THE LEGACY YEARBOOK 2025
THE LEGACY YEARBOOK
Dear Readers
Welcome to the 2025 edition of The Legacy Yearbook. We hope that this publication will provide an ideal reference point when choosing one or more charities to leave a legacy to.
Also within the magazine you will find articles on the importance of making a Will and how leaving a legacy to a charity will extend help and kindness to future generations.
Legacies account for a major part of the income of charities, however small, and we are sure you will find your chosen charity in The Legacy Yearbook
2025 brings us to our 27th year of this publication and our website, www.legacyyearbook.co.uk, has now been running for over fourteen years.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the charities who have been with us over the years – many have remained with us since the launch.
Finally, please help them to continue their important work by remembering the charity of your choice in your Will. You don’t have to be rich and famous to make a contribution that can make a difference. We can all do something amazing for the world just by leaving a gift in our Wills.
Charities
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4 No one is immortal – Wills Planning what will happen to your money and possessions after your death helps ensure your survivors are financially secure and that the people you want to inherit from you do so.
11 We need to bust myths about Lasting Power of Attorney A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to appoint one or more people to make decisions on your behalf should there come a time when you are unable to do so yourself.
14 For the love of animals
As a nation of animal lovers, it is important to a lot of us to make a difference to their lives.
22 Making a Will This is so important as it is the only sure way that allows you to decide how you wish your estate to be distributed when you pass.
No one is immortal –Wills
Planning what will happen to your money and possessions after your death helps ensure your survivors are financially secure, and that the people you want to inherit from you do so. When you retire, there are often big changes to your finances as well as to the rest of your life. It is at this stage that it is important to review how your survivors would manage financially if you were to die. Would, in fact, your money and possessions (your estate) be passed on as you would wish?
There are five rules of Will making:
1. The person making the Will must be of sound mind.
2. The Will must be properly signed.
3. The Will must be correctly witnessed.
4. Be clear about what or how much you want to leave and to whom.
5. Remember to update your Will as your life circumstances change.
Having a Will is especially important if you live with an unmarried partner, have remarried, need to provide for someone with a disability, own a business, own property abroad or your estate is over the IHT threshold. A Will is a legal document that needs to be drawn up precisely and sets out your wishes clearly and unambiguously. Although you can write your own Will, it is safer to get a solicitor to do it.
Laws of intestacy
Dying without having made a Will is called dying ‘intestate’. The laws of intestacy are different in the different nations of the UK. However, they all follow the same basic principles:
• your husband, wife or civil partner and your own children are favoured; this includes a former partner if you are only separated rather than divorced;
• an unmarried partner and stepchildren have no automatic rights;
• your husband, wife or civil partner does not automatically get the whole of your estate;
• possessions, including your home, may have to be sold to split the proceeds between your heirs;
• if children who are minors are among your heirs, their inheritance may have to be held in a trust until they reach adulthood;
• if you have no partner or children, more distant relatives inherit;
• if you have no relatives, the state gets the lot.
Making a Will
You have four choices: you can do it yourself, ask your bank to help you, hire a solicitor, or use a Will-writing service.
Doing it yourself
Home-made Wills are not generally recommended. People often use ambiguous wording which, while perfectly clear to them, may be less obvious to others. This could result in the donor’s wishes being misinterpreted, and could also cause considerable delay in settling the estate.
The wording of a Will is important, including a formal revocation of any earlier Wills. It’s also important to think beyond your basic wishes and address questions such as what if a beneficiary dies before you, what if you and your partner (if you have one) die together or within a short space of time of each other? Few people would start writing a Will from scratch – templates are available from stationers and can be downloaded from the internet. They are not perfect, however, and still leave considerable margin for error, especially if your circumstances or your estate are complicated.
Two witnesses are needed, and an essential point to remember is that witnesses and their spouses cannot be beneficiaries of a Will, so if they do witness it, they will be automatically disinherited. In certain circumstances, a Will can be rendered invalid. There will also be confusion if part of a Will seems to be missing, so, if you need to change your
Will, it’s best to start from scratch with a new one rather than staple an amendment (called a codicil) that might become detached.
Banks
Advice on Wills and the administration of estates is given by the trustee companies of some major banks. In particular, the services they offer are to provide general guidance, to act as executor and to administer the estate. They will introduce clients to a solicitor and can arrange other related advice on tax planning and financial advice.
As with using a solicitor (see below), an advantage of using a bank is that they can keep a copy of the Will – plus other important documents – in their safe, avoiding the risk of these documents being mislaid or lost in, say, a house fire. However, the contract for services is between you and the bank, so after you have died, your heirs have very little leverage to get the bank to speed up if it is taking a long time administering the estate or to control what the bank charges.
Solicitors
Solicitors are the traditional professional to use to draw up a Will. You can also appoint them to act as executors and administer the estate, though as with banks this is not necessarily a good idea since your heirs will have no control over the speed or cost of the solicitor’s services. Like banks, solicitors will also retain a copy of your Will in safekeeping and most will not charge for this.
If you do not have a solicitor, friends or family may be able to recommend one, or you can find a member of one of the legal professional bodies:
• the Law Society: use its Find a Solicitor service to find legal advice in England, Wales and Scotland;
• Law Society of Northern Ireland
A simple Will would start at about £150 (but according to MoneyHelper could cost over £2,400, so make sure you shop around). Couples sometimes make ‘mirror Wills’ leaving everything on broadly the same terms, and there may be a discount for doing both at the same time. However, many solicitors take part in special schemes where they partner
with charities and offer free writing of simple Wills. The schemes include:
• Free Wills Month. During the campaign months (March and October), people aged 55 and over can have a Will written by a solicitor for free. Participating charities hope you will leave them a legacy in your Will although you cannot be forced to do so.
• Make a Will Week. Participating solicitors write your Will for free in return for you making a suggested donation to a partner charity. The week has been in May in recent years, and the charities involved advertise if they are taking part.
