City’s museums see legacy enquiries up by 200 per cent

Museums Sheffield has seen enquiries about leaving donations via personal Wills rise by 200 per cent thanks to a new partnership with Wake Smith Solicitors.

Wake Smith joined forces with Museums Sheffield, the charity that runs the Millennium Gallery, Graves Gallery, and Weston Park Museum, a year ago to highlight the importance of having a Will and to raise awareness of the benefits of giving to the city’s museums.

As a result a number of new Wills have been made with a range of charitable gifts which will help Museums Sheffield ensure that great art and heritage can continue to inspire future generations in the city.

Kim Streets, Museums Sheffield Chief Executive, said: “Working with Wake Smith to promote the benefits of making and leaving charitable gifts in Wills has been incredibly beneficial for Museums Sheffield.

“Suzanne Porter, and the Wills and Probate team have been a delight to work with; they offer a warm welcome, expert knowledge and infectious enthusiasm and we felt 100% supported throughout the campaign.

“Most significantly, we have seen a remarkable 200% increase in legacy enquiries through our website and this will help to support the long-term future of Sheffield’s museums and galleries. The campaign has been a huge success and we look forward to continuing to work together.”

The Sheffield firm of solicitors became the museum’s first ever legacies partner in 2018, during which they ran free Wills surgeries at the Millennium Gallery, offering free Wills advice to the public, and discussed the importance remembering Museums Sheffield in their Wills to support the museums and galleries’ work today, and in the future.

Suzanne Porter, director of the Wills and Probate team at Wake Smith said: “Our aim of developing and growing the legacy programme by working in partnership with Museums Sheffield has proved successful.

“Not only have we reinforced the fact that it is so important to have a Will and making your views known, but also have seen the sheer amount of love and respect for the museums, collections and the work being delivered by Museums Sheffield.

“We have heard how the buildings, exhibitions and experiences have stayed with people throughout their lives and that they want to help ensure that Museums Sheffield continues to thrive and that inspirational art and heritage remains accessible to everyone.”

Sheffield has a rich history of giving and philanthropy, from John Ruskin and J G Graves through to the many visitors who give via donation boxes every day.

One million people visit Museums Sheffield’s free spaces – and this year it will cost more than £3 million to run Millennium Gallery, Weston Park Museum and Graves Gallery.

As a charity, Museums Sheffield has to raise £1 million a year in addition to the public funding it receives in order to keep the city’s museums free and open for everyone to enjoy. Funds raised allow the charity to continue to care for, and conserve the city’s historic collections on behalf of the people of Sheffield, whilst delivering ambitious exhibitions, events and engaging learning and outreach activities.

Collections include: archaeological material from digs excavated from Sheffield and the Peak District region; objects from Ancient Egyptian and Roman societies; 120,000 biological and 60,000 geological specimens; social history artefacts; 2,000 World Culture objects reflecting the historical links between Sheffield, Africa, Asia, the Americas and the Pacific; 5,000 paintings, watercolours, prints, drawings, photographs and sculpture and 13,000 items of Sheffield’s decorative metalwork.

Museums Sheffield is also custodians of the Guild of St George’s unique Ruskin Collection, formed by the influential Victorian artist, writer and critic John Ruskin as an educational resource for the people of Sheffield.

To find out more about how a gift in your Will can help Museums Sheffield contact Mel Russell at Museums Sheffield on 0114 278 2610 or visit museums-sheffield.org.uk/yourwill.

For further information on making a Will contact Suzanne Porter at [email protected] or on 0114 224 2178