Leave a Lasting Legacy
A legacy is one of the most valuable gifts we can receive. They not only allow us to plan for the future, but also save valuable time fundraising and enable us to instead concentrate our efforts on what really matters - finding a vaccine.
Making a gift in your will to Meningitis UK is one of the best ways you can help drive forward our research to find a vaccine for meningitis and keep more families together.
Why make a Will?
Making a will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out when you are no longer here, and to ensure the financial security of your loved ones. Current legislation also means that if you don't plan properly, a substantial part of what you leave may go to the State.
Why Meningitis UK?
Meningitis is a terrifying condition which strikes with incredible speed and can devastate families and whole communities. A child can go from perfect health to being in a life threatening condition in less than four hours. One in ten victims will die, and a high proportion of those who survive will be left with devastating after-effects, such as loss of limbs, deafness and brain damage.
Developing a vaccine to protect against all forms of meningitis is the only way to successfully eradicate the disease and prevent its devastating consequences.
Significant progress has already been made in combating the disease in the UK, with the introduction vaccines to protect against Hib in 1992, meningococcal group C in 1999, and most recently pneumococcal meningitis in September 2006, which have significantly reduced cases of these forms.
However, unfortunately, there is still no vaccine available to protect against the most common form of the disease in the UK - meningococcal group B, which accounts for almost 90% of all cases. This is our biggest remaining challenge and obviously, the more support we get, the sooner a vaccine can be developed and the less lives will be lost or dramatically changed.
Read some of the personal experiences of those who have survived or lost loved ones to meningitis
Benefits to You
Apart from the peace of mind of knowing that your gift will live on to make a difference, a gift Meningitis UK will be exempt from Inheritance Tax, so can reduce the tax burden on your estate.
Under current legislation, if the value of your estate is more than the ‘nil-rate' band (currently £312,000 as of 2008/09) your beneficiaries will have to pay Inheritance Tax (currently 40% as of 2008/09) on anything beyond this.
If you donated enough to bring the total value of the estate below the ‘nil-rate' band, no Inheritance Tax would need to be paid.
Further details about Inheritance Tax is available on the Inland Revenue website
How to make a legacy to Meningitis UK
If you are planning to make or amend your will, it's worth seeking legal advice and talking through your plans with a solicitor who will be able to advise on the best options available to you. If you already have a will in place and only want to make a minor addition or change, it is often possible to do this by adding a Codicil Form.
Most people choose to leave either a share of their estate or a fixed sum of money as a legacy. It is worth noting that a percentage share of your estate should hold its value over time, whereas a fixed sum will probably decrease in value over time as inflation increases.
To assist you in making a gift to Meningitis UK, we have included some suggested wording below, which you can ask your solicitor or will writer to include in your will.
Share of Estate (Residuary Legacy)
I give all (or _%) of the residue of my real and personal estate to Spencer Dayman Meningitis UK (Working name 'Meningitis UK' - Registered Charity No. 1076774, 25 Cleeve Wood Road, Downend, Bristol BS16 2SF) and direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or duly authorised officer of Meningitis UK shall be a valid and appropriate form of discharge to my Executors.
Fixed Sum (Pecuniary Legacy)
I give the sum of (amount in figures and words) to Spencer Dayman Meningitis UK (Working name 'Meningitis UK' - Registered Charity No. 1076774, 25 Cleeve Wood Road, Downend, Bristol BS16 2SF) and direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or duly authorised officer shall be a valid and appropriate form of discharge.
It is important to ensure that the following wording is also inserted, whichever wording you use:
If at my death any charity named as a beneficiary in this Will or any Codicil hereto has changed its name or amalgamated with or transferred its assets to another body, then my Executors shall give effect to any gift made to such charity as if it had been made (in the first case) to the body in its changed name or (in the second place) to the body which results from such amalgamation or to which such transfer has been made.
Please always give the official charity name, address and registered charity number to your solicitor.
Charity Name: Spencer Dayman Meningitis UK (Working name 'Meningitis UK')
Registered Charity No: 1076774
Address: 25 Cleeve Wood Road, Downend, Bristol BS16 2SF
Further Information
If you would prefer to speak to someone in person, have any queries or would like further information, please call Kate Rowland on 0117 302 6197 or email katerowland@meningitisUK.org Please rest assured that any information you share with us will be treated in the strictest confidence.
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774
