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Tess Nagle
Northumberland-based QualitySolicitors Lawson & Thompson is offering Wills at no cost* to people aged 55 and over as part of an award-winning Will Scheme partnership with Barnardo’s.
The exclusive partnership means those who do not already have one in place can have a simple Will professionally written that captures everything from final wishes and organ donation preferences, to basic inheritance and tax planning, at no cost to them.
In return, those taking advantage of the offer will be asked to consider leaving a legacy gift in their Will to Barnardo’s. The scheme has already seen over 3,500 people take part and a huge £16.8m pledged in future legacy income for vulnerable and disadvantaged children throughout the UK since it began in 2010. The money goes towards research and services for young people and families who have a disability or who have experienced poverty, sexual exploitation or domestic violence.
Research by Unbiased has shown that around 60 per cent of adults in the UK do not have a will.[1] The top reason people keep putting it off is that they plan to make one when they are older. Earlier research from the Citizens Advice service showed the number of people who are dying intestate (without a will) is rising; queries rose to 3,747 in 2015, up from 1,522 in 2011.[2]
QualitySolicitors Lawson & Thompson Partner Tim Barker said making a will is not something people should put off.
“A will is the only way for people to legally have their say in how their estate will be handled and distributed,” Mr Barker said.
“Having a will not only provides reassurance for you, but it provides clear direction and protection for any loved ones you’re leaving behind.
“We all think the worst won’t happen to us, but committing just a few hours now means no one would have to take that risk.”
Barnardo’s Senior Will Scheme Client Relationship Manager, Sue Westbury said the partnership with QualitySolicitors is invaluable. 
“The support and engagement from participating member firms continues to result in very significant numbers of pledges which will help us to plan for the future,” Ms Westbury said.
“Barnardo’s currently has three strategic aims – to build stronger families, to make safer childhoods, and to ensure positive futures for the children, young people, carers and families that we work with. We currently operate 1067 services across the UK helping over 301,000 people, and this wouldn’t be possible without the legacy income that we currently receive.
“Barnardo’s would like to say a huge thank you to QualitySolicitors Head Office and all the member firms who participate in the scheme.”
The law surrounding estate planning and administration is complex and there are risks involved in having a Will that is not properly drafted, signed or witnessed. Using a solicitor reduces these risks and gives people reassurance that they will be protected if something does go wrong.
By taking advantage of March Will Month, people aged over 55 years can have a professionally written will for free. To take part, simply call 01670 530 700 or visit www.qualitysolicitors.com/lawsonandthompson to book an appointment.
 
*Applies to simple single or mirror wills only for people aged 55 and over. For more complex wills you will be charged our usual fee with the discount being applied to the final invoice.
 
