Leave a gift in your will
Create a lasting difference
What is a gift in will?
A gift in will, also known as a legacy, is a donation to a charity through your will. It can take the form of money, assets, a specific item, or a percentage of your estate. It’s a chance to make a lasting difference to the charities you care about, even after your lifetime.
Every year, it's estimated that almost 40,000 people choose to leave a gift to charity in their will, contributing nearly £4 billion annually to the UK charity sector. This type of giving is on the rise, with research showing a 40% increase over the past 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.
Write your free will
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 here.
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.
Create a lasting difference
No matter the size, a gift in your will can make a lasting difference, and is one of the most meaningful ways you can help Demelza provide extraordinary care for extraordinary children and their families.
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.
“I decided to leave a gift to Demelza in my will because I am simply amazed at the wide range of support they provide to ensure children and families live as full a life as possible in difficult circumstances. I know my gift will be well spent and enjoyed by those who need it.”
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?
While some individuals choose to leave their entire estate to a charity, it’s far more common to name multiple beneficiaries in a will—often including family, friends, and charitable organisations.
· It’s easy to support a charity in your will while providing for your loved ones first. You can name your family as main beneficiaries and leave a gift to charity from what’s left—whether that’s a set amount, a specific item, or a percentage of your estate. A solicitor can help make sure your wishes are clearly set out, or if using Farewill, the tool will guide you.
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.
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?
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?
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:
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Residual – where you leave a percentage of your estate to charity. This is inflation-proof making it most valuable.
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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.
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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?
When someone dies without a valid will, their estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy. A person who dies without a will is known as an intestate person. Under these rules, only married or civil partners and certain close relatives are entitled to inherit.
If a will exists but is not legally valid, the estate will still be divided according to intestacy laws, not according to the wishes expressed in the invalid will. To ensure your estate is shared according to your wishes, it’s important to make a legally valid will.
Still have questions? We’re here to help. Contact our fundraising team on 0300 365 3653 or email fundraising@demelza.org.uk
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:
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Making sure the property owned by the person who's died is secured as soon as possible after the death.
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Collecting all assets and money due to the estate of the person who's died (including property).
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Paying any outstanding taxes and debts (out of the estate).
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distributing the estate to the people who are entitled to it under the terms of the will.
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Arranging the funeral.
Certain costs, like funeral expenses and probate application fees, can be paid from the estate. If you're acting as an executor, a solicitor can guide you through the process, though their services will need to be paid for from the estate or by agreement.
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 gift 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 Demelza and executor.
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.