A guide to Wills and how to help us

Transcription

1 A guide to Wills and how to help us stwh.co.uk

2 Thank you Until my son, Brad, suddenly became ill at the age of just 26 years, I wasn t aware of the work of St Wilfrid s Hospice and had no idea how significant they would become to my life. No-one expects to lose a child, it s an incredibly hard and painful experience I miss him every day but I am so grateful that St Wilfrid s was there for us, to make a difference to us all. I was surprised to learn that St Wilfrid s is an independent charity, receiving just a small percentage of funding from the NHS. They rely on the support of people like you. So, if you can help to support them with a gift in your Will, no matter the size, while still making provision for your family and friends then I know that families like mine will be incredibly grateful. Thank you. Sue Smith Making a difference We first opened our doors in 1987 and provided our specialist end of life care to 188 patients within the first twelve months. Today we meet over 900 new patients each year and strive to help each and every one of them, and their loved ones, to make the most of every day. We treat every patient as an individual, tailoring their care. We do our very best to allow patients to stay in their own homes, wherever possible, for as long as possible. Supporting them with any equipment they may need, or exercises to keep as mobile as possible. We encourage them to come to our Day Care facilities, to take part in activities, socialise and laugh. We arrange for patients to stay on our Inpatient Ward for symptom control and give their carer/s a much-needed break, as well as offering end of life care. And, our care extends to loved ones, providing support from the point of the patient s referral to beyond their death, and for as long as necessary. Key contents Making a difference...3 How will my gift help?....5 Why do I need a Will?...7 What can I leave?...9 Will preparation checklist Other useful contacts...11 As an independent charity we can only continue our work with the support of our community. We receive a small percentage of funding from the NHS towards our annual running costs of over 7m. Gifts left to us in Wills often make up more than 30 per cent of our income. Our total income Gifts in Wills Other income 2 stwh.co.uk/legacy 3

3 How will my gift help? The gifts that generous supporters leave us in their Wills vary each year but they often make up more than 30 per cent of our income. These unpredictable gifts are essential if we are to continue: Providing specialist end of life care to at least 240 patients and their loved ones at any one time. Meeting the increasing need for our care through both volume and the changing needs of patients. Three years ago, at the age of 67, I was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and immediately referred to the care of St Wilfrid s. They have been the focal point for my care and it s so reassuring to know that they re here for me and my wife. We don t hear enough about adult Hospices; most people see them as the last step before the Crematorium and who wants to know about that? But it s not like that at all! They re not here to give you weeks of life but to ensure you make the most of the time you have left, keeping you comfortable and dignified. The Hospice is comfortable and the staff are always friendly and smiling. St Wilfrid s is an incredibly important charity and I was amazed to find out that gifts left through supporters Wills allow 1 in 3 patients, like me, to be cared for. Barry Shears Ensuring as many patients as possible can access our range of vital services; care at home (including nursing and residential homes), Inpatient admission, Day Hospice, Rehabilitation, Bereavement Care, Spiritual care and more. Every year we receive more demand for our specialist care: Referrals Referrals Sadly Barry died before this guide was printed. However his wife, Carol, wished to continue in his memory and we are very grateful for this support. At St Wilfrid s we help every patient to make the most of each day; we re about living, not dying. We can only continue our vital work with the support of people like you. 4 stwh.co.uk/legacy 5

