When Jan Walters decided to leave a gift in her Will to St Cuthbert's Hospice, it wasn't a difficult decision. The Hospice has been close to her heart for many years, ever since her father, William Jordan, received respite care here in 2011.
Jan told us: “My dad had lung cancer and my mam was caring for him at home, the Hospice gave my mam some much-needed respite.”
Although William did not spend his final days at the Hospice, the support his family received left a lasting impression.
“We came here every day and saw what happened firsthand. The care was unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable. You couldn’t fault it, everyone just went over and above.”
Years later, after taking early retirement and caring for her mother, Jan found herself thinking again about the difference the Hospice had made to her family.
When her mother passed away in 2025, Jan decided it was time to give something back.
“Once I retired, the opportunity was there to volunteer. Becoming a volunteer was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
“You get to know more and more about the Hospice when you’re here. You meet people, hear stories and see the difference that’s being made. It made me appreciate even more how special this place is.”
Volunteering also opened her eyes to the financial pressures hospices face:
“I was shocked when I realised how little government funding hospices receive and how much they rely on fundraising, charity shops, events and donations. When you see the level of care that’s provided, you just think the Hospice shouldn’t have to spend time worrying about money.”
That realisation played a significant role in her decision to leave a gift in her Will.
“It just felt like the right thing to do. The Hospice means a lot to me because of the support my family received, and I wanted to help make sure it’s here for future generations.”
“Whether it’s £100, £1,000 or 1% of your estate, it all helps. The Hospice will be incredibly grateful for whatever people can leave.”
“I want the Hospice to feel secure. I don’t want there to be worries about whether services can continue or whether those beds can stay open. I want people to know that the Hospice will always be here for families who need it.”
“I used the free Will service and it was very straightforward. They were fantastic and made the whole process really easy.”
Looking back, Jan sees volunteering and leaving a gift in her Will as two ways of achieving the same goal: supporting a cause that has already given so much to her family.
“My son says to me, ‘I can’t believe how happy you are working for free,’ but I genuinely love it. Volunteering has been so rewarding, and leaving a gift in my Will means I’ll continue supporting the Hospice long into the future.”
Her advice to anyone considering doing the same is simple:
“100% do it. Every gift, no matter the size, helps ensure people can continue receiving the incredible care and support that St Cuthbert’s Hospice provides.”
To find out more about leaving a gift in your Will, please visit our webpage or you can talk to the Fundraising team in confidence by emailing hello@stcuthbertshospice.com or calling 0191 386 1170.
