Only seven percent of the population leave money to charity in their wills, amounting to £1.8 billion a year.

This is according to Remember a Charity, a consortium of more than 140 charities working to raise awareness of the importance of legacies. They say that there is a misconception by millions of potential donors that their contribution will be too small to be appreciated or do much good.

Some may not also realise that charities can re-claim the tax on donations, giving the tiny percentage of people who think our government cannot be trusted to spend money wisely (as if) a final chance to deprive it of some income.