Make an impact: The power of leaving a legacy in your Will

Leaving a legacy gift in your Will is the perfect way to honour a charity that has touched your life or the life of someone you love. Here, we explain more about legacy giving and how you can leave a legacy in your Will.

Legacy gifts are hugely important to charities as they provide a substantial amount of the funds needed to continue their mission and change lives.

For us, donations and legacy gifts are crucial to supporting our work with families affected by stillbirth and infant loss. 

How do I leave a legacy gift?

Consult with a legal professional about leaving a legacy gift in your Will and decide if it’s the right option for you. 

It is a straight-forward, simple option for people that are wanting to make a mark and use their legacy for good.

For more advice on making Will, take a look at the Remember a Charity ‘Making a Will – your complete guide.’

What options are available to me?

Across the UK, one third of people with a Will have chosen to include a legacy donation and will be remembered for their generosity by their chosen charity and its beneficiaries.

There are different options available depending on your circumstances and preferences.

  • A single donation – Also known as a pecuniary legacy, this is a set amount of your choosing and is a popular option for many people looking to leave a gift in their Will.
  • A share of your estate – Also known as a residuary legacy, this is a percentage of what remains of your estate after all other expenses have been paid. It is a flexible option that adapts to your circumstances, without you needing to spend time changing your Will.
  • An item – Gifting an item of value such as an antique or a painting, is a great way to show your support and appreciation.

How we’re making a difference

Forever Stars is an East Midlands charity dedicated to supporting families who’ve suffered a stillbirth or infant loss. 

Since we formed in 2014, we have embarked on a series of projects to provide comfort and support to families impacted by baby loss. These have included:

  • The development of two Serenity Suites – one at the Queen’s Medical Centre and one at the City Hospital – these purpose-built bereavement suites allow families to stay together and spend precious moments with their families.
  • The development of the Serenity Garden, providing a special place for families to remember their babies.
  • Setting up the Serenity Centre in Beeston, which provides workshops and activities for families impacted by baby loss. We also hold sibling counselling sessions at the Centre.

We have recently launched our Supporting 1 in 4 in 2024 campaign to raise money to revamp Ward 23 (the miscarriage ward) at the Queen’s Medical Centre, to provide support and comfort for those impacted by miscarriage.

We are planning to renovate the waiting room and garden located on the ward, to provide a more comforting environment for those families who need to use the ward.. As a small, volunteer-led charity, a project like this is no easy feat and we’re currently raising £50,000 to fund the initiative.

Your gifts and donations will ensure we can continue to work on projects like this in the future and create additional safe spaces in more hospitals. 

Daniel and Laura shared their story with us after spending time in our Serenity Suite in 2016:

“We were able to use the Serenity Suite to spend time with Harrison and he had a naming ceremony there before we had to say goodbye… It was far removed from the hectic ward that is the labour suite and provided us and our extended family time alone with Harrison. It was after using the suite that we realised there is very little that can help heal the pain of your child dying but helping support and raise money for Forever Stars would give us a positive purpose and keeps Harrison’s name alive.”

If legacy giving is not the right option for you, there are many ways you can get involved and support our journey. We are always in need of fundraisers and volunteers to support our cause and raise awareness. Learn more about Forever Stars and how you can support our mission here.

Interimconsult case study

Forever Stars is an independent, volunteer-run charity that relies heavily on donations. As such, support from local organisations is crucial in helping us to continue to provide support for baby loss families.

We work hard to build long-standing relationships with our corporate supporters to help them maximise the various benefits that supporting a charity provides. In this case study, we speak to Paul Corcoran, Managing Director of Interimconsult, one of our valued corporate supporters. Here, Paul shares more about how Interimconsult supports Forever Stars. 

How did your partnership with Forever Stars begin?

As a purpose-led consultancy, supporting our local community is extremely important to us. We launched the company during Covid, and during this time provided support to a number of local food banks. We then decided to explore other local causes we could support. It was actually my wife who first mentioned Forever Stars. When I looked into the charity in more detail, I was quite shocked at the lack of facilities available for those who experience baby loss.

Why Forever Stars?

When I first met with Forever Stars, it was clear that we shared similar values and that the support I was able to provide would help to make a difference. Richard, Michelle and the Forever Stars team are an inspiration and work tirelessly to fundraise to provide a variety of facilities and support to local families. They are also keen to build long-standing relationships with their supporters.

