more people to leave a gift, however big or small, after they’ve gone. I’ve included a charitable gift in my will after my family has been taken care of – it’s so simple and it really does make an enormous difference!

Any gift, no matter how large or small, left to United Response helps to support people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs.

Find out more about leaving a gift in your will