Remember A Charity, a consortium of charities working to inspire more people to consider leaving a gift to charity in their Will, is proud to partner with broadcaster, former newsreader, and Strictly Come Dancing star Angela Rippon CBE to inspire people to leave a charitable gift in their Will, showing how giving can bring about fulfilment and meaning in later life.

Remember A Charity is encouraging people to consider supporting the good causes they care about by leaving a charitable gift in their Will alongside gifts for their loved ones. Angela herself is a Willanthropist - someone who has included a charitable gift in her Will:

“In recent years, I've found a renewed sense of purpose through fresh hobbies and passions. For me, giving my time and support to good causes has enriched my life in so many ways. I've been able to use my voice to make a difference, and by including a gift to charity in my Will, I have the opportunity to influence the world beyond my lifetime.

Remembering a charity in your Will, especially a cause that aligns with your values and passions, is a wonderful way to reflect the things that matter most to us - family, friends and good causes - shaping the world we leave behind. Knowing that I am enabling charities to continue their vital work for many years to come has given me a tremendous sense of empowerment. What’s truly special is that every gift, whether big or small, helps to fund charities' work long into the future."

As the UK’s population is living longer, there are more and more inspiring stories showing it’s never too late to do the things that make you happy and to find your purpose, i.e. Dame Judy Dench embracing TikTok to bring joy during the uncertain times of lockdown, Fatima Whitbread turning her hand to storytelling with her new care system inspired children’s book, Jeremy Clarkson embarking on his farming journey, and Sir Steve Redgrave learning figure skating.

There are many wonderful ways in which people support charities later in life whether that’s by giving their money, time, wisdom or expertise. Research shows that people derive purpose from helping others, connecting and building relationships, reflecting on past interests, exploring new horizons, volunteering, and giving back. Increasingly, people are choosing to see their passion for good causes live on for future generations with a gift in their Will. In fact, more than one in five people who give to charity in life have now included a charity in their Will, alongside their loved ones.

Remembering a charity in your Will is a culmination of: how life has informed who you are and what you care about, how you choose to live life joyfully in the now, and deciding what legacy you want to leave behind and what you want to be remembered for. It is also a wonderful way of ensuring that causes we cherish most in life are protected for years to come.

Local charity Harry’s Hydrocephalus Awareness Trust (Harry’s HAT) has been written into Annie’s Will. Annie’s grandson was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus - a life-threatening condition where excess fluid builds up inside the brain. If left untreated hydrocephalus can be fatal. Annie said “I hope that my legacy will continue to support the charities’ vital work. I also hope that my legacy will mean that the work of the charity can continue, which will mean more awareness, more access to training for frontline health care workers and more support for frightened families. I know that my legacy will change lives, and this gives me tremendous comfort and pride.”

The beauty of Willanthropy (giving from your Will) is that it is something almost anybody can do, no matter what causes they wish to support or how large or small their donation. Every gift can make a difference.

Remember A Charity and Angela Rippon are on a mission to raise awareness of this purposeful act and grow the movement by showing how it can have a positive impact on your own life, as well as those helped by the work of amazing charities.