More kind-hearted Brits are leaving gifts to charities in their Wills than ever before, with a million legacies left in the past decade, according to new research from Remember A Charity and Smee & Ford.

To mark the start of Remember A Charity Week, the data reveals that the percentage of people leaving a gift to charity in their Will has increased by almost a third (30%) over the past 20 years, with more people than ever choosing to support a charity close to their heart – even after they’ve gone.

Gifts in Wills are a critical source of funding for charitable services across the country, raising more than £3 billion for good causes annually – and have been the fastest growing source of voluntary income for charities over the past twenty-one years.

Remember A Charity Week is an opportunity for charities around the country to raise awareness of passing on something wonderful by including a charity in your Will after family and friends have been taken care of.

Over the last 61 years, Essex Wildlife Trust has achieved countless feats for the wildlife and wild places in the county, and they could not have done this without their amazing supporters, especially those who left a gift in their Will. They have created and restored saltmarsh and freshwater wetlands for wildfowl and waders, reconnected wildlife habitats to make them more resilient and managed ancient woodlands so they continue to support an abundance of flora and fauna.

Rosalyn Leclercq, Senior Legacy Officer at Essex Wildlife Trust, says: “Essex Wildlife Trust are honoured to receive any gift in Wills. It is the ultimate complement, recognising the importance of our work and enabling us to nurture nature forever thanks to their amazing act of kindness."

If you would like to find out more about leaving a gift in your Will, please visit www.essexwt.org.uk/gifts-in-wills.