“Make a Will Month” Returns to Greater Manchester in Support of Francis House Children’s Hospice
Greater Manchester, England – Tuesday, August 26th, 2025 – This September, solicitors across Greater Manchester will once again be partnering with Francis House Children’s Hospice for the annual “Make a Will Month” campaign. The initiative offers individuals the opportunity to have their Will written or amended for free by participating legal firms in exchange for a donation to the charity.
As part of the campaign, participating solicitors have generously offered their time and expertise to draft a simple Will or update an existing one for a suggested donation of £100 for individuals or £175 for couples or partners. This is a significant discount from the standard fees for such services.
The hospice, located in Didsbury, provides invaluable care to families of children and young adults with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions through respite care, homecare, sibling support, and bereavement support. They also have three specially cooled “Rainbow Rooms” that allow families time with their child after death and until the funeral, providing a peaceful and private space for goodbyes. Throughout their stay, families are fully supported by the hospice team.
Susie Poppitt, a representative from Francis House Children’s Hospice, shared the importance of leaving a legacy gift in one’s Will to support the hospice’s ongoing efforts. “By making a Will during September through one of our participating solicitors, not only will you be safeguarding your family’s future, but you’ll also be supporting your local children’s hospice. Many people don’t realize that a change in family circumstances, such as moving home, starting a family, or getting married, provides an ideal opportunity for making a Will.”
Poppitt continued, “Leaving a legacy gift in a Will is a meaningful way of supporting our children’s hospice. We rely heavily on donations in the form of legacies, and any gift that you choose to make will be treasured by everyone at Francis House. We would like to express our gratitude to participating firms for offering their expertise in support of this scheme.”
Several reputable solicitors, including Glaisyers ETL in Manchester, Hargreaves Gilman in Didsbury, Bromleys in Ashton Under Lyne, AST Hampsons in Bury, and Wrigley Claydon in Oldham, have joined the campaign and will provide their services and expertise without charge during the month of September. Instead, they will ask for a donation to Francis House.
Chris Burrows, the Head of Private Client Services at Glaisyers, expressed his support for the campaign, stating, “Supporting Francis House through Make a Will Month allows us to make a meaningful difference to families facing incredibly difficult circumstances. By offering our expertise, we hope to encourage more people to consider making or updating their Will while also helping to secure the future of such an essential charity. A legacy gift, no matter the size, can have a lasting impact, and we are proud to play a part in that.”
Since its launch in 2023, the “Make a Will Month” campaign has seen over 40 participants and raised £6,000 in donations for the hospice in lieu of fees.
Rita and Peter Hovington, who made their Will through the scheme, shared their positive experience. “People shy away from making a Will, but it helps those left behind as they can feel safe in the knowledge that your wishes are expressed in the Will. It also gives you peace of mind that your family will benefit when anything happens to you. The service we received under the Francis House ‘Make a Will’ scheme was very good, and everything was put down plainly and clearly with understanding from the solicitor. We also thought Francis House was a worthy cause and were happy to support them with a donation.”
The Francis House “Make a Will Month” campaign will run from September 1st until September 30th. To learn more about the participating legal firms and book an appointment, visit www.francishouse.org.uk/will-month.