[1] Unbiased, ’31 million UK adults at risk of dying without a will’ (2 October 2017) https://business.unbiased.co.uk/press-releases/31-million-uk-adults-at-risk-of-dying-without-a-will-2-10-2017.
[2] BBC News, ‘Making a will: Sharp rise for intestate queries’ (19 May 2016)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36325871.
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Forced to lie in its own fifth, a starved puppy was rescued from a "putrid" fly-infested dump after being neglected by her owners.
The 10-month-old husky, named Missy, was found in Ruth Lane and Lee Kiernan's North Shields family home.
Old food was piled up on the floor and it was so high, RSPCA officer's struggled to open the door to rescue Missy.
When they did, the puppy was so hungry she "rushed " from her cage to eat some of the leftovers.
Both Missy and a white tabby cat named Cuddles were neglected so badly their former owners have been warned they could be jailed - despite their solicitor claiming they are "unsuitable" for prison.
Friday's sentencing heard how Kiernan told one RSCPA officer to "f*** off" before calling them a "cocky s****" for trying to check on the pet's welfare.
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Assurances have been given that the proposed phased approach to a new passenger rail line in south-east Northumberland will not leave any towns out.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling recently visited the county to take a ride along part of the route and hear more about the £190million plans for what's now being called the Northumberland line, linking  Ashington to Newcastle Central via Bedlington and Blyth.
It came as county councillors signed off on approximately £3.46m of spending to develop the next steps, with the aim of submitting an outline business case and proposal for the detailed design by the end of the year, and services planned to start in 2022.
During Mr Grayling's visit, council leader Peter Jackson said that while the total cost of the project is estimated to be £190m, it can be broken down into phases with a £90m first phase being 'perfectly achievable' given the 'billions being spent on HS2 and other projects in the south of England'.
This sparked questions from Labour councillors, who were concerned that the line will only be part-opened, but the Conservative leadership has now offered assurances that the phasing would simply hold back some of the infrastructure work and trains would still run all the way to Ashington.
Coun Deirdre Campbell, the Labour member for the Newsham ward through which the line will run, had described it as 'extremely concerning news', suggesting that perhaps the reason behind the dropping of the long-established Ashington, Blyth & Tyne name was 'because the supposed phasing the council leader refers to means it will not reach Blyth, never mind Bedlington or Ashington'.
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Labour has continued its attack on cuts to council-tax support in Northumberland, as figures show how the reductions will disproportionately impact wards it represents.
From April, all households in the county will have to pay a minimum of eight per cent of their council-tax bill, following approval for changes to save £1million a year.
At Northumberland County Council's full meeting in January, members agreed a reduction in the level of council-tax support for working-age claimants from 100 to 92 per cent.
The change attracted some fervent criticism, but was passed by 31 votes to 26, with six abstentions, while an amendment to drop the cut as part of last week's budget debate was not put to the vote as it had already been passed the previous month.
Now, Labour has released information obtained under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, in which, they say, 'the unfair nature of balancing the county's books is laid bare'.
A breakdown of the number of people to be affected in each of the 66 council wards shows that there is a large discrepancy between different areas, much of it along party-political lines.
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Changes which will mean increased home-care charges for some in Northumberland have been approved in the face of criticism from opposition councillors.
A number of amendments to Northumberland County Council's charges for care and support services for adults were given final approval at the full council meeting on Wednesday, by 36 votes to 26 with one abstention.
Setting out the "complex" recommendations which include six main changes to the charging policy for non-residential care and support services, Coun Veronica Jones, cabinet member for adult health and wellbeing, said: "I don't think any of us will be welcoming these changes, but in the overall financial context, I believe they are necessary."
But Labour's Coun Susan Dungworth said: "I don't want to get bogged down in what is a very detailed report, I want to focus on who it is we're talking about here and what we are talking about again is very, very vulnerable people in our communities.
"It's like the proposals that have already gone through this council in terms of reducing council-tax support, we are attacking the most vulnerable in this community, people who are already struggling."
To illustrate her point, she read out a series of consultation responses from those receiving the care that were included in the report to councillors.
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Locals fear teens are "running wild" as they gather in this Northumberland town late at night.
But police in Bedlington say they're cracking down on ringleaders who are making innocent members of the public feel unsafe.
Despite an overall reduction in criminal activity over the last year, over January and February locals say they've felt menaced by groups of teens hanging about in the streets and parks.
Police say teenagers are known to be travelling from across Northumberland to meet up in the town. With youngsters as young as 12 and as old as 19 sometimes meeting in the same parks and public places, officers say younger children are at risk of coming into contact with alcohol and drugs.
ChronicleLive visited Bedlington to find out what was happening, and sat down with Northumbria Police to find out what's being done about it.
Outside supermarkets in Bedlington, many shoppers said they'd noticed a recent spike in groups of teenagers causing disruption around the town.  
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A drunk woman hurled shoes at passers-by and told police officers who offered her a lift home to "f**k off".
Lauren Nash was screaming and swearing at members of the public and throwing her shoes outside Market Tavern in Bedlington, Northumberland, overnight between January 12 and 13.
Northumbria Police officers were called to the scene on Market Place to reports of an "intoxicated female" by the owner of the pub.
Nash attempted to run away from officers, and told one “go f**k yourself you c**t” when she was offered a lift home.
Nash appeared at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court on February 7 and pleaded guilty to one count of being drunk and disorderly in a public place.
Prosecutor Laura Lax said: "Police were called to attend the Market Tavern following a report of an intoxicated female.
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Egged on by his friends, this drunk dad tried to get his mate kicked out of a hotel by telling police he was building a bomb.
Dad-of-one Steven Lambert enjoyed a night drinking Stella Artois at his home in Bedlington, Northumberland, before deciding to dial Northumbria Police.
In a bid to get a friend kicked out of the Royal Court Hotel in Coventry, the 28-year-old falsely claimed his pal was making a bomb.
Officers investigated and soon discovered the report to be false, and arrested the 28-year-old the same day.
Lambert, of Corchester Road, Bedlington, pleaded guilty to a charge of communicating false information on a bomb hoax after appearing at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court on February 7.
He was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison - suspended for 12 months - and ordered to 300 hours of unpaid work and to pay £155 in court costs.
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A man has appeared in court accused of sparking a bomb scare in Newcastle city centre after a fake device was allegedly found in a supermarket.
Tesco on Clayton Street, Newcastle , was evacuated on January 15 after a "mobile phone with wires to a battery pack" was found on a shelf.
James McDonnell, 53, of Appleby Gardens, Gateshead, appeared at Bedlington Magistrates' Court on February 11 charged with the offence.
He is also accused of stealing £160 worth of whisky.
Mr McDonnell pleaded not guilty to the bomb hoax matter and did not enter a plea to the theft charge.
He will appear at Newcastle Crown Court on March 12.


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