A Personal Choice: Supporting Every Journey in Organ Donation

Tuesday 11 November, 2025

Here at Lonsdale Weather Management Financial Advisers, we believe in supporting people through decisions that matter deeply – not just about money, but about values, family, and the impact we leave behind. 

One such decision is whether to become an organ donor. We know it’s not easy for everyone, yet for many, it’s a source of comfort, meaning, and the very real chance to save lives. 

It’s our hope that by sharing some thoughts about the NHS Organ Donation programme, we can help people feel supported, understood, and clearer about what they want for themselves and their loved ones.

What is NHS Organ Donation?

Organ Donation under the NHS (via organdonation.nhs.uk) offers people the chance to make a decision in advance about whether their organs, tissue, or parts of their body can be used (after their death) to help others. 

You can register your decision:

• to donate,
• not to donate,
• amend an earlier decision, or
• withdraw it.

You can also nominate a representative to make or communicate your decision and find out about living donation (for example donating a kidney or part of your liver) if you choose.  

Why It Can Be Difficult – And Why It Matters

Making a decision about organ donation is deeply personal. For some people, it's straightforward: they feel certain this is what they want, and maybe they are comforted by the idea that others’ lives could benefit. For others, the idea raises questions, emotional, ethical, spiritual, or medical.

Some of the common questions people wrestle with include:

• “What will happen to my body?”
• “What if I change my mind later?”
• “What do my loved ones think?”
• “How do my beliefs or faith view this?”
• “What if I have medical conditions – am I still eligible?”

These are not small questions. They touch who we are, our beliefs, our fears, and our hopes.

At the same time, organ donation touches many people across the UK. For some, the decision is needed in the moment of crisis, relatives making decisions. 

For others, it is something they think about when planning their future: funeral arrangements, registrations, and values they want to leave behind. For those waiting for transplants, it is a matter of life and death.

How Lonsdale Supports You

From our standpoint as financial advisers, we often work with people planning for many aspects of life, retirement, savings, protection, caring for family, wills, estates. Organ donation can be one of those planning aspects: part of how someone wants to be remembered, part of leaving a legacy, part of ensuring loved ones know their wishes.

Here's how we believe we can, and do, support people:

1. Listening without judgment.
   Everyone’s feelings and concerns are valid. There is no one “right” or “wrong” decision. Some people feel strongly one way; others need time to think. We try to give space for both.
2. Clarifying information.
   The NHS organ donation website is a very good resource. It offers information on who can donate, what organs and tissues are possible, legal frameworks, issues of faith and beliefs, what happens at the time of death, and how family members are involved. We encourage people to gather information, ask questions, speak with medical professionals, or faith leaders if helpful.
3. Including it in your wider planning.
   Just as you might write a will or arrange life insurance, knowing your wishes for organ donation, and letting your family know, can be part of responsible planning. It can give peace of mind, reduce uncertainty for loved ones, and ensure your values are honoured.
4. Respecting decisions, whatever they are.
   Whether someone chooses to donate or not, both are valid. What is important to us is that the decision is informed and that the person is comfortable with it. We also believe in supporting public awareness of organ donation, because many lives can be saved, but this must always support individual choice.

A Caring View Forward

Organ donation will, at some point, touch many of us:

• We could be in the position of being asked what someone else would want.
• We could face decisions for ourselves.
• We could know someone waiting for a transplant.

We at Lonsdale believe it helps when people start thinking ahead: talk with your family, explore what feels right for you, and don’t feel pressured. Sometimes writing down your wishes or registering them with the NHS helps, but just as helpful is letting your loved ones know, so there’s less guesswork or stress later on.

We also believe that society is stronger when people feel supported in making these kinds of decisions, whatever they choose. Organ donation can be an expression of compassion, but choosing not to donate can also be part of how someone sees themselves and what is meaningful.

Final Thoughts

Simon Hawker, Managing Director at Lonsdale Weather Management Financial Advisers, said “Empathy lies at the heart of what we do. We understand that life is complicated: values shift, beliefs evolve, fears and hopes change. The decision about organ donation is one of those things that might feel far away at some times, very close at others. It matters”.

If you are considering your decision, or helping someone else alongside theirs, know this:

• You do not have to decide quickly.
• It’s okay to seek support, for example from trusted friends, family, faith leaders, or medical professionals.
• Whatever you decide, what matters most is that your choice reflects you.

If you want, we’re happy to help you explore your options, discuss with loved ones, or even help you find more information from NHS resources, so that you can make the decision that aligns with your heart.

Latest News Previous Article