• National Free Wills Network is a partnership where participating charities pay for solicitors to write free Wills for their supporters. Again, the hope is that you will leave a legacy to the charity, but that is up to you.
• Will Aid is a partnership between solicitors and nine charities. The solicitors write your Will for free, but suggest a voluntary donation to Will Aid which then supports the work of the charities.
The schemes work because solicitors earn extra where it turns out you need more than just a simple Will or decide to buy other services.
Charities do this in the hope that you’ll include a legacy to them in your Will, but they cannot make it a requirement of using their services, they do not have access to the Will that you have written, and the solicitor involved is working for you not the charity.
For individuals with sight problems, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has produced a comprehensive guide to making or changing a Will and offers a number of options, including free Will writing through the National Free Wills Network. The RNIB also offers a free service to transcribe your Will into large print size, Braille or audio. Age UK is a partner in the Will Aid scheme and its website has a lot of useful information about writing a Will.
Will-writing services
A Will-writing service is a sort of halfway house that is generally more reliable than a DIY Will, but cheaper than a solicitor. Will-writers take you through a questionnaire to find out your needs and are trained to be able to draw up simple Wills. But they are not professionally trained in the law as solicitors are and they are not regulated to the same degree, so do not use a Will-writing service if your affairs are at all complex. Do make sure that any Will-writer you use belongs to one of the following self-regulating bodies which requires members to abide by a code of conduct including having a formal complaints procedure and professional indemnity insurance:
• Institute of Professional Willwriters
• Society of Will Writers
The Good Retirement Guide 2025 edited by Jonquil Lowe is ©2025 and reproduced with permission from Kogan Page Ltd.
Leave your legacy today, for their tomorrow
We live in uncertain times, with major military conflicts happening across the world. Our Armed Forces dedicate their lives to protecting our freedom and ensuring our safety. Amid all this instability, we want to ensure that, whatever happens, we can give those who serve the support they need.
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity relies on the generosity of our supporters to provide our vital services. With a gift in your Will, you could help us be there for future generations of the Armed Forces family.
We exist so that no one in our Armed Forces is left to battle life’s darkest problems on their own. Together, with the help of our volunteers and supporters, we are close at hand for any member of our Armed Forces family in their time of need. We provide welfare and wellbeing support to serving personnel, veterans, and their families across the UK and abroad. All tailored to individual needs, helping people get their lives back on track. We do not judge – we offer a helping hand and a listening ear, for as long as we are needed. The Armed Forces are a family that stands together. They support each other no matter what, and someone always has your back. But they face immense challenges both during and after their time in the Armed Forces. If they have physical injuries or mental health struggles, the transition to civilian life can be daunting. A soldier’s wife may face bereavement alone because her husband is thousands of miles away on active service. Or a wounded marine desperately needs to adjust to life on civvy street. Or a child loses their beloved hero mum or dad. We know that there are serving personnel and veterans who – through no fault of their own – struggle to afford their bills and face the threat of homelessness. These momentous challenges are made so much worse if they do not know who to turn to or how to ask for help.
Gary is a veteran of the Scots Guards. He is also a triple amputee.
His life – and his family’s – changed forever when he lost three limbs in a devastating explosion while serving in Afghanistan. The years in between and the road to recovery have been long and challenging, but SSAFA was there for him and his family.
From adapting their home to accommodate Gary’s needs to providing logistical and financial support during many operations, SSAFA has been there whenever and however needed.
His daughter Nikkole has always been inspired by her father’s resilience and the support he received from SSAFA, and says: “SSAFA has been amazing. They have been with us every single step of the way – fixing our house to help my dad’s needs and paying for our accommodation when he went for operations.
I can never fully repay them for everything they have done, but I will try.”
Not everyone that SSAFA supports has the challenges Gary lives with, and we do not know what will happen in the years ahead. But one thing we do know. With a gift in your Will, you will help us be there for our Armed Forces family in the future, providing welfare and wellbeing support to those who need us. So that they never battle alone.
Last year, due to the kind generosity of supporter donations, including those who left a legacy to SSAFA with a gift in their Will, the charity was able to support an incredible 54,000 people from the Armed Forces community. Each person helped had their own unique challenges and battles.
The funds raised through gifts in Wills have helped SSAFA to provide life-changing welfare support, wellbeing projects, and activities such as the June Best Community Garden at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, at Lympstone, Devon.
The Garden was made possible by a generous legacy gift left to SSAFA’s Devon branch by the late June Best. This much needed space provides a tranquil and therapeutic environment fostering relaxation, connection, and healing for our military and former military community and is the first project of its kind in the UK. Community and camaraderie are at the heart of the garden and a committee of veterans advised on the design and planning. They and other members of the community have created a multifunctional, wheelchair accessible space involving sensory elements, including a fire area and a water feature and a growing garden.
This transformational garden project was only made possible through gifts in Wills.
You can help us face the uncertainty in the years ahead with confidence and change so many lives. By leaving a gift in your Will to SSAFA, your kindness can ensure that they never battle alone.
With a gift in your Will, you will stand alongside our future Armed Forces, always and forever.
To find out more, visit ssafa.org.uk/gifts-in-wills
The importance of gifts in Wills
Emma talks about the value of gifts in Wills after her mum, Kath, was cared for at the Marie Curie Hospice, Bradford.
“Mum was diagnosed with stage four cancer. Initially she was given the all-clear, but then it came back quite viciously, and that unfortunately was the start of the end. The last six months of Mum’s life were spent in the Marie Curie Hospice, Bradford. I knew she was in safe hands there.
There were different activities going on that she could get involved with. Mum liked to look her best, so she would have her hair and nails done in the salon, she could do her painting, which she enjoyed. For Mum to be surrounded by other women going through a similar experience in the hospice meant that she felt less alone. I hope she found comfort in that.
Society struggles with grief and people being ill, and so people often tiptoe around difficult conversations.