How have you supported the charity?

Over the past couple of years, we’ve supported the charity by donating 1% of our annual sales. We’re also looking to support their recently launched Beyond Breakfast events and their latest campaign, ‘Supporting 1 in 4 in 2024’.

How has supporting Forever Stars benefitted Interimconsult?

Purpose and social impact is a key part of our ethos at Interimconsult and building a relationship with Forever Stars has enabled us to help make a difference in our local community. Our 1% initiative also provides us with an opportunity to reach out to our clients to thank them for their support, we couldn’t do it without them.

What advice would you give to other organisations looking to establish similar partnerships?

I’d suggest that they select a charity that aligns with their values and principles. I’d also advise choosing a charity that is open to building a relationship. 

About Interimconsult

Interimconsult is a customer-centric consultancy with hands-on experience in business leadership, strategy development, sales, marketing, innovation, artificial intelligence and complex programme and initiative delivery.

Find out more: https://interimconsult.co.uk/ 

Become a corporate supporter

To find out more about how your organisation can support Forever Stars, email: enquiries@foreverstars.org or visit our corporate partner’s website page. 

SMS Electronics Case Study

Forever Stars is an independent, volunteer-run charity that heavily relies on donations. As such, support from local organisations is crucial in helping us continue to provide support for baby loss families.

We work hard to build long-standing relationships with our corporate supporters to help them maximise the various benefits that supporting a charity provides. In this case study, we speak to Sarah, HR Business Partner at SMS Electronics (Smart Made Simple), one of our long-standing corporate supporters. Here, Sarah shares more about how SMS supports Forever Stars and the associated benefits.

How did your partnership with Forever Stars begin?

We first engaged with Forever Stars before the Covid pandemic and re-engaged once lockdown restrictions were lifted. At SMS, our ethos focuses on building relationships with each other, our customers, and our local community; it makes sense that we also build strong relationships with the charities we support.

Why Forever Stars?

Having a long-standing history in Beeston, choosing a local charity to support was important to us. When we first met Forever Stars, we could tell straight away that they were passionate about supporting local families and keen to develop a relationship with us, making it an easy decision. We are a family-friendly organisation, so this, coupled with the strong local focus, really resonated with us.

How have you supported the charity?

Over the years, we’ve undertaken a range of activities to help raise money for the charity. From company-wide fundraising events, such as our annual BBQ, to individual employees embarking on various challenges like the Three Peaks and Tough Mudder, there’s been a fantastic mix. The company also matches any money we raise, giving the fundraising pot a nice boost!

How has supporting Forever Stars benefitted SMS?

Building a long-term relationship with Forever Stars has benefited us in many ways. The fundraising activities have been a great way to enhance our employee engagement. Our team enjoys getting involved, and the summer BBQ is always a highlight! At SMS, we have a strong set of values, and genuine engagement with our local community is part of that. This has significantly helped with our recruitment.

What advice would you give to other organisations looking to establish similar partnerships?

Firstly, I’d suggest they choose a charity that resonates with their colleagues to help encourage engagement. Secondly, it’s important to build a genuine relationship with whichever charity you choose and support as much as you can. Finally, I’d always recommend supporting the charity for longer than a year. Doing so will allow you to build momentum and forge a much stronger relationship.

About SMS

SMS is the U.K.’s leading Manufacturing Service Provider, based in Beeston, Nottingham since 1920. From concept to creation, commercialisation to customer, for all technology companies. Whether you are a start-up or an established household brand name, if you have a design, engineering, manufacturing, or supply chain challenge, SMS, with its diverse experience and scalable service, has the solution.

Become a corporate supporter

To find out more about how your organisation can support Forever Stars, email: enquiries@foreverstars.org or visit our corporate partner’s website page. 

Beyond Business: Networking with a difference

Early in March we were delighted to launch our first Beyond Business networking club.

The first event took place at the Cornmill in Chilwell, Nottingham and we welcomed over 40 people from a variety of local businesses. The atmosphere was amazing – there was a real buzz in the air!

Our aim with our Beyond Business events is to create a networking club that is more than just exchanging business cards, we want to create a friendly and supportive environment where people can develop some great business relationships and purposeful connections with local businesses.

