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Leave a gift in your will to Demelza

Create a legacy of generosity

Image of sensory play with child and staff

What is a gift in will?

A gift in will, also known as a legacy, is a donation to a charity through your will. This could be through assets, money, a specific item or percentage of your estate. It gives you the opportunity to make a difference to charities you care about beyond your lifetime.

It is estimated that almost 40,000 people leave gifts to charities in their wills every year contributing almost £4billion annually to the charity sector. Research suggests this is a growing trend, with a 40% increase in this type of giving over the last decade.

Whilst some people will occasionally leave their entire estate to a charity, it is more common for people to have several beneficiaries named, including family and charities.

Create a lasting difference

Leaving a gift in your will is one of the most meaningful and lasting ways you can support Demelza’s vital work and currently raises £2.2million a year.

As the demand for our services continues to rise, a gift left in your will means we can be there for more children and their families when we’re needed most, today, tomorrow and for years to come.

We realise that the decision to leave a gift in your will is a big choice to make, but every gift, whether large or small, makes a huge difference.

Garden at Demelza Kent — Rebecca Demelza supporter

Will writing FAQs

I’ve already made a will – can I add in a gift to Demelza?

Yes – depending on the extent of the changes you wish to make, you may be able to use a codicil – a simple form setting out your wishes, which needs to be signed and witnessed. We recommend you ask your solicitor when making amendments to your will to ensure you are not invalidating what you already have. This process can also be used if your circumstances change or you change your mind about leaving a gift to Demelza.

Is it worth leaving a small gift?

Absolutely – all gifts, no matter how large or small ensure Demelza can continue to provide extraordinary care to extraordinary children in your local community.

I’d like to ensure my family are provided for first – how can I do this?

Whilst some people will occasionally leave their entire estate to a charity, it is far more common for people to have several beneficiaries, including family and charities.

What is inheritance tax and does leaving a gift to a charity affect this?

Inheritance tax is the tax due on your estate when you die. Gifts to charities are tax free, taken out before tax is calculated and if you leave more than 10% of your estate to charity, it can reduce the amount of tax you pay overall. We advise you to seek legal advice on inheritance tax and how this will affect your estate but the government website has a useful overview.

Read here

What do I need to include to leave a gift to Demelza in my will and do I need to let you know?

You need to include our full name, address and registered charity number: Demelza Hospice Care for Children, Rook Lane, Bobbing, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8DZ, charity number 1039651. You don’t have to let us know, but it is really helpful if you do so we can plan accordingly. It also gives us the opportunity to update you on our work and the difference you are making to families of children with serious or life-limiting conditions in your community.

Can I decide what my gift is spent on?

Whilst unrestricted gifts are always our preference, as it means it can be used when and where it’s needed most, we appreciate that you may have a special preference as to where your gift is spent. We can restrict gifts to an area (Kent, South East London or East Sussex) or a certain service or element of our work. Please contact us if you would like to discuss restricting a gift in your will.

Who can help me to write a will?

You can write a free will from the comfort of your own home in around 15 minutes through www.farewill.com where you can leave a gift to Demelza at the same time.

We’ve teamed up with a free will-writing service, Farewill which takes around 15 minutes to complete online. There is no obligation to leave a gift, but we hope you choose to. Just use the code “DEMELZA2” at checkout.

If you have already included Demelza in your Will or plan to do so, we would love to hear from you - contact Legacy Assistant Sarah Springett at sarah.springett@demelza.org.uk or on 01622 232055.

What kind of gift can I leave Demelza?

We always recommend consulting a solicitor when writing your will as there are many ways to leave a gift to Demelza. However, broadly there are three main types of gifts people leave:

Residual – where you leave a percentage of your estate to charity. This is inflation-proof making it most valuable.

Pecuniary – a lump sum – Where you choose a fixed amount of money to leave. As costs increase over time, this can somewhat lose its original value.

Specific gift – this is usually an item within your estate, such as property, a car or jewellery.

How will my gift impact Demelza?

Around 12% of Demelza annual income comes from gifts in wills – it provides long-term sustainable income to the charity enabling us to continue to deliver extraordinary care to extraordinary children in your community.

“Leaving a gift in your will is one of the most valuable and lasting ways you can support Demelza and any gift will help us continue to provide extraordinary care to extraordinary children in the future. A gift of any size will positively impact the lives of children and young people with serious or life-limiting conditions throughout Kent, South East London and East Sussex.

"Our specialist nursing and care teams provide expert support with complex symptoms and medication regimes and are here every day and every night, all year round.” - Dave Winch, Deputy Director of Nursing

What happens if I don’t have a will?

If someone dies without leaving a valid will, their estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy. This means only married or civil partners and certain close relatives can inherit, regardless of what the person may have wanted. Even if a will exists, if it’s not legally valid (i.e. signed by two adult witnesses and in writing, either printed or handwritten) the estate will still be shared out according to these rules rather than the wishes expressed in the will.

When a person dies without leaving a valid will, their property (the estate) must be shared out according to certain rules. These are called the rules of intestacy. A person who dies without leaving a will is called an intestate person. Only married or civil partners and some other close relatives can inherit under the rules of intestacy. If someone makes a will but it is not legally valid, the rules of intestacy decide how the estate will be shared out, not the wishes expressed in the will.

Still have questions? We’re here to help. Contact our fundraising team on 0300 365 3653 or email fundraising@demelza.org.uk

Request our comprehensive guide to leaving a gift in your will

Information for executors

A brief guide to your responsibilities as an executor

a. What is an executor?

As an executor, you have been entrusted to carry out a person’s wishes as set out in their will.

You will have several responsibilities including:

Making sure the property owned by the person who's died is secured as soon as possible after the death.

Collecting all assets and money due to the estate of the person who's died (including property).

Paying any outstanding taxes and debts (out of the estate).

distributing the estate to the people who are entitled to it under the terms of the will.

Arranging the funeral.

Expenses from the estate for your work, such as funeral costs and grant of probate application fees. Solicitors can help you with your role as an executor, though you'll need to pay them for their time.

b. How do I know the charity information I have is correct?

Demelza’s full name, address and registered charity number are Demelza Hospice Care for Children, Rook Lane, Bobbing, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8DZ, charity number 1039651. You can check all charity details at About the register of charities.

c. When should I contact you about a gift in a will?

We would be grateful if you would let us know as soon as possible about a gift in will to Demelza. This will enable us to support you as the executor, remove the person who has died from our mailing lists to as not to cause unnecessary distress to families whilst ensuring the family is thanked promptly and kept up to date on the impact the git has made. We understand that this is not an easy task and may take time to complete, but if you could keep us updated on the progress, we would be grateful.

d. How do I transfer money to Demelza?

Please contact Demelza at sarah.springett@demelza.org.uk or call 01622 232055 so we can ensure all money is banked correctly and the relevant paperwork is completed by the Demelza and the solicitor.

e. How do I deal with a cash sum left to Demelza?

We would be grateful if you could share with us the will clause related to the gift – this will ensure we are legally compliant with the charity commission and our auditors.

f. How do I deal with a percentage the estate?

We would be grateful if you would send us a copy of the will and schedule of assets and liabilities. When you are ready to make the gift, please provide the executors statement of account, detailing all transactions and amount payable to Demelza.

If multiple charities are named in the will, we often collaborate, appointing a lead charity to streamline the process and minimise your correspondence.

g. What do I do if a specific item has been gifted to Demelza?

Please contact us at sarah.springett@demelza.org.uk or call 01622 232055 to talk about any item gifted to Demelza and how to ensure we receive it.