// BBC BUSINESS NEWS — FINANZA
Charities praise will gifts despite cost of living
Marcus Liddiard said even small amounts left in wills could make a difference
People who leave charities donations, legacies and bequests in their wills make noticeable differences to organisations, no matter what the amount is, sector leaders say.
The comments come as one leader acknowledged living costs could present "affordability challenges" for potential givers.
Marcus Liddiard, from the Association of Jersey Charities, said, despite "the number of people giving is very, very high compared to the UK", it was "hard to tell" how the cost of living might affect giving.
The chair of Jersey Fundraising Forum, Bethany Gallichan, said she understood some people were struggling, but added any money left in wills could be "transformational".
Adelina Woods was left to Jersey Trees for Life in a will last year
Research carried out for the Association of Jersey Charities by 4insight, external found 89% of respondents had given money in the previous 12 months, but younger people and lower-income households were less likely to have donated, with affordability being a "key barrier".
Liddiard said, despite this, legacy giving remained important, and people needed to amounts left in wills did not have to be headline-grabbing.
He said: "The ones you hear about often can be the really big ones, but some of most impactful ones are the smaller everyday ones".
He added legacy giving was "one part" of the picture and there was also "opportunity for everybody" to also help by volunteering and offering time, skills, representation and support, which was "equally valuable".