As our first event coincided with the launch of our latest campaign ‘Supporting 1 in 4 in 2024’, we thought it provided the perfect opportunity to provide attendees with a sneak peek of the campaign. Lucy Groves, Matron of Ward A23 at the QMC shared more about miscarriage and how the campaign will provide vital comfort and support for those families impacted. We also heard from Chantelle Taylor-Walster, who bravely shared her personal experience of miscarriage and how our campaign can make a huge difference to people experiencing this traumatic experience. You can find out more about our campaign on the ‘Supporting 1 in 4’ website page.

Guests were also served (huge!) delicious breakfast rolls and refreshments, which certainly helped to perk everyone up on an extremely wet day.

The feedback from guests was really positive, with many taking to LinkedIn to share pictures from their morning, along with requests for more events.

We’re planning to hold a Beyond Business event once a quarter. We’re already making plans for the next one and are in talks with a very interesting guest speaker. If you’d like to be informed of future events, please complete this form and we’ll keep you updated: Beyond Business registration form.

In the meantime, here are a few pics from the event:

Two people talking People chatting People networking Two people with a Supporting 1 in 4 in 2024 signThree people talking people talking   Four people holding a charity sign Two people with a sign

 

 

 



Nottingham baby loss charity issues plea for help from local businesses for DIY SOS style QMC project

Baby loss charity Forever Stars has issued an urgent plea to local people, businesses, artists and workers for help with a DIY SOS-style makeover project for Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) Nottingham’s Ward A23 and its garden, where families suffering baby loss through miscarriage receive specialist care and support.

With approximately 10 families seeking support on QMC’s Ward A23 each day, it plays a pivotal role in providing treatment and emotional assistance during tough times, and represents a crucial place for families experiencing baby loss before 20 weeks.

Richard and Michelle holding a Supporting 1 in 4 in 2024 board“Miscarriage is the most common kind of pregnancy loss, affecting around one in four pregnancies,”
explains Forever Stars’ co-founder Richard Daniels. “Despite its prevalence, the emotional toll it takes on families often goes unspoken, leading to a silent suffering for many. Forever Stars recognises the need to address this sensitive issue, and provide essential support to those affected by miscarriage. We want
to provide as much support as possible to those experiencing baby loss, and so are launching our ‘Supporting 1 in 4 for 2024’ Campaign’.”

The charity – created by Richard and his wife Michelle following the stillbirth of their daughter Emily on 19 December 2013 – has pledged to raise £50,000 from donations, fundraising and financial support from local businesses for the Campaign. The money will be used to finance the renovation and improvement of Ward A23’s clinical and non-clinical areas.

The money will also be used to cover work and materials to completely redesign and refit a garden adjoining the Ward, to transform it into a more useable, inviting and appropriate sanctuary space for
patients and their families.

“A23 has a fantastic team that supports families dealing with baby loss,” Richard says. “However, the limited funding allocated to A23 primarily caters for essential medical support, leaving the surroundings in need of attention. A23 is a busy area, often with the feeling of an A&E ward due to the nature of activities on the ward. We really want to create a better environment for families whilst they wait for treatment or a consultation, at what is a very difficult and scary time.”

Forever Stars has already begun work to transform two of A23’s treatment rooms, to create spaces that not only meet clinical requirements but also acknowledge the emotional needs of families going through miscarriage.

The charity knows that for the 1 in 4 Campaign to truly succeed, it desperately needs more than just financial support to make the renovation of the outside space possible.

Richard explains: “In addition to A23’s vital role in providing medical support, it has the rarity of a garden space, which is a sanctuary where families can retreat to try and deal with the weight of their loss. It’s also a valuable waiting area for fathers, and somewhere siblings can get fresh air and be kept occupied and distracted playing with toys while the rest of the family receives treatment. But, the garden requires a lot of attention.

“While Forever Stars’ team never stops fundraising to help support baby loss families, this major campaign is a big challenge, but one we are meeting head on. But we desperately need help, donations and resources from as many people and businesses as possible to not only support us in raising the funds we believe are necessary to develop what will be a truly special environment for the families, but also to donate their skills, time, materials, and talents,” explains Richard.

