Countdown star Susie Dent: Why 'willanthropy' is my new favourite word

 I’ve always loved linguistic mashups. These are new words created by blending parts of existing ones together, such as ‘bromance’ or ‘brunch’. It’s true that some of them – like ‘chillax’ – now grate on the nerves, and others can feel a little ungainly (I’m thinking ‘mansplaining’ here), but this has become by far the most popular method of inventing new words, and there’s no denying their usefulness. 

The writer Lewis Carroll named them ‘portmanteaux’, likening them to two parts of a folding suitcase. And he himself gave us some of the best: ‘chortle’, for example, is a perfect blend of ‘chuckle’ and ‘snort’. But my favourite mashup in a long time is much more recent, and not only is it smoothly creative, but it also carries a powerful message. Let me introduce you to ‘willanthropy’. 

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‘Willanthropy’ is the creation of Remember a Charity, a consortium of around 200 wonderful charities who are on a mission to change the way we talk about wills. It is of course a portmanteau of ‘will’ and ‘philanthropy’, and so it does exactly what it says on the tin. ‘Willanthropy’ replaces the more formal expression ‘legacy giving’, which might suggest leaving a bigger pot of money to a charity than we are capable of. By contrast, ‘willanthropy’ nicely conveys altruism in all its forms and, crucially, in any amount, large or small, for such gifts can be alongside, not instead of, those we leave for our loved ones.

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Many of us have been close to a charity or community project at some point in our lives. It might be a local food bank or hospice, an animal rescue centre or sports foundation. We might want to support medical research or support for those going through illness. ‘Willanthropy’ allows us to freely choose any organisation with which we feel some connection. It also enables the precious work of that charity to carry on so that, bit by bit, we can make the world a little better. 

I remember my surprise at learning that six out of 10 lifeboat launches are dependent on money left to the RNLI in wills, while the British Heart Foundation receives over 50% or more of their funding from these important gifts. The NSPCC also receives a significant amount of their funding (an average of over £20m per year) from the wills of those who would like the charity’s vital work to carry on for generations to come. While it’s great to see the strides taken, there is much more work to be done.  

Of course, death is far from a popular subject for discussion. Death and money make for a double whammy: a combination of two of the greatest taboos today. Research conducted by Remember a Charity suggests that one in three of us have struggled to tackle conversations about death, despite two thirds of us agreeing that they are so important to have. 

I have spent my life exploring language, and I’ve seen at first hand the power of words to change our mindset, however insignificant they might at first appear. Expressions such as ‘body positive’ and ‘age positive’, for example, have reframed our thinking about these issues in quite profound ways. 

I see ‘willanthropy’ as another, powerful, step in the right direction. The making of a will, and conversations with our loved ones about the wishes and hopes we would like to reflect in it, can be a hugely positive and empowering experience. Bit by bit, and through the medium of words, we can destigmatise the subject of death and how we plan for it. Even the smallest amount of money can collectively bring about incredible change for the good. 

By the way, if you’re interested in learning my favourite blend of all time, it would have to be a ‘snaccident’: the inadvertent eating of an entire packet of biscuits when you meant to have just the one. If I had the power to nudge that into a dictionary, I would. But English is entirely democratic, and it’s up to all of us to move it forward. I hope that very much, before long, ‘willanthropy’ will find its way into our lexicons too. After all, at the heart of philanthropy is the Greek word for love. 

What better way to show love towards our fellow humans than keeping our connections to them alive?  

Next week (9-15 September) marks Remember a Charity Week. Remember a Charity is calling
on the public to consider leaving a charitable donation in their will, after looking after their loved ones. Find out more about leaving a gift to a charity in your will

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