Leading rail charities Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) and Railway Mission have come together to provide ‘Make a Will Month’ this March. The event, kindly supported by the Retired Rail Officers Society (RROS), will offer everyone in the rail industry the opportunity to create a free will throughout March.
The free will service is available to both current and retired workers and their families, including those who work for TOCs, are part of the supply chain, and everyone in between. The charities have teamed up with will writing service Bequeathed to offer this service, which gives users the option to create their will online or over the phone. Both services will provide a consultation with a solicitor to finalise the will.
Through this joint campaign, RBF and Railway Mission are emphasising just how important will writing is. Research gathered by insurance company Royal London has found that 54% of UK adults don’t have a will, and 5.4 million people have no idea how to make one. Writing a will is the only way to ensure that your final wishes for your estate are fulfilled. If you die without making a will, your estate will be divided based on laws out of your control and your wishes may not be carried out.
Users of the free will writing service are under no obligation to include RBF or Railway Mission in their will. However, the charities hope that many in the industry will take the opportunity to consider supporting them. A gift left in a will, such as a donation, or a percentage of an estate, ensures that RBF and Railway Mission can continue to support the Railway Family going through difficult times when they need them.
Claire Houghton, CEO of Railway Benefit Fund said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Railway Mission for Make a Will Month. After the last few years in particular, we can appreciate the importance of having an up-to-date will to protect our loved ones when we are not around, and to ensure our affairs are dealt with in the way we choose.”
Liam Johnston, Executive Director of Railway Mission said: “Making a will is so important- it is a chance to remember people and causes you care about in life. We are encouraging everyone in the railway family to make the most of this free service this March.”
Clifford Perry of the RROS said: “The Retired Railway Officer’s Society members were unanimous in the vote to support the Railway Mission and Railway Benefit Fund in reaching the whole industry with the Free Wills Month. The RROS chose to work with the Railway Mission and RBF as these charities focus on the well-being of those who work on our railway now, and we could not think of a more appropriate cause!”
Visit the charities’ websites on 1st March to create your free will.
RBF: www.railwaybenefitfund.org.uk/events/make-a-will-month
Railway Mission: https://railwaymission.org/make-a-free-will-month
