Ipswich legal firm Ross Coates offers East of England’s highest donation to Will Aid campaign

An Ipswich-based legal firm has donated more than £11,000 to a charity campaign – the highest in the East of England to the cause.

Ross Coates Solicitors, based in White House Road, took part in Will Aid’s will-writing campaign.

For the drive, Ross Coates’ team volunteered their time writing wills and, instead of charging their usual fees, asked clients to donate to the cause.

The team raised a total of £11,640.

Ross Coates has taken part in Will Aid since 2002 and has raised about £63,937 in total.

Stephen Broughton, from the firm, said the team was delighted to have made the highest donation in the East of England to the campaign.

Mr Broughton said: “The entire team is very proud to take part in Will Aid and we’re especially pleased to have given so many people the reassurance of knowing they have a professionally written will.”

The firm loved taking part in the campaign, he said, describing it as ‘a real team effort’.

Mr Broughton added: “It’s a brilliant feeling to know that such well-deserving charities will benefit, helping people both here in the UK and abroad who are facing challenging times.”

Will Aid, which is committed to ensuring everyone has access to a professionally-written will, has run its campaign since 1988 and has raised £24 million.

Ross Coates’ donation was the eighth highest in the UK, the firm said.

The suggested donation for a single will was £100 and £180 for a pair of mirror wills.

The money raised is shared between Will Aid’s partners, which include ActionAid, Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save the Children, Sightsavers, SCIAF and Trócaire.

Will Aid’s campaign takes place every November.

Peter de Vena Franks, campaign director for Will Aid, praised the generosity of the firms which offered their time to the scheme.

He hoped the campaign would do its bit to change people’s lives for the better.

Jonathan Chase, chairman of Will Aid, offered his congratulations to the team for raising such a ‘staggering amount’.

He added: “It’s amazing that so many solicitors give their time to volunteer so generously, using their expertise to help people gain peace of mind by getting a professionally written will while fundraising for our incredible charities who do such crucial and life-changing work in the UK and around the world.”