But the staff at the Marie Curie hospice weren’t like that, they were very practical, helpful and attentive. Mum benefited from other people having that sense of generational legacy and valuing compassionate end of life care.
It makes you feel good that you’re protecting the future. You know that it’s going to be used well, whether you leave it to family or to a charitable hospice who are all about caring.”
More than a quarter of all people cared for by Marie Curie is thanks to gifts in Wills. Discover how including a gift in your Will to Marie Curie could help them care for people at the end of life, whatever the illness. Call 0800 144 5740 or search:
‘Marie Curie Will Talk’
Get your free Will guide and discover a gift in your Will to Marie Curie for people at the end of life. Whatever wherever you are. #WillTalk
Homeless Veterans don’t have to struggle alone. They have us. And you.
SVR provides accommodation and support for homeless and vulnerable veterans. A gift in your will can help to ensure that homeless Veterans don’t have to fight on alone.
www.svronline.org 0131 556 0091 Registered Charity SC012739
Hous ing and Supp SCOTTISH VETERANS RESIDENCES
Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR) is a Registered Scottish Charity established in 1910 in reaction to the sight of Veterans sleeping rough on the streets of Edinburgh. SVR’s mission is provide quality support and accommodation to as many ex-Service/Merchant Marine personnel as possible, for as long as they need it, in order to assist those that are able to return to independent living.
SVR operates supported housing centres in Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow where Veterans of all ages can find warm, comfortable accommodation, great facilities and the support of friendly, professional staff.
Whether in need due to poverty, advanced age, the effects of trauma or homelessness, we ensure that our Veterans live with dignity and privacy and get the help they need. You can help them too.
Please help us to keep supporting the brave men and women who served in our Armed Forces with a gift in your Will.
Scottish Veterans Residences SC012739. 53 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BS
We need to bust myths about Lasting Power of Attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to appoint one or more people to make decisions on your behalf should there come a time when you are unable to do so yourself. There are two types of LPA: one for financial matters and one for health and welfare.
Research from Which? shows there is widespread confusion about the process. For instance, 16% of people thought they would lose access to their financial accounts as soon as an LPA is registered.
If no LPA is in place and you lose mental capacity, your loved ones will need to apply to the Court of Protection to become a deputy if they want to make decisions on your behalf. This is a costly and complex process. Which? has released research showing the power of attorney system is in need of improvement.
Helen Morrissey, senior pensions and retirement analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown says:
“A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) should be a huge source of comfort as we get older, but for far too many people, it’s a source of mistrust and confusion instead.
Knowing you have someone you can trust to make decisions in your best interests in the event you are unwilling or unable to do so yourself can be very comforting not just for you but your wider family too. Unfortunately, we’re letting myths and misunderstandings confuse us into missing out on this vital bit of safeguarding.
It’s important to bust key myths about LPAs. For instance, you do not hand over control of your affairs once an LPA has been registered – you remain in control and your attorneys must make all reasonable efforts to help you make decisions. Should a time come when decisions need to be made on your behalf your attorneys need to demonstrate they are making decisions in your best interests and in line with your wishes. You can appoint more than one attorney if you want more visibility of decision making and attorneys can be removed if needed.
People tend to worry about rare horror stories of vulnerable people befriended by fraudsters who use a power of attorney
to take their money. However, a power of attorney can actually protect you from this kind of thing. Some conditions, like dementia, can make it difficult for people to understand who to trust or the consequences of their actions, so putting someone reliable in charge of their financial decisions protects them from giving it away to fraudsters or con artists. If you are having health issues, then knowing you have an LPA in place can take away an enormous amount of stress at a difficult time – they are not something to be mistrustful of. But they’re not something to leave until later in life. We should consider putting one in place when we draw up a Will. Often, we have no warnings of when we might lose the capacity to make financial decisions, so the sooner you draw up an LPA, the sooner you’ll be protected.”
Wills
Living Wills There is also the option of a healthcare directive/advance decision, also known as a Living Will. This is a legal document in which a person specifies what actions should be taken for their health if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves through illness or if they are incapacitated. It tells medical staff how you wish to be treated, or medical treatments you don’t want in the future. It’s a good idea prior to getting a Living Will to discuss your options with a healthcare professional who knows your medical history, covering the risks and benefits of certain treatments you could be offered in the future, and what refusing them might mean. You may also want to discuss it with family or friends so that they understand your choice.
If both a Living Will and an LPA for health care are drawn up, ideally you should make sure that you have not made conflicting requests. The most recently signed is the one that will take priority if they both deal with an issue differently.
Making a Will – Legacies When you retire, as well as lifestyle changes there are often changes to your financial situation and making a Will is so important as it is the only sure way that will allow you to decide how you wish your possessions (estate) to be distributed and passed on to whom when you pass. Failing to write a Will can leave you intestate and can also cause huge problems for your family. When you come to make your Will, once family and friends have been taken care of, consider who else you would like to help. Whether a small or large percentage left as a legacy, a gift to a charity can help support the work of your chosen charity into the future. Not to mention leaving a lasting footprint for many years to come.
Do you love music? Let the soundtrack of your life live on with a gift in your Will
Music evokes powerful memories, connects us with others, and brings more meaning to our life experiences as we share them with family and friends.
Leaving a gift in your Will to Help Musicians is a wonderful way to ensure your passion for music lives on, taking care of musicians in times of crisis and opportunity and providing support for the next generation of inspiring musical talent.
100% of your gift goes directly to our frontline work.
“The charity supported me during my Masters and their help was absolutely invaluable. Now is an especially challenging time for musicians, both financially and emotionally, and charities like ‘Help Musicians’ are vital during these difficult periods.”
