Benidorm actress Sherrie Hewson leads national campaign encouraging Brits to think about their legacy

New research from Remember A Charity reveals that almost all people from Northern Ireland (87%) care about the legacy they leave behind. While the ways people want to be remembered vary across generations and regions, the desire to make a positive difference is something that unites the nation.

When asked to reflect on their legacy, over two thirds (71%) said that being a good friend, partner or family member is what’s most important to them.

That desire to make a positive difference is also reflected in the causes people choose to support. More than half of Belfast residents (55%) say being a good friend or partner is one of the most important aspects of their legacy, higher than any other UK city.

These findings come as 200 charities nationwide come together for Remember A Charity Week (7-13 September 2026), encouraging people to reflect on one simple but powerful question: "What's My Legacy?" The campaign encourages people to think about how they’d like to be remembered, and what the concept of legacy means to them.

How the nation wants to be remembered

While the idea of legacy may conjure images of fame and fortune, people are far more likely to define it by the impact they have on others and the difference they leave behind.

Smaller everyday acts can be an important part of the way people make memories and how they want to be remembered. From making the best Sunday roast in Wales (31%), having a unique personal style in the North East (37%), and being the life of the party in London (25%), people across the UK have differing views of what will form part of their legacy.

Priorities also vary by generation. Younger people in the UK (aged 18-24) are more likely to want to protect the environment as part of their legacy than older generations (55+), at 27% vs 17%. However, older generations care more about passing on their values and life lessons (35% vs 22%).

Charitable giving a key part of legacy

For many people, the concept of legacy extends beyond their impact on family and friends. Belfast residents are more likely than anyone else in the UK to want helping others in times of need to define their legacy (43% vs 33% nationally), and three-quarters (75%) say supporting causes they care about is important to them, the highest proportion anywhere in the UK.

With one in six estates at probate (17%) including a charitable gift and these donations now raising around £4.5 billion a year for good causes across the UK, gifts in Wills are providing crucial long-term income and sustaining charitable services in an increasingly challenging economic environment.

Sherrie Hewson, soap actress, Benidorm star and book author, said:

“When I think about legacy, I think about my brother. He was my rock and believed in me through some of the toughest times in my life. Losing him to a glioblastoma brain tumour was devastating, and not a day goes by when I don't think about him. I still talk to him all the time."

"That's why supporting cancer charities is so important to me, and I do everything I can to raise awareness and funds. Because I've seen firsthand the heartbreak this disease causes. It gives me comfort to know that, in some small way, I'm helping other families while honouring his memory."

"For me, legacy isn't about what we leave behind for ourselves, it's about the impact we have on others. It's about keeping alive the memory of the people we love and supporting the causes that matter to us. That's why I believe leaving a gift in your Will is such a special thing to do. It's a way to make a difference that can continue long into the future."

Remember A Charity Week is the national awareness week that celebrates the impact of charitable gifts in Wills. Taking place each September, it aims to inspire more people across the UK to remember good causes in their Wills, alongside their loved ones.

Lucinda Frostick, Director of Remember A Charity, said:

“This Remember A Charity Week, we’re inviting people to think about how they want to be remembered and what the concept of legacy means to them.

“This research shows that when people think about their legacy, it’s rarely glory or wealth that springs to mind. It’s being there for family and friends, helping others in need, and the everyday shared moments that define who we are and the things that really matter to us.

“It’s hugely encouraging to see that good causes are a key part of so many people’s legacies. A gift in a Will doesn’t need to be large to be meaningful or to have a lasting impact. Collectively, they help fund vital work, strengthen the causes we care about, and create a better future for those we leave behind.”