Remember A Charity Week is coming up from Monday 8 to Sunday 14 September. Here’s a transcript of the conversation between Liz Day, our Communications Officer, and Fran Hourihan, our Fundraising Officer specialising in philanthropy, about the event.
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Liz: Thanks for being with us on the podcast today. So, perhaps the logical place to start, what is Remember A Charity Week?
Fran: So, Remember A Charity Week is a national campaign that highlights the incredible impact of gifts in wills and it’s really a chance for charities like us here at Shelter Cymru to raise awareness about how these gifts can help us continue our vital work.
Liz: I guess wills can be quite a difficult thing to talk about, quite a sensitive subject. Would you say that’s why this campaign matters?
Fran: Oh, absolutely, yes. Talking about wills can really feel quite daunting, but it’s so, so important. Remember A Charity Week just helps us to open up that conversation in a positive way. It’s not just about the legality of the will, it’s about the values, your legacy and really, how we can make that lasting difference and for Shelter Cymru, it’s about giving people the opportunity to help with our aim of ending homelessness here in Wales.
Liz: I suppose a lot of people will be thinking of family and friends when they think about writing a will. Where does that fit in with this idea?
Fran: Yes, exactly, and that is so important. Your will is predominantly there to protect the people you love. But once you’ve taken care of your family and friends, even just a small gift to a charity like Shelter Cymru can have a huge impact. And it’s a way of extending that care to your community and helping others to find a safe and secure place to call home.
Liz: The campaign talks about gifts in wills making a positive difference all over the world. How much of a difference can people make by leaving a gift in their will?
Fran: Well, the difference can be huge. So, for example, one of our key projects, our helpline was enabled by a legacy gift. Shelter Cymru Live is our phone-based advice service that’s there for people when they need urgent help with housing issues. And these gifts in wills mean that we can continue to be there for someone facing eviction, or when they’re at risk of homelessness. Last year, across the organisation, we supported over 21,000 people through our advice and support services. So even a small gift can really, really help someone avoid homelessness.
Liz: What’s the main aim of Remember A Charity Week?
Fran: The main aim is to raise awareness and to encourage more people to consider leaving a gift to a charity in their will. It’s also about breaking down the barriers, which can make will writing feel more accessible and kind of less intimidating. And for Shelter Cymru, it’s a chance to highlight to our supporters how these gifts help us to continue our mission to end homelessness here in Wales.
Liz: I’ve heard the word “willanthropy” being used. Can you talk us through that term?
Fran: Yeah, of course. “Willanthropy” is such a lovely term and it just kind of captures the spirit of giving through your will. It is about using your legacy to support the causes close to your heart. So, for us here at Shelter Cymru, it means helping people who are facing that housing insecurity or homelessness. And it’s a way of saying, kind of, “I care about the future and I want to be part of that solution”.
Liz: I think a lot of people don’t really know where to start when it comes to making a will, but it’s so important in terms of protecting the people you care about. I’ve heard it’s a lot easier than you might think. If our listeners are interested in finding out more, how can they do that?
Fran: Yeah, I mean, the best place to start really is to have a look at our website. We’ve got a page there on, legacy giving. And that’ll give you some information on how easy it is to leave a gift in your will. My contact details are on that page as well, so if anyone needs anything further then just give me a shout and I’d be happy to help.
Liz: Thank you, Fran, that’s been a really interesting conversation, and perhaps something we should all talk about more. There we are, Remember a Charity Week – from 8 to 14 September. Every gift, large or small, makes a difference. Head to rememberacharity.org.uk to learn more.
2 September 2025
By Liz Day