– Isata Kanneh-Mason, Pianist & Help Musicians Ambassador
A gift in your Will could be the most important gift you ever make
Leaving a gift to Help Musicians is your chance to make a meaningful investment in the future of musicians and let
your love of music and the soundtrack to your life live on. If you would like to know more about leaving a gift in your Will we would love to speak to you, so please do let us know by giving us a call on 020 7239 9142 or emailing legacy@helpmusicians.org.uk
About Help Musicians
At Help Musicians, we understand the value that music brings and for the last 103 years have been working hard to support the people behind the music to hone their craft and build healthy, sustainable careers. In times of crisis, or opportunity, those needing help can rely on us to listen and help.
Learn more about leaving a gift to Help Musicians on our website: www.helpmusicians.org.uk/wills
Registered Charity No: 228089. Help Musicians is the working name of the Musicians Benevolent Fund.
The charity supported me during my Masters and their help was absolutely invaluable. Now is an especially challenging time for musicians, both financially and emotionally, and charities like Help Musicians are vital during these difficult periods.
- Isata Kanneh-Mason | Pianist & Help Musicians Ambassador
Let the soundtrack to your life live on by leaving a gift in your will to Help Musicians.
helpmusicians.org.uk/giftinwill 020 7239 9142 | legacy@helpmusicians.org.uk
Patron: His Majesty King Charles III | Registered Charity No. 228089
Make your will make a
difference...
Make your will make a difference...
Little Sisters of the Poor
Please don’t forget the Little Sisters of the Poor when making your will
Please don’t forget the Little Sisters of the Poor when making your will
ProvincialResidence: StPeter’sResidence, 2AMeadowRoad,London,SW81QH Tel:02077350788
RegisteredCharityNo.234434
www.littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk
Legacy2017:Legacy2008 13/1/17 13:59 Page 13
TheLittleSistersofthePoorisaCongregationwithintheCatholic Churchwhichisdedicatedtotheserviceoftheelderlypoor, regardlessofnationality,orcreed.FoundedinFrancein1839by JeanneJugan,establishedinBritainin1851,ourhospitallerworkis carriedoutamongsttheagedin31countriesonfivecontinents, with12 HomesinBritainandIreland.
The Little Sisters of the Poor is a Congregation within the Catholic Church which is dedicated to the service of the elderly poor, regardless of nationality, or creed. Founded in France in 1839 by Jeanne Jugan, established in Britain in 1851, our hospitaller work is carried out amongst the aged in 31 countries on ve continents, with 11 Homes in Britain and Ireland.
WithinthecomplexofourHomes,someofwhichincludesheltered accommodation,weoffertheopportunitytotheelderlyofthe neighbourhoodtoshareintheHome’sfacilities.Thereisalsothe possibilityforfamiliesofmodestmeanstoavailofourrespite careservice.
Within the complex of our Homes, some of which include sheltered accommodation, we offer the opportunity to the elderly of the neighbourhood to share in the Home’s facilities. There is also the possibility for families of modest means to avail of our respite care service.
TheLegacyYearbook
You can make such a difference to our work in caring for the elderly of modest means. The Little Sisters of the Poor respond to the needs of the elderly in today’s world in Homes suitably adapted to their needs.
You can make such a difference to our work in caring for the elderly of modest means. The Little Sisters of the Poor respond to the needs of the elderly in today’s world in Homes suitably adapted to their needs.
Little Sisters Of The Poor
Little Sisters Of The Poor
In The Care Of The Elderly
In The Care Of The Elderly
• 2a Meadow Road • London • SW8 1QH
www.littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk
• Tel: 020 7735 0788 • Fax: 020 7582 0973 • www.littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk
• 2a Meadow Road • London • SW8 1QH • Tel: 020 7735 0788 • Fax: 020 7582 0973 • www.littlesistersofthepoor.co.uk
Founded in 1954 by the late Mother Mary Garson for the care of the old and frail, we run care homes in England and wide ranging services in India, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Uganda.
The Benedictine family comprises of Sisters, lay staff and volunteers, and the elderly, sick and poor of all denominations. Your legacy could help us do so much more!
Grace and Compassion Benedictines
38/39 Preston Park Avenue, Brighton BN1 6HG
Tel: 01273 502129
osb@graceandcompassion.co.uk
www.graceandcompassionbenedictines.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 1056064
InprovidingtotalcarewebelieveinenablingtheResidentstofulfil theirphysical,social,emotionalandspiritualneeds.Wehave athearttorecognisetheirdignity,desireofbeingrespected, esteemedandlovedandtheirlongingtofeelthemselvesuseful.
In providing total care we believe in enabling the Residents to ful l their physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs. We have at heart to recognise their dignity, desire of being respected, esteemed and loved and their longing to feel themselves useful.
AllofthecharitiesyouseeinTheLegacy Yearbookrelyheavilyuponpublicdonations, pleasehelpasmuchasyoucan,anddon't forgetwhenrespondingtoadvertisers, pleasemention'TheLegacyYearbook'.
Withyourhelpwewishtorespondtotheirneedforcompanionship, securityinhealthasinsickness,untiltheirnaturaldeath, inafamilyatmosphere.
With your help we wish to respond to their need for companionship, security in health as in sickness, until their natural death, in a family atmosphere.
Thankyou
Thank you for your support
38/39PrestonParkAvenue,Brighton,E.SussexBN16HG Telephone:01273502129.Facsimile:01273552540 RegisteredCharityNumber:1056064 Email:osb@graceandcompassion.co.uk Website:www.graceandcompassionbenedictines.org.uk Foundedin1954bythelateMotherMaryGarsonforthecare oftheoldandfrail,weruncarehomesinEnglandandwide rangingservicesinIndia,SriLanka,KenyaandUganda.The BenedictinefamilycomprisesSisters,laystaffandvolunteers, andtheelderly,sickandpoorofalldenominations. Yourlegacycouldhelpusdosomuchmore!
Your legacy could help us do so much more of nursing, adult education, and nursery/primary education. The Sisters and their lay helpers are sustained by prayer and strong faith and love for those for whom they care.
