Home » News » Norfolk law firm raises enough money to help communities battle drought in kenya

Norfolk law firm raises enough money to help communities battle drought in kenya

The Hatch Brenner Will Aid team. L-R Caroline Billings, Dawn Slade, Kay Eke, Alexandria Martin and Julian Bryant from Christian Aid. Picture taken 17/03/2020

A law firm has raised enough money to help build a dam, plant tree seedlings and teach farmers how to plant drought-resistant crops in third world countries.

Hatch Brenner Solicitors in Norwich raised £4,000 after taking part in Will Aid, a national campaign which invites solicitors to volunteer some of their time in the month of November to write wills in exchange for a voluntary donation to Will Aid.

The donations raised benefit the vital work of the nine partner charities – one of which is Christian Aid.

Julian Bryant from Christian Aid said the sum was the equivalent of what would be needed to provide life changing resources for hundreds of people living in some of the world’s hottest climates.

He said: “Due to the climate crisis, droughts are now more frequent and intense in Kenya meaning that water is scarce, and crops are dying.

“This kind of money could help to pay for things like a wheelbarrow to help a community build a life-changing dam, as well as tree seedlings to restore their natural environment.

“It could also help to educate farmers on how to plant drought-resistant crops and provide them with seeds so that they can survive dry spells.

“The country is in turmoil and more than a million people face starvation if nothing is done to help provide resources.”

Christian Aid believes everyone should have access to help so they can build a hopeful future.

“We deliver lasting results for millions of people living in these communities, including those hardest to reach but in order to do this effectively we need money.

“That is why we are incredibly grateful to firms like Hatch Brenner Solicitors who take part in Will Aid.

“They have enabled us to help people like Faith and her family who, before they had a dam built nearby, couldn’t grow crops. The lack of water meant that they didn’t have enough to eat or sell so this meant they were regularly suffering from hunger.

“By giving up their time, Hatch Brenner Solicitors have managed to raise a significant sum and by demonstrating the type of project that this money could fund, we hope they can see what a tangible difference their efforts can make.”

Caroline Billings, Partner and Head of the Private Client department at Hatch Brenner Solicitors said the team had written more than 51 wills during November 2019 to raise £4,000.

This is the fourth year the firm has taken part in the month-long fundraiser and their total raised to date is £22,703.

Caroline from the firm said: “Making a will with a professional solicitor is one of the most important pieces of paperwork a person can complete and yet millions of people put it off.

“This is just one of a number of reasons why we choose to donate our time for Will Aid. We also understand that the donations we raise reach some of the most vulnerable individuals world-wide, changing lives for the better.”

Will Aid raises money for charities: ActionAid, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save The Children, Sightsavers, Age UK, SCIAF (Scotland) and Trocaire (Northern Ireland).

Peter de Vena Franks, campaign director, said: “Will Aid has made an amazing contribution to the work of these nine participating charities since 1988.

“Thanks to the commitment of local solicitors that took part in Will Aid in 2019, many people both in the UK and abroad will receive life-changing support and local people who used the scheme have the peace of mind that having a professionally drawn up will brings.

“I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to Hatch Brenner Solicitors for their incredible efforts.”

Will Aid will run again in November 2020. Find out more by visiting www.willaid.org.uk

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