4 Why do I need a Will? When someone dies without having made a Will, the law sets out the rules which apply. Therefore, if you do not have a valid Will then your Estate (everything that you own) may not be dealt with in the way that you would choose: Any dependent children may not be cared for as you would wish. Any surviving partner does not have an automatic right to inherit unless you were married or in a civil partnership. Any pets may not be cared for by the person(s) you would nominate. Any living relatives will be sought to inherit through the intestacy rules. In the case of no living relatives, your whole Estate will pass to the Government (the Crown). You may wish a charity to benefit from your Estate. Thank you I m so proud to be a part of the St Wilfrid s Hospice nursing team. Every day I see what a difference we are making to our patients and their loved ones by helping them to make the most of every day. It s only thanks to people like you that we are able to offer our services at all. Helen Burton Staff Nurse (Inpatient Ward) It is essential that you make plans for the assets you leave when you die, however large or small. A Will is particularly important if you have dependent children and also records your wishes with regards to any pets and funeral plans. On page 10 you will find a Will preparation checklist which may help ensure you have thought of everything. Having a properly made Will should also ensure that the burden of taking care of your affairs is greatly lessened for your family and friends. 6 stwh.co.uk/legacy 7

5 What can I leave? There are three main ways that you can leave a gift to charity and your solicitor will be able to provide you with the correct wording for your Will: My husband, Ron, was referred to St Wilfrid s Hospice after he was told that all available medical treatment options to treat his prostate cancer had been exhausted. Since his referral, Ron had been under the care of the Hospice at Home team, the Inpatient Unit and also had been a regular visitor to their Day Centre. The level of care and support he received was constantly high throughout, but most importantly delivered with seamless personal and friendly attention. The Hospice s help made an incredibly difficult time for us both into a more bearable and comfortable experience. You would never wish this illness on your own worst enemy but, if it has to happen, St Wilfrid s staff and volunteers are the people you need around you. I believe that until you have experienced the level of care and dedication a patient receives, you cannot even begin to understand what the Hospice needs by way of funds to keep going. Sadly, Ron passed away at the age of 80 but I will continue to support St Wilfrid s as much as I can in memory of my husband. This includes spending time speaking to groups as a Hospice Ambassador. Angie Tenison A percentage of your estate (residuary gift) This is the remainder after all other gifts and debts have been paid. This way of giving ensures that those you care about are catered for first and the remainder can be left to causes that are important to you. A cash sum (pecuniary gift) A fixed sum of cash, however please note that over the years a fixed sum can decrease in value as the cost of living increases. Details you will need for your Will A specific item of value for example, jewellery, a painting or furniture You may have a specific item of value that you may like to leave as a gift. Items such as this would be sold at the best possible price and the funds raised will go towards running our services. To ensure that your gift reaches the Hospice without any difficulty your solicitor will need the following details: Hospice address: Our Registered Charity Number: St Wilfrid s Hospice, Grosvenor Road, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8FP At any time in the future, you of course have the absolute right to change your mind about a gift in your Will. We do not need to be advised of your wishes however, if you would like to tell us, then we would like the opportunity to thank you. 8 stwh.co.uk/legacy 9

6 Will preparation checklist Other useful contacts Before you visit your solicitor it may be useful to think about the following: The value of any property that you own. Your possessions - for example, savings, occupational and personal pensions, insurance policies, bank and building society accounts, shares. Any items of value for example, valuable jewellery or furniture. Agree who would look after any dependent children. Agree who would look after any pets. Who you would like to benefit from your Will - make a list of all the people to whom you wish to leave money or possessions. These people are known as beneficiaries. Consider wishes with regards to your funeral. Whether you wish to leave any money to charity. Decide who is going to administer your estate and carry out your wishes as set out in the Will upon your demise. These people are known as the Executors. T: T: authority.com T: T: T: wiqs-accredited 10 stwh.co.uk/legacy 11

7 Thank you for your valued support Thank you very much for considering leaving a gift to support our important work in your Will. Every year the need for our services is increasing and we rely on people like you without the support of our community we simply would not be able to continue. Alison Moorey Chief Executive If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us. All conversations will be kept confidential and please do remember that, should your circumstances change, any intended gift to the Hospice is not legally binding. We believe that your affairs are private we do not need to know your intentions and we will not ask. stwh.co.uk St Wilfrid s Hospice Grosvenor Road Chichester West Sussex PO19 8FP T E fundraising@stwh.co.uk Registered Charity in England and Wales No Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No