Grace and Compassion Benedictines
38/39 Preston Park Avenue, Brighton BN1 6HG
Tel: 01273 502129
Email: osb@graceandcompassion.co.uk
Web: www.graceandcompassionbenedictines.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 1056064
For the love of animals
Most of us want to feel that the time we have spent on earth has somehow made a difference. As a nation of animal lovers, it is important to a lot of us to make a difference to their lives. The most obvious area is animal shelters – a place where wonderful people who care deeply try to rehabilitate animals who have suffered – in many cases, horrendous abuse and neglect, with a view to finding loving, forever homes for as many animals as possible. We look at our own animals so safe and well cared for and can only be full of gratitude to the people who give their time and effort to help.
Owning and caring for a horse or pony can be great fun and very rewarding. However, with the uncertain economic climate and the rising costs in feed, bedding, farrier and vet bills, not to mention land being sold off, people are really struggling to keep their horses and ponies. As a result, many more are sadly being abandoned and neglected, putting a huge strain on the equine charities who work tirelessly providing them the care they need for a happy and healthy life.
The David Attenborough series, Wild Isles, highlights the abundance of wildlife on these islands. Wildlife charities are there to help sick and injured animals, and in most cases always return them to their natural habitat. Knowing there is somewhere to turn when we find that injured hedgehog or bird is something we must be proud of in this country as in some countries any kind of help for injured wildlife is totally unavailable.
Wildlife overseas is also subject to abuse and cruelty mostly inflicted by humans. From deforestation, trophy hunting, the fur trade and animals being used for tourist amusement, the list is depressingly long. There are many British charities and organisations involved with helping these animals and
bringing an end to these inhumane practices. All deserving of your support.
It seems unimaginable to think of all types of domestic pets used for medical research. But depressingly in the 21st century this still is the case. There are charities whose sole aim is to end this practice, and who need funds and support.
A legacy is one of the ways of making sure your love of animals makes a difference beyond your lifetime. Leaving a gift in your Will to one or more animal charities ensures their work carries on. For those who care deeply about animals there can be no better legacy. However small, leaving a legacy can make a significant contribution, ensuring your love and affection for animals can be continued by another generation.
Funds are also needed to help animal organisations in their research work, to improve diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injury in animals, enabling them to live happier, healthier lives.
Being an animal lover, you may at some time have had to have a much loved pet operated on and will appreciate the importance of ensuring animal hospitals remain at the forefront of veterinary medicine and vital up-to-date equipment is at hand, to provide care to thousands of sick and injured animals every year, as well as the training of veterinary personnel.
We would be churlish, to say the least, if we didn’t state that money is what it’s all about, after caring for the animals, that is. But without that so vital ingredient, the loving care that all charities give to the animals in their care, or the continuation of research development, or the conservation of wildlife, would be impossible.
Of course, family and loved ones should always come first, but donations to charities in Wills can sometimes mean your family avoids paying inheritance tax on your estate, as a legacy to a charity is a tax-free gift. By contributing in this way everyone benefits – the charity by receiving the gift and the donor because legacies are not subject to Inheritance Tax.
As well as legacies, many charities rely heavily on work done and income raised or donated by a loyal group of ‘friends’ and ‘supporters’. Sometimes when buying items such as theatre tickets, or a membership, there is the opportunity of adding a donation to charity at the checkout. Or if you have had a clear out and have items you no longer want, maybe you could have a car boot sale or sell on-line and any money raised give to a charity of your choice. Get colleagues, family and friends involved in arranging sponsored events. Check your favourite charity’s website to see whether they’re looking for people to raise funds.
Most importantly remember to enjoy your fundraising –after all, no matter how much or how little you raise, your fundraising really does have the ability to change lives.
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...HelpUsHelpThem
For over 40 years,Tiggywinkles, TheWildlifeHospitalTrust,hasbeen treating,savingandrehabilitatingsick, injuredandorphanedBritishwildanimals andbirds.Fromhedgehogstootters,from sparrowstoredkites,nocreatureisever turnedawayorneedlesslyputtosleep–andeverycreatureistreatedfreeofcharge. Ourprimedirectiveistogetallourpatients backtothewildandourteamofveterinary specialistsandoveronehundreddedicated volunteerswillneverlosesightofthis.
For over 40 years,Tiggywinkles, TheWildlifeHospitalTrust,hasbeen treating,savingandrehabilitatingsick, injuredandorphanedBritishwildanimals andbirds.Fromhedgehogstootters,from sparrowstoredkites,nocreatureisever turnedawayorneedlesslyputtosleep–andeverycreatureistreatedfreeofcharge. Ourprimedirectiveistogetallourpatients backtothewildandourteamofveterinary specialistsandoveronehundreddedicated volunteerswillneverlosesightofthis. Wetreatmorewildanimalsthananyother UKcentreandeverydonationandlegacy hasanimmediateandimportantimpacton ourworldleadinghospital.Withfinancial helpwecoulddosomuchmore.Werelyon thecompassionofcaringindividualslike you.Togiveanideaofhowmanypatients aresavedbyourcommittedteam,onany
For over 40 years,Tiggywinkles, TheWildlifeHospitalTrust,hasbeen treating,savingandrehabilitatingsick, injuredandorphanedBritishwildanimals andbirds.Fromhedgehogstootters,from sparrowstoredkites,nocreatureisever turnedawayorneedlesslyputtosleep–andeverycreatureistreatedfreeofcharge. Ourprimedirectiveistogetallourpatients backtothewildandourteamofveterinary specialistsandoveronehundreddedicated volunteerswillneverlosesightofthis.
