Gift in your will
Leaving a gift in your will is a special way to help people affected by crime in the future.
This is often referred to as ‘leaving a legacy’. It’s a common myth that you have to be wealthy to leave a gift in your will to help a charity; in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. After taking care of family and friends, you’ll be amazed at what one final gift, no matter how big or small, can do. Taking care of both your loved ones and your favourite charities is easier than you think.
A gift to Victim Support in your will helps us to continue supporting victims and witnesses of crime in the future. Last year we offered support to 814,000 people affected by crime, and our caseworkers and volunteers give emotional and practical help to anyone who needs it, regardless of the crime they have suffered.
We wouldn’t be able to offer those services and support without the generous gifts and donations we receive from members of the public. Any gift that you give is hugely appreciated, and will make a real and vital difference to people’s lives.
Why do I need a will?
It’s important to write a will to make sure that the people you care about will be provided for when the time comes. If you don’t have a will, your estate (everything you own) will be distributed according to current legislation, and if you have no surviving relatives, the government is entitled to everything.
How can I make a will?
If you want to leave a legacy to Victim Support, there’s no specific wording you need to use – you just need to include our charity registration number: 298028.
We do recommend that you contact a solicitor or will writer for impartial guidance.
When the time is right, please take a moment to do something amazing and leave a lasting legacy by including Victim Support in your will. If you plan to leave a gift to us in your will please do let us know, as we would like to say thank you.
For more information about leaving a gift in your will to Victim Support, please contact our fundraising team by email on email fundraising@victimsupport.org.uk.
Free will writing service
We all want to make sure that our loved ones are taken care of in the future. By writing a will, you can make sure that your money, property and possessions go to the people and causes that you care about after you die. But it’s one of those things we often put off.
That’s why Victim Support has teamed up with Bequeathed to offer our supporters a free ‘Will For Good’.
Bequeathed is a free, convenient service that allows you to make the right will for your needs in the way that suits you best, always with good legal advice.
You can get started straight away by visiting the Bequeathed website:
- Complete the online will interview, with support and guidance available throughout the process.
- Receive automated legal advice in the form of recommendations, and sometimes requirements, from Bequeathed’s solicitor.
- Book a legal appointment to discuss any of these in more detail. Or, if a free basic will is suitable for you, choose the convenience of receiving it without an appointment.
- Receive your will with a letter of advice summarising the advice you’ve been given, along with instructions on signing and witnessing your will correctly.
There is no obligation to leave a gift in your will. However, after making sure any loved ones are looked after, it would be wonderful if you, or supporters, decided to leave a gift to Victim Support.
For most people, the 30 minutes of legal expertise offered will be all they need. People with more complex circumstances will need to pay for additional advice. The legal firm will provide a quote, and it’s up to you whether to accept. You can find out more here.