It's a common myth that only the rich and famous leave money to charity when they die. This couldn't be any further from the truth. The reality is that without the gifts left in wills by everyday people like you, many of the charities we know and support today wouldn't even exist.
Another common belief is that leaving a legacy somehow conflicts with family loyalty. This needn’t be the case. Providing for family and friends is usually a priority for people when making their will, but it is possible to do both. Even a small percentage of your estate can make a huge difference to the life of someone with a learning disability. It is also a way of making a lasting difference in the future without affecting your income and lifestyle now.
How will my gift be used?
Your gift will be put towards research, awareness-raising and changing the way that services are delivered. It will help to ensure that people with learning disabilities receive the understanding, support and care they need.
Making a real difference
A few years ago we were fortunate to receive a legacy to improve the lives of people with Down’s syndrome. We looked at recent research and talked to people with Down’s syndrome, their family members and professionals. They told us that one of their greatest concerns was what happens to young people after leaving school. They may not have enough to do during the week and they may find it difficult to keep in touch with their friends.
The gift we received enabled us to produce a booklet, called ‘What kind of a future?’ for young people, their family and friends about how to plan for the future and where to get help. The booklet is being used by families and local services across the UK to help improve the lives of young people with Down’s syndrome and we hope to publish more resources this summer.
This is just one of the many ways that a legacy gift has made a real difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities.
What kind of gift should I leave?
There are 3 different types of legacy:
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Residuary legacy - a gift of the whole or a share of whatever remains of your estate after all other gifts have been distributed and any debts paid off.
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Pecuniary legacy - a gift of a fixed sum of money. You can protect this type of gift from inflation by linking it to the Retail Price Index.
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Specific gift - a tangible item such as a house, piece of jewellery, silver teapot or car.
It doesn’t have to be a large amount – even a modest gift, maybe a share of what is left after taking care of family or friends, will make a huge difference. All legacies to a registered charity like ours are exempt from inheritance tax.
If you’d like to support the work of the Foundation, please consider leaving us a gift in your will. For more information about legacies and or making a will, please contact Stella on 020 7803 1164 or email sboulougari@mhf.org.uk
Alternatively, if you are already in a position to make your will you may like to look at our recommended wording to leave a gift to the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities.
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities is part of the Mental Health Foundation. It operates as a directorate within
the charity under its own brand identity and with its own Trustee sub-committee.
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