Planning ahead, with a little help
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Planning ahead is something many of us know we should do, but it is rarely the most urgent thing on the list.
Writing a will, arranging a Power of Attorney or putting important information in one place can easily be left for another day. Life is busy, and thinking about the future can feel uncomfortable.
At Good Company, we often meet people at moments when life has become complicated. Through our Concierge service, we help people understand their options, find their way through health and social care, access practical support and make plans before smaller worries become bigger ones.
That experience has shaped how we think about planning ahead. It should not be about pressure or frightening people into action. It should be about having clear information, trusted support and the chance to make choices in your own time.
A partnership built over time
For more than three years, Aspen Insurance has been one of Good Company’s most committed partners.
Aspen funded the full salary costs of our Concierge service for three consecutive years. That long-term support allowed us to build continuity and trust in a service that many members describe as the difference between coping and not coping.
Aspen also donated ten laptops, which are used by our team and volunteers to access information, follow up conversations and offer confidential and timely support. Aspen colleagues have also been involved through carers’ coffee mornings and staff sessions, creating space for open conversations and shared understanding.
This has been much more than a funding arrangement. It has been a relationship built around a shared understanding that people often need someone alongside them, not simply somewhere else to be sent.
Making will-writing support available
As part of that continuing relationship, Aspen, now Sompo, has helped make a will-writing service available through Octopus Legacy until March 2027.
People can choose to complete their will online, over the telephone or in person, depending on what feels most comfortable and appropriate.
There is no expectation that anyone using the service should leave a gift to Good Company. The offer is there first and foremost to help people put their wishes in place.
For many people, a will is simply a useful place to begin.
A will sets out who should receive your money, home and belongings, and who you trust to deal with things after you die. It can make things clearer for the people around you and help ensure that your wishes are understood.
Starting with one thing
You might begin by checking whether your existing will still reflects your circumstances. You might decide to write a will for the first time or start a conversation with someone you trust about what matters to you.
Other steps, such as arranging a Power of Attorney, recording your health and care wishes or making sure important information can be found in an emergency, can follow when you are ready.
The important thing is that these decisions remain yours.
Leaving a gift to Good Company
Some people choose to remember a charity in their will after taking care of the people closest to them.
A gift might be a fixed amount, a particular item or a share of what remains after other gifts and expenses have been paid. It does not need to be large to be meaningful.
But leaving a gift is entirely optional. The will-writing service is available whether or not you choose to include Good Company.
Find out more
You can access the Octopus Legacy service here:
You can also call 020 4525 3605 and quote The Good Company People.
For a confidential conversation with Good Company, contact:
hello@thegoodcompanypeople.org 07472 564519
We are very grateful to (Legacy) Aspen, now Sompo, for making this support possible and for the care and commitment they have shown to Good Company over the past three years.
