Annual Wills Month Returns for 2026

St Elizabeth Hospice has announced the return of its annual Wills Month for this May, an initiative which encourages people to consider the distribution of their estate after their death.

Research shows 54% of people of UK adults are currently without a Will and through this annual initiative the hospice is calling on people to write or update their Will this May.

Wills Month has been held annually since 2016, raising more than £107,538 for the hospice during this time. A number of local solicitors will once again be supporting Wills Month with booking available to be made from 1 April.

Lynn Maskell, Legacy Officer at St Elizabeth Hospice, said: “Wills Month is a great opportunity to take a simple step that can bring peace of mind to you and your loved ones.

“If you are thinking about leaving a gift in your Will to St Elizabeth Hospice, whatever the size, every gift helps us continue to develop and grow our services. Your support allows us to care for more local people and their families across East and Mid-Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney when they need us most.”

Annually the hospice cares for more than 4,000 patients and their families at a cost of around £12m, of which 70% is raised by the community through gift donations in Wills, St Elizabeth Hospice’s retail shops and local fundraising activities; with one in four patients cared for by funds donated by gifts in Wills.

One person who is leaving a gift in their Will to the hospice is Nick Hayward, whose wife Anne received support from the hospice’s Inpatient Unit team until her death, aged 73 in April 2020.

“For me the hospice’s care offers many important things. One of these is a sympathetic and understanding environment that supports the person who is sick, as well as family and loved ones,” said Nick (pictured above with Anne).

“Giving back helps ensure that others can also benefit from their care, which is why I have decided to leave a gift in my Will to St Elizabeth Hospice.

“The process of writing your Will is quite straightforward. I approached it with clear thoughts about what I wanted to happen and went to see a solicitor with a list of priorities.

“Through writing your Will, you gain peace of mind knowing you have taken care of things as best you can and can trust your attorneys to carry out your wishes as fully as possible.”