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Another Successful Make a Will Month for St Gemma’s Hospice

Monika Volsing Monika Volsing
Emily Spencer Emily Spencer
4 min read

Make a Will Month 2025

This year our Private Client team took part in Make a Will Month in support of St Gemma’s Hospice, a charity that means a great deal to our staff and to so many families across Leeds. This year’s campaign has been one of the most successful yet, not just for the hospice, but for the community it serves.

To discuss writing a Will call 0113 320 5000

We believe that Will writing is more than a legal process. It’s a chance for people to protect their loved ones, find peace of mind and, in the case of campaigns like this one, make a meaningful difference to local people facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. We’re proud to announce that the 2025 campaign exceeded expectations and allowed us to play a small but important part in supporting St Gemma’s vital work.

What We Raised Together

St Gemma’s operates Make a Will Month differently from many charity schemes. Instead of requesting a fixed payment, they invite clients to make a suggested donation in return for professionally drafted Wills. This approach not only encourages people to give what they can but also enables the charity to reclaim Gift Aid. This increases each donation by up to 25% where eligible.

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Based on the number of Wills completed by our team, we raised we raised around £2,900 for St Gemma’s (if all participants made the full suggested donation) and that’s without Gift Aid! These figures reflect the generosity of our clients and the dedication of our team.

The campaign as a whole has been a huge success. According to St Gemma’s:

  • Over £17,000 has already been donated through Make a Will Month
  • An additional £3,000 was claimed through Gift Aid
  • The current total exceeds £19,900, with more donations still being processed

This means that, collectively, local solicitors and supporters have made a significant impact. Support like this allows St Gemma’s to continue providing specialist care and emotional support to people living with life-limiting illnesses.

Why We Support Make a Will Month

St Gemma’s Hospice has been a cornerstone of care in Leeds for decades, offering free, high-quality support to patients and families. Their team delivers care with kindness, empathy and dignity, all values that deeply align with our own.

For us, taking part in Make a Will Month isn’t just about fundraising. It’s about encouraging people to complete an important legal document they may have been putting off, as well as making professional Will-writing accessible to the community. We love helping clients achieve peace of mind while supporting a local cause. It strengthens our relationship with an organisation that does vital work in our community.

Our Private Client solicitors volunteered their time, skills and expertise free of charge throughout October. We are incredibly proud of their commitment and the care they put into each appointment.

A Heartfelt Thank You from St Gemma’s

The team received a warm message of thanks from St Gemma’s, expressing their appreciation for the campaign’s success and the collective effort behind it. They highlighted how invaluable the support of firms like ours is to the hospice’s mission. The whole ethos of the charity is to help local people with a terminal diagnosis make the most of the time they have left with loved ones.

Their message also reinforces just how meaningful this fundraiser is. Every Will written, every conversation held, and every donation made will support frontline hospice care delivered with sensitivity and warmth.

We would like to echo their gratitude to everyone who donated. Whether people contributed the suggested amount or went above and beyond (as many did), their generosity helps ensure St Gemma’s can continue offering exceptional care to those who need it most.

Supporting Your Future Planning, All Year Round

Make a Will Month may only take place in October but our commitment to helping people protect their loved ones is year-round.

Whether you need a first Will, want to update an existing one, or need advice on Lasting Powers of Attorney, Trusts, probate, inheritance tax planning, or Court of Protection applications, our Private Client team is here to support you with clarity, compassion and expert guidance.

If you missed Make a Will Month, you don’t need to wait until next year. We’re always happy to help you get your affairs in order at a time that suits you.

Message the team at wills&probate@winstonsolicitors.co.uk

Client feedback

As executors of my Mum’s estate we needed to apply for Probate. We met with Monika Volsing to discuss Probate and she talked us through the process and was very friendly and helpful. Any questions we had were always answered promptly. The whole process was very quick and we cannot fault anything.
Tracy
Great service the team at Winston’s solicitors are amazing at what they do! Thank again guys
Anonymous
Monika from Winstons has just updated our wills.Fast and efficient process and we appreciated her personal involvement explaining matters fully and with great clarity.
Anonymous
The service provided was excellent. My family have used your services on three occasions. In every case we have been totally satisfied.
David. B, West Yorkshire
Emily made the whole process hassle free. Everything was clearly explained in a friendly yet professional way
Mark
My wife and I instructed Momika Wolsing of Winstons Solicitors to draw up new Wills.I am please that we did so and am happy to provide a review in this context As a former lawyer myself, I have a critical eye.We found her efficient, knowledgeable. helpful and pleasant. She has an eye for detail and knows her business.She drew up the Wills in good time.Her fees were reasonable Her support staff are also pleasant and efficient.Altogether, from first to last, we received a 5 star service and I was happy to instruct Winstons as co-executors of the Wills.
Paul
I found Winstons to be a highly professional, efficient and compassionate firm of solicitors. The original estimate of fees for dealing with a complex probate matter including the sale of a property and dealing with inheritance tax proved to be very close to the final amount charged. At all stages throughout the process I was kept well informed of progress and was consulted whenever necessary. All correspondence was polite and pertinent, and my wishes were acted upon promptly. I would have no hesitation in recommending Winstons to others and would readily use their services myself in the future should the need arise.
Anonymous
Recently I have used the services of Winston Solicitors to deal with my wife's estate and to update my will. In both cases everything was explained in straightforward language and so was easy to understand. Things were dealt with promptly and I was always kept informed of progress. The friendly approach of members of the team made a difficult situation much easier to deal with. My family will certainly seek the services of Winstons when required in the future.
David
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