Where there's a will, there's a way!

Today was the day I (Kate, Farm CEO) finally feel like a grown-up (or reached peak adulting). I wrote a will!  With the help of the lovely Jessica from Graham Evans and Partners, I finally did it! Did you know that a shocking 51% of UK adults don’t have a will (although I suspect that is much higher in my generation)? This can lead to long drawn-out probate issues, a lack of clarity and stress for and tension between your loved ones as well as ultimately not having your wishes carried out. 

I was spurred on to finally do it by Gifts in Wills Week and a campaign that is running this week in Swansea to remind people that you can leave a legacy to local charities. Large charities are particularly good at telling people they can leave money to them (and even offer incentives such as free wills) but us smaller charities don’t have the same clout or marketing budgets so tend to be forgotten. This week charities across Swansea want to remind people that you can leave to any charity you like in your will and those local charities, that have touched your life in some way are ideal candidates. Small local charities face significant challenges in getting funding but are the lifeblood of communities. This was especially apparent during covid when small independent charities were able to switch their focus quickly to support their communities in unique and invaluable ways. 

I can now reassure you that writing your will isn’t that hard or scary! You just have to think about and say what you want and, in my case, how you want to give to your charity. I obviously wanted to donate to Swansea Community Farm, not just because I work here and because I’m incredibly proud of the work it does but because I have benefitted directly from it being here when I was a young single parent and it helped me get back into education and develop new skills and passions  through my volunteering. I decided to leave 15% of my estate to the Farm.  

Since I have started talking about wills, a substantial number of friends and family have come out of the woodwork to say that they do not have a will.  So, I’m here to tell you all, planning for your future is easy, it is definitely cool, that you can continue to help your favourite charity after death and that there is literally no better time than now!

 If Swansea Community Farm happens to be the sort of charity that you might like to support just leave instructions for an amount or a percentage to Swansea Community Farm (Registered Charity 1079907). 

What is even better is that when Graham Evans and Partners found out what I was up to, they generously offered to donate what my will is costing me to the Farm. Diolch o Galon Graham Evans and Partners!