Website by
Ricom Productions

Leaving A Legacy

BIRD depends on legacies to continue its work.

No matter how small the contribution, a legacy gift is important because it shows that people are appreciative of the work we do at some of the most poignant moments in life - and that is incredibly motivating to the people 'at the coal face.' By remembering BIRD in their wills, people are helping the organisation to continue its life-changing work into the future.

Ideally, people tell us that they have made a bequest in their will at the time they make it. In this way, we get to hear about what has moved someone to remember us many years before their death, which in turn helps motivate staff and volunteers and helps the whole organisation plan ahead.

Making a will is a straightforward task for most people, but still around 70% of people in the UK die "intestate" i.e. without having made a will. When a person dies intestate, the law decides how the assets are inherited.

Many people who do make a will and decide to remember a chosen charity - do so for tax efficiency as gifts to charities are tax exempt. The legacy reaches the charity through a specified gift or a residuary will, where the remainder of an estate comes to the organisation after all other disbursements have been made.

When someone hasnt made a will, it can cause huge problems for family and loved ones, just at a time when they least want to think about practical matters. Even where circumstances are seemingly clear cut, complications can arise and the whole process takes longer than it need do. Quite simply, leaving a will is the only way to guarantee that your estate is distributed as you would wish and it can help avoid expensive inheritance tax duties.

Writing a will is especially important if you have children or others dependent on you for whom you need to appoint a guardian. A will makes life so much better for those left behind in more ways than one.

To leave a bequest in your will, please contact the Centre by mail, e-mail, or phone for a free guide.

fundraising@b-i-r-d.org.uk
Tel: 01244 678629