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.
