New data from Hospice UK highlights the critical importance of legacy gifts in Wills in keeping our nation’s hospices going. The research comes as Hospice UK brings together a coalition of 143 British hospices to celebrate them and encourage people to consider leaving a gift to their chosen hospice in their Will.
Although legacy giving is growing across the charity sector, legacy market share for hospices is declining. This means leaving a gift in your Will can literally change lives. Legacy donations fund the equivalent of hospice care for 30,000 people per year, or 6,000 hospice nurses every year. There’s an urgent need to futureproof this vital source of income, while also empowering people to make their legacy count.
Last year, St Teresa’s Hospice cared for over 1,200 people. For Tees Valley it is expected that by 2030 there will be an additional 40,736 people aged 70 and above. From this we can ascertain that the requirement for adequate palliative and end of life care services will increase in the coming years. Additionally, the proportion of people dying at home has been increasing for at least two decades.
The demand for hospice care is on the rise. Today, as many as 90% of people who die in the UK could benefit from receiving palliative care. And by 2040, around 130,000 more people in the UK will die each year than in 2023. Now, more than ever, securing the future of hospices is crucial, to ensure they can continue providing the life-affirming care that so many rely on.
In response, Hospice UK has brought together a collation of 143 British hospices to launch a national campaign to celebrate all that hospices do and to encourage the nation to support them through leaving a gift in their Will.
At the campaign’s heart is a powerful collection of real-life stories that challenge misconceptions about hospices, showing the breadth of care and support they provide and highlighting their place at the heart of local communities. From caring for people at the end of their lives, to supporting loved ones, to planning weddings, birthday parties, and pet visits, hospices help create cherished moments and bring comfort to all who need their support.
The campaign shows how hospice care relies on the generosity of people leaving a gift in their Will to their local hospice, to ensure that support is available for everyone who needs it, both now and in the future.
Catherine Bosworth, Director of Income Generation and Grants at Hospice UK, says:
“Hospices support people at the most vulnerable time of their lives, easing the physical and emotional pain of death and dying, letting people focus on living right until the end. They provide choice, dignity, and help families create lasting memories. They make life’s most difficult moments less scary – but they can only do this with enough funding. While the injection of government funds has provided much-needed support for the sector, hospices rely on gifts in Wills to continue offering the exceptional care people need. Leaving a gift in your Will is a powerful and heartfelt way to recognise your chosen hospice for all that they do.”
Each gift left in a Will makes a difference to the families we care for at St Teresa’s, ensuring we can continue to be there in the moments that matter. The kindness of leaving such a gift can continue to be felt by others for many years to come, a lasting legacy of love that truly means the world to us and the families we are able to care for.
With the demand for our care ever increasing, it’s important to share how much gifts in Wills can positively impact our service, these gifts contributed towards the care of over 1,500 people last year.
Get involved
Hospice UK is encouraging people to consider leaving a gift in their Will to support hospice care. Even a small legacy donation can make a significant difference in ensuring exceptional end-of-life support is delivered to those who need it most.
For more information, you can visit www.thisishospicecare.org.uk search ‘hospice gift in will’ today, or simply visit your local hospice.
To watch the ‘This is Hospice Care’ video, visit youtu.be/DB_ntxBHIf4?si=JgTcE1gD6GUOzHPt.