Wetreatmorewildanimalsthananyother UKcentreandeverydonationandlegacy hasanimmediateandimportantimpacton ourworldleadinghospital.Withfinancial helpwecoulddosomuchmore.Werelyon thecompassionofcaringindividualslike you.Togiveanideaofhowmanypatients aresavedbyourcommittedteam,onany
Wetreatmorewildanimalsthananyother UKcentreandeverydonationandlegacy hasanimmediateandimportantimpacton ourworldleadinghospital.Withfinancial helpwecoulddosomuchmore.Werelyon thecompassionofcaringindividualslike you.Togiveanideaofhowmanypatients aresavedbyourcommittedteam,onany
onedaytherearebetween1000and1700 animalsinourcare, with medicalexpertise always available.Beingauniquehospital weare consciousofthefactthattheground breakingdiscoverieswemakeareofbenefit towildlife everywhere– aswepasson informationandnurturerehabilitatorsworldwide.Incidentally,itmayalsobeinteresting tolearnthatourhospitalhelpspeopleofall abilitiestoobtainjobskillsandworthwhile educationalqualifications,whilsttheyhelp uscareforourpatients.In1991,our purposebuiltteachinghospitalat Haddenham,nearAylesbury,thefirstofits kindinEurope,wasopenedbyPrincess Alexandraandsinceitsinception, Tiggywinkleshascaredforhundredsof thousandsofsick,injuredandorphaned
onedaytherearebetween1000and1700 animalsinourcare, with medicalexpertise always available.Beingauniquehospital weare consciousofthefactthattheground breakingdiscoverieswemakeareofbenefit towildlifeeverywhere– aswepasson informationandnurturerehabilitatorsworldwide.Incidentally,itmayalsobeinteresting tolearnthatourhospitalhelpspeopleofall abilitiestoobtainjobskillsandworthwhile educationalqualifications,whilsttheyhelp uscareforourpatients.In1991,our purposebuiltteachinghospitalat Haddenham,nearAylesbury,thefirstofits kindinEurope,wasopenedbyPrincess Alexandraandsinceitsinception, Tiggywinkleshascaredforhundredsof thousandsofsick,injuredandorphaned
wildanimals..Thisnumberincreases steadilyasmorepeoplebecomeawarethat injuredwildlifecanbehelped.
onedaytherearebetween1000and1700 animalsinourcare, with medicalexpertise always available.Beingauniquehospital weare consciousofthefactthattheground breakingdiscoverieswemakeareofbenefit towildlifeeverywhere– aswe passon informationandnurturerehabilitatorsworldwide.Incidentally,itmayalsobeinteresting tolearnthatourhospitalhelpspeopleofall abilitiestoobtainjobskillsandworthwhile educationalqualifications,whilsttheyhelp uscareforourpatients.In1991,our purposebuiltteachinghospitalat Haddenham,nearAylesbury,thefirstofits kindinEurope,wasopenedbyPrincess Alexandraandsinceitsinception, Tiggywinkleshascaredforhundredsof thousandsofsick,injuredandorphaned
wildanimals..Thisnumberincreases steadilyasmorepeoplebecomeawarethat injuredwildlifecanbehelped.
wildanimals..Thisnumberincreases steadilyasmorepeoplebecomeawarethat injuredwildlifecanbehelped.
ItisclearthattheworkofTiggywinkles mustgoon.Haveyoueverhadthathelpless feelingonseeinganinjuredwildbirdor animalandnotknowingwhocanhelp?We canhelpthatcasualtyandYOUcanhelp Britain’sinjuredwildlifebyremembering Tiggywinklesinyourwill.Wedesperately needyoursupport.Yourgiftcanalsocome intheformofadonationorbybecoming amember.
ItisclearthattheworkofTiggywinkles mustgoon.Haveyoueverhadthathelpless feelingonseeinganinjuredwildbirdor animalandnotknowingwhocanhelp?We canhelpthatcasualtyandYOUcanhelp Britain’sinjuredwildlifebyremembering Tiggywinklesinyourwill.Wedesperately needyoursupport.Yourgiftcanalsocome intheformofadonationorbybecoming amember.
ItisclearthattheworkofTiggywinkles mustgoon.Haveyoueverhadthathelpless feelingonseeinganinjuredwildbirdor animalandnotknowingwhocanhelp?We canhelpthatcasualtyandYOUcanhelp Britain’sinjuredwildlifebyremembering Tiggywinklesinyourwill.Wedesperately needyoursupport.Yourgiftcanalsocome intheformofadonationorbybecoming amember.
Thankyouforconsideringusyoursupportwouldbeappreciated somuch.
Thankyouforconsideringusyoursupportwouldbeappreciated somuch.
Thankyouforconsideringusyoursupportwouldbeappreciated somuch.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks... But you can teach a scientist.
Help Replacing Animal Research find a better way than animal experiments.
Replacing Animal Research is an independent charity dedicated to the development of new and valid methods that will remove the need for laboratory animals in medical and scientific research, education and testing.
Replacing Animal Research is a charitable incorporated organisation with registration number: 1176266 replacinganimalresearch.org.uk hello@replacinganimalresearch.org.uk
Animals
Please remember Replacing Animal Research in your will.
For more information visit replacinganimalresearch.org.uk/ legacy or call 0115 958 4740 today.
are not humans, so why do we keep using them for medical research?
Every living creature ages over time, we all have that in common. But does it make sense to study human aging by using animals such as mice? Mice have an average life expectancy of about 2 years (about 2% that of humans). Animals do not suffer from the same age and lifestyle-related conditions as humans, yet they are routinely used to study human conditions where age is a known factor.
WE BELIEVE THERE IS A BETTER WAY
At the FRAME Laboratory at the University of Nottingham we are supporting the development of human-based models of neuroinflammation using donated stem cells to allow scientists to study these diseases and develop and test drugs in conditions much more closely related to our human bodies. All our work is only possible through the support of people who care about creating a world where animals are not used in medical experiments. We want to make the world a better place for animals and humans by ending the use of animals in biomedical research and testing. One of the best ways you can help us achieve this goal is by leaving us a gift in your Will. We receive gifts of all sizes, from £100 to £100,000 and no matter what the amount every penny helps us fund human-centred, non-animal methods.
