A north-west based estate planning firm has revealed the thirty local groups and charities it has selected to be the first recipients of its Community Fund, set up earlier this year.
Morecambe Bay Wills and Estates, which also incorporates North Wales Wills, Kendal Wills and Lancaster Wills, pledged a share of its annual profits to create a Community Fund worth £7,500 earlier this year with local charities, youth groups, clubs and community projects are encouraged to nominate their cause. Applications were invited for one of 30 £250 donations to be distributed across North Lancashire, South Cumbria and North Wales; after receiving hundreds of nominations, the team selected 30 recipients through a series of community draws held in October.
Speaking about the initiative, Nicola Combe, Founder of Morecambe Bay Wills & Estates, said:
“Hand-delivering these donations has been both humbling and inspiring. Every cheque represents people — volunteers, carers, children, families — who are improving their communities every single day. This fund is our way of saying thank you. Our clients make this possible, and we’re proud to reinvest part of our success directly back into the places we live and work.”
In North Lancashire, donations were presented to groups including St John’s Hospice, The Friendship Centre, The Clubhouse Morecambe (Mencap), Four Seasons Allotments, Ludus Dance, Wyre Juniors Football Club, Morecambe Youth Darts, and artist Shadow Gallery, who will be creating a new public mural using paints purchased via the fund.
In South Cumbria, recipients included Space2Create, Age UK North Cumbria, HP Activities, Kentmere Community Choir, and St Martin and St Mary C of E Primary School Gardening Club, among others.
In North Wales, the team presented donations to organisations including Dave’s Defibs, Conwy Mind, Ysgol Y Plas Community Garden, Rhos Methodist Playgroup, and Friends of Llanellian, all working to improve wellbeing, safety and community connection.
Explaining how the donation impacts them, Lisa Parker, Community Fundraising Manager at St John’s Hospice, said:
“We are so grateful to Morecambe Bay Wills and Estates for their kind donation. Without the support of our wonderful community and local businesses, we simply wouldn’t be able to continue to care for our patients and families when they need us the most. Every donation really does make a difference. St John’s Hospice celebrates its 40th year in 2026, and partnerships such as this are what will help carry us through the next 40 years.”
