Irish Charity Slammed For Urging Elderly People To Include Donations in Their Will

Irish charity Concern has been surrounded in controversy this week as members of the public have become outraged with their latest marketing campaign. Her.ie reader Rachel Cooke was infuriated when her 89-year-old relative received this letter in the post. “This was sent to my elderly relative, 89 years old to be exact, asking him to leave money to Concern in his will,” she explained. “I want everyone to please check to see if your elderly relatives are being bullied into this also. Anyone that knows me knows that I am involved in a lot of charity work and I am all for donating, but this is pure bullying and has to be stopped.” When Her.ie approached Concern about the issue and specifically asked if older people in our society are being targeted the charity stated: “No, we do not know the age of the vast majority of donors. Research shows that most people start making wills in their thirties, when they get married, buy houses and start families. The letter asks the individual to consider Concern when they make a will.” They also refuted claims that these letters are sent out every six weeks, adding; “The last time we sent a similar letter was October, 2013.  The one before that was 2009. We cannot comment on the individual in question without knowing more about them, but it is highly unlikely Concern knows the individual’s date of birth and so would not send a letter for this reason." “It is more likely that the individual may have been giving to Concern for a long time, and research has shown people who are loyal to a charity are more likely to leave a gift to a charity in their will. “We receive on average €2million annually from legacies. Very often, we have had no previous contact with the individual. “Letters like this one start that dialogue and allow us to work with the individual and their wishes. It also reminds people to make a will, as many don’t.”