We would always recommend that you consult a solicitor or legal advisor when making a will.

You can find an official directory of solicitors at www.lawsociety.org.uk.

You could also take advantage of our Will Week when a number of local solicitor firms can help you to make a Will in return for a donation to St. Rocco’s Hospice.

We know that taking care of family, friends and pets is your first priority; we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Once you have provided for them, however, leaving a gift to St. Rocco’s couldn’t be simpler. If you haven’t made a Will it can be done when you see your solicitor. If you already have a Will, then all you have to do is make an amendment known as a codicil. Speak to your solicitor and they can help with this. A gift, however big or small, will make a difference.

There are different kinds of gifts you can leave to St. Rocco’s:

• A share of your estate (Residuary Legacy): Once you've worked out what you're leaving to family and friends, you can donate a share, or all of what's left.

• A specific sum of money (Pecuniary Legacy): If you want to leave a lump sum to St. Rocco’s, you specify this amount in your will.

• A specific legacy: Jewellery, a first edition book, or any item that you think will be of some value to St. Rocco’s if sold.

To leave a gift to St. Rocco's in your Will, you could use the wording below, but always make sure that you ask for your solicitor's advice.

1.   If you choose to leave a gift to St Rocco’s Hospice please use the following wording:

“I bequeath to St Rocco's’s Hospice, Registered Charity Number: 511592, Lockton Lane, Bewsey, Warrington, WA5 0BW for its general charitable purposes…

2.   Then insert one of the options below:

• All the residue of my estate
• One X share of the residue of my estate
• X% of my estate
• The sum of £X
• All my personal effects, e.g. rings, necklaces

3. Finish with the following wording

 … and the receipt of the Chief Executive, or other responsible officer of the time being of the Hospice, shall be good and sufficient discharge to my Executors”

If you already have a Will and would like to update it to include a gift to St. Rocco's Hospice, you can do this by making a simple addition to your existing Will.

This is called a Codicil. A Codicil need not change the terms of your current Will, it can simply add a new instruction.

If you wish to make any other changes at the same time, it may be best to have your Will re-written to include all your changes in a new document.

A few simple rules:

1. Changing or adding anything to your current Will by crossing out or writing in new instructions will not be valid.

2. You will need to sign and date the document and have it witnessed by two people, just like your Will.

3. Keep the Codicil with, but not attached to, your current Will in a safe place.

4. Send, or give, a copy of the Will and Codicil (in a sealed envelope, if you prefer) to your Executor or other trusted friend, with a note indicating where the original Will is held.

To create a simple Codicil complete and print the Codicil Form, sign it in the presence of two witnesses and keep it with your existing Will.

Alternatively, you may prefer to visit your solicitor who can complete this document on your behalf.

How can a Gift in your Will help

St. Rocco’s provides compassionate, individualised care to people with a terminal illness in Warrington and also provides vital support to their families and loved ones.

Our care comes in many forms:

• Our Inpatient Unit which provides symptom control to allow patients to return home as well as specialist end of life care

• Our Hospice at Home and Rocco’s on Your Doorstep services, providing care and support to patients in their own homes

• Our Vitality Centre, a day unit offering a range of care including Complementary Therapies, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and some outpatients’ clinics

• Our Family Support Service which offers counselling to patients and families, bereavement support to families, as well as spiritual help

Our care is provided free of charge to patients, but less than a quarter of our costs are covered by the NHS and the Government. As a registered charity we rely on donations from our community and fundraising to enable us to continue to deliver our care.

One in six patients at St. Rocco’s is already supported through the generosity of those who have left us a gift in their Will. So you can understand why your gift will be so important to our patients and families.

More information

If you would like to know more about leaving a gift in your Will, then please get in touch: email giving@stroccos.org.uk.

“No matter how much we do, it will never come close to what the hospice has done for us.”

St. Rocco’s has been there to provide patient Carole & her husband Vince with care and support through their cancer journey.  Leaving a gift in their will is their way of saying thank you.

“Despite being nervous about my first visit to the Day Unit at St. Rocco’s, I walked out that day feeling ten feet tall and full of confidence for a positive future. I was so well cared for that it made me cry; all of the St. Rocco’s team make you feel you are a special person and are gentle of your feelings, mindful of your dignity, and great fun to be around.”

Carole

“St. Rocco’s is much more than the sum of its parts – it’s about people, love and support. I don’t think people realise how important it is to think about remembering St. Rocco’s when making a Will, as they need an enormous amount of money each year and it helps secure the future of the hospice. No matter how much we do, it will never come close to what the hospice has done for us.”

Vince

More information

If you would like to know more about leaving a gift in your Will, then please get in touch: email giving@stroccos.org.uk.

These are the promises we make to you as a supporter of St. Rocco’s Hospice.

1. The decision to leave a gift in your Will is yours and yours alone and you are free to change your mind at any time.
2. We understand and respect that family and friends always come first.
3. You do not have to tell us that you are leaving a gift in your Will. If you do decide to tell us we would like to say thank you.
4. Your Will is a private, personal matter. We will treat any details given with the upmost confidentiality. 

Should you choose to leave a gift, we will use it wisely and for the benefit of our patients and their families. Should you wish to visit St. Rocco’s to see how your gift may help we would warmly welcome you.

We are always happy to discuss Gifts in Wills. Please get in touch: email giving@stroccos.org.uk.