Our vision is a world where no animal suffers for science, and you can help us create this better future today.
Find out more at:
www.replacinganimalresearch.org.uk/legacy
Replacing Animal Research, Cawley House, Canal Street, Nottingham NG1 7HR. 0115 958 4740
hello@replacinganimalresearch.org.uk
www.replacinganimalresearch.org.uk/legacy
Registered Charity No: 1176266 (England & Wales)
For forty years you have helped Redwings provide for rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules.
We care for more rescued horses than any other welfare charity. It’s one of the things that makes Redwings special. The waifs and strays, the sick and aged, those that no one else will help are all welcome here. By making a gift in your Will you can ensure a horse with nowhere else to go has a future they can look forward to.
To find out more about including a gift in your Will to Redwings please get in touch:
01508 481030 • legacies@redwings.co.uk • redwings.org.uk/legacies
Registered charity in England and Wales (1068911) and Scotland (SC045070)
Will you remember the horses at
Redwings Horse Sanctuary?
REDWINGS HORSE SANCTUARY believes that every horse, pony, donkey and mule has the right to a happy and healthy life, free of fear and neglect.
The charity rescues neglected and abandoned equines from all over the country, giving them a safe place to live and providing essential veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and care for the rest of their lives. Indeed, the charity currently provides daily care for over 1,500 rescued residents, making Redwings the UK’s largest horse charity. Redwings is 100% funded by public donations and every donation helps the charity help horses in need. In addition to giving every equine the opportunity for lifelong sanctuary care, Redwings also has visitor centres around the UK, where supporters have the chance to meet some of its rescued horses, hear their stories and find out more about the importance of equine welfare.
Gifts in Wills make up the largest proportion of Redwings’ income and the charity simply wouldn’t be able to function without them. Remembering Redwings in your Will is a wonderful way to support the charity’s work and leave a lasting legacy that will help horses, ponies, donkeys and mules for generations to come. Whether your gift is large or small, every donation makes a real difference to the future of Redwings’ residents.
To remember Redwings in your Will, call 01508 481030 or email legacies@redwings.co.uk
“By creating a
Having supported the charity since the late 1980s and fostering a companion pony, John and Jackie did not hesitate to remember Bransby Horses when they decided to create their legacy.
“We know that Bransby Horses gives every equine the very best chance of a secure and happy future. We hope to be able to continue to visit the charity for many years to come and by creating a legacy in our Wills, we know that we are helping to build a better future for our equine friends.”
By creating your legacy like John and Jackie, we can continue transforming the lives of equines together.
THE LEGACY OF JOHN AND JACKIE
Legacies are a lifeline to Bransby Horses, with 75% of our income from Wills. This is enough to rescue 60 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules each year. Whether we have been a place to visit with family or something more, it is a very special thing to be remembered in this way.
Jackie and John made their decision to leave a gift in their Will and through their first-hand experience of fostering a companion horse they understand the value that their lasting legacy makes.
“We have supported Bransby Horses form more than 30 years. When our horse Ben died, at the age of 32, we decided to foster a companion pony from Bransby Horses for Charlie, our remaining horse. We had seen first-hand the care and dedication given to every equine that comes to the charity. We have also fostered Bransby Cadfael (aka Timmy) for six years and he has brought us so much pleasure.
Bransby Horses
“We decided to leave a legacy to them some years before. Having the privilege of sharing part of our lives with Timmy, it was even more important to us to be able to support other equines like him in the future. Every equine is given the very best chance of a secure and happy future, whether it be with a fosterer or at Bransby Horses itself. That is very important to us.”
If, like Jackie and John, you have left, or are planning to leave a gift in your Will to Bransby Horses, we would love to hear from you and thank you in person –please contact the legacy officer on 01427 788464 or email legacy@bransbyhorses.co.uk
We now also offer a Free Will service –contact us or visit BransbyHorses.co.uk/legacies
Monkey WorldApe Rescue Centre
Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre in Dorset is home to over 260 primates, including over 50 chimpanzees, and Europe’s official crèche for orphaned orangutan infants. Many of the park’s residents have been neglected, kept in unnatural conditions, or experienced unbelievable cruelty. At Monkey World, they can all enjoy the company of their own kind in a safe and natural environment.
By including the Ape Rescue Trust in your estate plans, you become a guardian angel for those who cannot speak for themselves, helping us to provide a brighter, happier and stable future for primates in need.
Full details of all the ways you can help can be found here: www.monkeyworld.org/support-us/
To find out more about how you can remember Monkey World in your Will, please contact us at MWoffice@monkeyworld.org
Lord SanctuaryWhiskyFund
Please become a Friend of Lord Whisky and receive our quarterly newsletters (£20 per annum or £60 for life)
By giving a donation or leaving a legacy in your Will, you will help us continue saving the lives of horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals, and providing much need veterinary treatment at our low-income veterinary clinics. We rely entirely on donations and legacies and without your support, our work could not continue. Visit our website at www.lordwhisky.co.uk
Park House Animal Sanctuary, Stelling Minnis, Kent CT4 6AN Tel: 01303 862622
Registered Charity 283483
LORD WHISKY SANCTUARY FUND
The Lord Whisky Sanctuary Fund saves, and gives sanctuary to, a wide range of animals including horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, rabbits, mice, etc.
Injured and orphaned wildlife are taken in, nursed back to health and released to the wild wherever possible.
No healthy animal is ever destroyed.
The Lord Whisky Sanctuary Fund runs a mobile veterinary clinic, as well as our main clinic and surgery for people on low-income, and also has a low cost neutering programme. The Fund relies entirely on donations and legacies, without which our work could not continue.
Contact us for further details: Mrs M. Todd MBE, Lord Whisky Sanctuary Fund, Park House Animal Sanctuary, Stelling Minnis, Canterbury, Kent CT4 6AN Tel: 01303 862622 www.lordwhisky.co.uk
Orphaned orangutan Hujan adopted by Family at ©MonkeyWorld
For over 30 years, Naturewatch Foundation has been a voice for animals, campaigning passionately to end animal cruelty and improve animal welfare standards around the globe.
