The government has written to more than 8,000 solicitors to ask them to promote legacy giving to clients writing wills, and has also asked more than 400,000 civil servants to consider leaving a legacy.

The government campaign to grow legacy giving is conducted together with the Law Society and Remember a Charity, which promotes legacy giving. It forms part of the “Remember a Charity in Your Will” week, which runs until Sunday.

The letter to solicitors is co-signed by Rob Wilson, minister for civil society, and Rob Cope, director of Remember a Charity.

It says that a recent Cabinet Office report, produced in partnership with Remember a Charity, the Co-operative Legal Services and the Charities Aid Foundation, showed that when professional advisors ask clients to remember a charity in their will, they are twice as likely to do so.

It also says that 35 per cent of people want to leave money to charity in their will, but only 7 per cent do so.

Rob Wilson, minister for civil society, said: “In Britain, we have a fine tradition of legacy giving, with legacy income worth around £2 billion a year to charities in the UK. It is a vital part of many charities’ income and we want to encourage more Britons to consider leaving gifts to charities, creating a lasting legacy for good causes.

“The steps we’re taking this week will help make considering legacy giving an integral part of the will writing process.”

A similar letter, drafted with the Scottish government, has also gone to 862 firms of solicitors in Scotland.