Age UK Essex partners with Leonard Gray to help meet its charitable objectives
Age UK Essex receive in the region of 10,000 calls a year, and consider “Information and Advice” to be one of it’s core services. But often these calls are from people asking for help regarding Wills and care home cost planning, for which Age UK Essex simply wasn’t able to offer the level of advice required.
“Because of the changes in statutory funding we’re having to think more like a business, and so have built a number of partnerships to provide specialist services” says Andrew Gardner, former Chief Executive of Age UK Essex. “We were interested in Leonard Gray’s profile in terms of how long the firm had been operating in the community, where it was situated and it’s traditional client base with multiple family generations coming to the firm. It felt very comfortable for us and we now work as a referrer to them. In areas which are peripheral to our business these partnerships work well,” adds Andrew.
The partnership helps Age UK Essex tackle sensitive issues around legacies
Wills are a primary example of some of the sensitive areas that Age UK Essex has to carefully manage. They provide clients with day-to-day services including their much-valued befriending service, and are often asked directly for advice on making a Will. Age UK Essex would want to encourage people to leave a legacy to them in their Will but they recognise that this is far better managed by an impartial advisor.
As a Trustee Director we add legal expertise to their board
and provide training for their frontline advisers
Age UK Essex found themselves lacking legal expertise. Chris Kelly, a solicitor and partner at Leonard Gray, was invited on to the board to help fill that gap. “We look for four things in our volunteers – Wealth, Wisdom, Weight and Workers,” explained Andrew. “Initially we were simply looking for wisdom and we found that immediately in Chris. He has advised us on what the sector can offer, has used his weight through his Leonard Gray contacts to help us review our own contracts, and has personally provided training to 14 of our Information and Advice Team advisers.”
Providing a service to clients and a donation to Age UK Essex
Leonard Gray also offers a Donation Scheme whereby a donation is made back to Age UK Essex for each legal matter completed from an Age UK Essex client/recommendation. “This helps contribute to the funding of core services that the charity provides directly and helps, in part, to fill the void left by the changes in statutory funding.” Andrew proudly advises.
To partner with Leonard Gray in the field of Wills, Probate and Later Years, please contact:
Chris Kelly
01245 504904
ckelly@leonardgray.co.uk