Leaving a gi in your will to Naturewatch Foundation can make a lasting di erence.
With your generosity and support, we will continue working to make the world a kinder place for animals.
Since 1991, Naturewatch Foundation has been campaigning passionately to end animal cruelty and advance animal welfare standards in the UK and worldwide. We don’t receive government funding, so we rely on our supporters’ generosity to continue our work. Their donations have made a real difference so far. But there is always more cruelty to stop and more animals to help. Through our campaigns, we work hard to raise awareness about animal cruelty and poor welfare standards, and we equip professionals and the public with the knowledge they need to take action.
Our objectives are clear: to end animal testing, tackle wildlife crime, end illegal pet breeding, raise awareness of the link between animal abuse and the abuse of people, and continue to expand our welfare work in Ukraine and through Eastern Europe. Finally, we continue to raise the status of animals globally by coordinating World Animal Day.
But we can’t do it alone. Naturewatch Foundation relies on donations to fund our campaigns; over half of our donations come from gifts in Wills. Leaving a gift to Naturewatch Foundation in your Will is a powerful way to ensure that your support for animal welfare continues beyond your lifetime. Having an up-to-date Will gives you peace of mind, knowing that your loved ones and plans for the future are taken care of. For us, a legacy enables us to take actions that can positively impact animals worldwide for years to come. Your gift, no matter how small, can make a real difference in the fight against animal cruelty. With your support, Naturewatch Foundation can continue making the world a kinder place for animals.
Registered
Making a Will
Do you need a Will?
To some people the answer to this question may be obvious. However, to many they will feel that it’s not relevant to them because they do not have any assets to distribute. Reasons people give for not making a Will is that they are not married, they don’t own their own property or they don’t have any children.
Making a Will is so important as it is the only sure way that allows you to decide how you wish your estate to be distributed when you pass. Aside from the risk of someone benefiting from your estate who you would not have chosen, dealing with the estate of someone who died without a Will is much more complicated and costly. Members of the family left behind will be handed a great deal of unnecessary, time consuming, work that could easily have been avoided.
In the UK when someone dies without making a Will, their estate passes in accordance to the Rules of Intestacy, which sets out a specific order of who benefits from the estate. If you die without a Will, unmarried and with no children or grandchildren then your estate would automatically pass in the following order:
• to your parents, or if none;
• to your whole blood siblings, or if none;
• to your half blood siblings, or if none;
• to grandparents, or if none;
• to uncles and aunts of the whole blood.
Finally, if none of the above survive you, your assets will pass to the Crown.
If you don’t already have a Will, then seek out a solicitor who can help you in the process of making one. If you don’t have a solicitor, the following will be able to help:
• the Law Society – use it’s Find a Solicitor service to find legal advice in England, Wales and Scotland;
• Law Society of Northern Ireland.
Homemade Wills are not generally recommended as often people use ambiguous wording and although it may appear perfectly clear to them, may be less obvious to others and
could result in your wishes being misunderstood, as well as causing a significant delay in resolving the estate.
Updating your Will
If you have already made a Will, it needs to be kept up to date to avoid it becoming outdated which could have severe consequences for loved ones after death. It is especially important to update your Will in the event of major life changes such as having children, getting married or divorced, buying a house, if the executor of your estate has died or moved away, or when any beneficiaries have passed away. Even if these changes don’t occur, it is always a good idea to review your Will every few years to make sure it still reflects your wishes.
Leave a Legacy
Once family and friends are taken care of, consider who else you want to help. Leaving a legacy to a charity of your choice in your Will, means you will be making a significant contribution to its vital work for future generations. No matter how small, a legacy can make a huge difference to the charity in the long term.
CATASTROPHES CAT RESCUE
Catastrophes Cat Rescue provides a lifeline for cats in desperate need.
The cats we take in have often been abandoned or badly treated. Some are simply strays who have lived on the streets and never had the chance of a caring home. With your support we can reach out to them and provide urgent veterinary care, food and warmth.
We actively support spaying and neutering as an essential part of responsible animal care.
Our unique sanctuary in the Sussex countryside gives cats that are difficult to home such as feral, nervous and elderly cats, a peaceful environment with all home comforts and the freedom of the country gardens that surround the sanctuary.
Please remember us in your will.
With your legacy we can provide homeless and unwanted cats with love and care and a bright future.
“Help us to be their someone”
Visitors welcome by appointment – Contact Liz Varney: Catastrophes Cat Rescue
Half Moon Cottage, Bakers Lane, Dallington, Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 9JS Tel: 01435 830212 Mobile: 07912 113392
lizzie@catastrophescats.org www.catastrophescats.org
Patron: Peter Egan
Catastrophes Cat Rescue
Please visit their website to donate: www.catastrophescats.org
“Help us to be their Someone” – Thank you for caring. Liz Varney – Founder 07912 113392 lizzie@catastrophescats.org
This summer saw Catastrophes Cat Rescue throw open its sanctuary gates in the Sussex countryside for a special garden party. Their patron, Peter Egan, (actor and animal activist) joined them to celebrate the opening of their new cat rehabilitation shelter. The building was donated by their generous supporters.
Peter Egan cut the blue ribbon to officially open the new facility which will provide shelter and warmth for the cats that have been given refuge at their sanctuary. Peter was thrilled to support this big step forward in providing a lifeline for cats that have been abandoned or ill-treated, as well as ferals in desperate need, who have never had the chance of love and care and veterinary treatment. Their next step forward is to raise funds for accommodation for emergency cases, so that vet treatment and recovery time can be given to ensure the cats have the best chance of a healthy future.
It’s only through the support of your kind donations that allows them to continue this vital work.
CAN YOU HELP US FIGHT PAIN?