In particular, the charity is hoping for help from local artists to paint large scale murals on outside walls, and a number of specific items and equipment to make the project complete:

  • Outside covered areas, seating, heating and lighting
  • Audio systems
  • Artificial grass
  • Bedding plants
  • Children’s outdoor tools

“This is one of our biggest ever challenges, and something we know we can’t do alone. We need as many people as possible to join our fundraising efforts to help us to create a truly special environment for the families that need to use the ward. Support – big or small – can make a genuine difference to the lives of families across the East Midlands who rely on A23 during their miscarriage journey,” says Richard.

Forever Stars officially launched its ‘Supporting 1 on 4 for 2024’ campaign on 1 March 2024. Anyone wishing to donate their time, expertise or materials, or fundraise for the charity and this campaign, can email: enquiries@foreverstars.org

Visit the ‘Supporting 1 in 4 in 2024’ campaign page.

Richard Daniels is available for interview. To arrange, and for any further information / media enquiries please contact:
Diane Wood, PR Consultant, DWPR
E: diane@diane-wood.co.uk

The business benefits of having a ‘Charity of the Year’

In the world of corporate social responsibility, picking a ‘Charity of the Year’ isn’t just a nice gesture—it’s a game-changer. As well as being a way to contribute to charities that are important to you and your business, designating a ‘Charity of the Year’ also has a number of other benefits that shouldn’t be overlooked.  In this article, we share some of the business benefits of having a ‘Charity of the Year’.

 

Unifying purpose

Designating a ‘Charity of the Year’ allows you to rally behind a common cause, creating a shared sense of purpose among employees, customers, and stakeholders. This unity can foster a positive work culture, enhancing morale and team cohesion.

Many charities provide the opportunity for supporters to get ‘hand-on’ with some of their projects, providing the purposeful team-building opportunities.

Have more impact

By concentrating efforts on a specific charity, you can channel their resources more effectively, maximising the impact on a particular cause. This focused approach not only increases the visibility of the chosen charity but also amplifies the benefits for your organisation.

Enhanced corporate image

Associating with a charitable cause demonstrates a commitment to social responsibility and the community. This can significantly enhance you corporate image, fostering goodwill among customers who are increasingly prioritising supporting businesses with a genuine dedication to making a positive impact. And, it can also help you to attract employees who want to work at organisations that are committed to giving back.

Employee engagement and satisfaction

Participating in charitable initiatives fosters a sense of pride and fulfilment among employees. When individuals feel that their workplace aligns with their values, it enhances job satisfaction, employee retention, and overall engagement.

Some organisations also encourage their employees to get actively involved with selecting their ‘Charity of the Year’ by asking them to submit their suggestions, creating an engagement with the initiative right from the off.

Community building

Establishing a Charity of the Year creates opportunities for you to actively engage with the community. Whether through volunteer programmes, fundraising events, or collaborative projects, these efforts strengthen the ties between your businesses and the local or global community you aim to serve.

Long-term relationships

Building a lasting partnership with a charity will enable you to make a sustained difference. Establishing long-term relationships allows for more strategic planning, ensuring a continuous and evolving impact on the chosen cause.

Creating a meaningful relationship with a charity will be mutually beneficial, particularly if the chosen charity is committed to working in partnership to enhance the benefits for you and your organisation. Small charities are often more open to developing a long-term relationship and developing a bespoke arrangement that benefits everyone.

Designating a ‘Charity of the Year’ is not just a gesture of goodwill, or a ‘nice to do’; it’s a strategic decision that increases employee engagement, enhances brand reputation, and contributes significantly to social change. By aligning your business goals with social responsibility, and choosing the right charity partner, you can create a meaningful and lasting impact.

At Forever Stars, we build long-standing relationships with our corporate supporters to help them maximise the opportunities that supporting a charity provides. Some of our corporate supporters like to get really involved, whilst others prefer a more low-key arrangement.

Here are just a few examples of how we can work with you to maximise the benefits of supporting us:

  • Opportunities to get ‘hands-on’ with our projects, creating a team-building opportunities for employees
  • Fundraising ideas, advice and support
  • Advice on how you can support employees with baby loss
  • Attendance at corporate events and meetings to share more about Forever Stars
  • Branding and sponsorship opportunities
  • Networking opportunities that allow you to network with a diverse range of local businesses
  • Entertaining opportunities at Forever Stars events

To find out more about supporting Forever Stars, contact: Richard.daniels@foreverstars.org or visit our corporate partner’s website page. 

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