Forest Holme Hospice and Macmillan Caring Locally are proud to be amongst 143 hospices taking part in the ‘This is Hospice Care’ campaign, a national initiative facilitated by Hospice UK. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the vital role hospices play in communities and to shift public perceptions of hospice care, while also highlighting how legacy giving can make a difference now and in the future for palliative and end-of-life care.

The campaign, which launched on February 17th, has already captured hearts and minds through a powerful TV advert based on real life hospice stories. The goal is to encourage people to consider leaving a gift in their Will to support their local hospice, ensuring that these essential services can continue to provide compassionate and specialist care for future generations.

Hannah O’ Hare, CEO at Forest Holme Hospice and Neal Williams, Trust Secretary at Macmillan Caring Locally, said, “We’re thrilled to be part of this important campaign that not only highlights the critical work of both hospices, but also the lasting impact that gifts in Wills can have on our ability to continue providing care across the BCP.”

Both hospices are encouraging local residents to consider the profound impact that a gift in their Will can have in ensuring that their services remain available to those who need them most. 

Between 2023 and 2024, 48% of Forest Holme’s income came from Gifts in Wills, enabling the charity to provide 1,500 counselling and bereavement support sessions. One supporter who has pledged to leave a gift in their Will is Tiff Watson, who said, “My parents both passed away in the hospice and I will never be able to repay how beautifully they were cared for. This is why my legacy feels like a gift of love for the hospice.”

Over the same period, 70% of Macmillan Caring Locally’s income came from Gifts in Wills. This in turn funded the whole of Macmillan Caring Locally’s services for well over a calendar year.

Ms B.Sharp, who decided to leave a gift in her Will to Macmillan Caring Locally, said, “I am privileged to volunteer in the fundraising department for Macmillan Caring Locally. The effort they put in to raise the money to keep this charity going is amazing. I’m not a wealthy person, so I give my time. I have left a gift in my will to help them continue their incredible work. It is a wonderful feeling to know that I will still be making a difference after I’m gone.”

For more information about leaving a Gift in Will to either charity, visit https://forestholmehospice.org.uk/leave-a-gift-in-your-will/ or https://www.macmillanlocal.org/fundraisers/leave-a-legacy/