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By including YMCA in your Will, you can ensure that future generations have access to the resources they need to become the best version of themselves. Your legacy can empower young people to dream big, achieve their goals, and make a difference in their communities. Your legacy, their future.
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We’ve created this free booklet to help you decide.
We’ve prepared this short booklet to help you consider your options when you’re writing your Will.
It explains why having a Will is so important – for you and your loved ones. You’ll also find guidance on some of the issues you’ll need to consider, the types of gift you can leave to a charity like YMCA and the information you’ll need to provide to the professional writing your Will.
Have your Will written or updated for free.
Having an up-to-date Will is important for you, your family, and your friends. We’ve teamed up with The National Free Wills Network (NWFN) to offer our supporters the opportunity to write or amend their Wills for free.
The National Free Wills Network offers access to nearly 900 local solicitors across the UK who will prepare a simple Will or a mirror Will for couples. If you are interested, please complete the referral form below.
There is absolutely no obligation to leave a gift to YMCA when using the free will offer. But knowing how much young people rely on our work, we hope that you will consider leaving a gift in your Will to YMCA England & Wales.
‘If it weren’t for YMCA, I would still be living on the streets. But now I have a future.’ – Molly
After years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her father, Molly ran away from home. She was just 17. With no one to turn to, she soon ended up sleeping on park benches.
“It was really scary and cold—I didn’t have a sleeping bag, so I used to put all of my clothes on to try to stay warm.”
When she tried to seek help in a women’s refuge, she was referred to YMCA. It was a turning point in her life.
“Straight away, YMCA was so supportive. There was always someone I could talk to. Especially my key worker, Kirstie. She’s helped me more than I can describe.”
With a gift in your Will you can give a fair start to someone like Molly. Today, Molly is at university studying for a degree in Film Production and planning her future career. She’s turning what once seemed a distant dream into a reality. All she needed was a fair start.
With a gift in your Will, you can give the young people of tomorrow the same fair start in life—the gift of a lifetime.
We have provided answers to some commonly asked questions about leaving gifts in Wills. For more comprehensive information, you can refer to our Will Guide, which is available for free. If you wish to discuss your options for leaving a gift to YMCA confidentially, one of our Gifts in Wills team will be happy to speak with you. Please email giftsinwills@ymca.org.uk or call 020 7186 9521.
By writing your Will, you can give yourself, family and friends peace of mind, knowing that your affairs are in order and your wishes will be fulfilled after you die.
Without a valid Will, your assets are distributed according to intestacy laws, which may not be according to your wishes.
Creating a Will is an important task that requires careful consideration and attention to detail. Even a small error in the document can cause significant problems and may result in the Will being deemed invalid.
Seeking out the services of a qualified solicitor or professional Will writer to write your Will will help you make informed decisions about how to distribute your assets.
Your estate will need to be managed by someone you trust. This person is known as your executor, and they will be responsible for carrying out your wishes as outlined in your will.
Your executor can be anyone you choose, such as a close friend, relative, or solicitor.
It is important to choose someone who is reliable, organised and capable of handling the responsibilities that come with managing an estate. In addition to managing your assets and distributing them to your beneficiaries, your executor will also need to handle any debts or taxes owed by your estate.
The information you need to include in your Will, to leave a gift to YMCA England & Wales is:
You will also need to outline the type of gift you want to leave – more information about different types of gift is available in our free will guide.
YMCA relies on generous donations from people like you to support the young people we serve. Gifts in Wills account for approximately one-third of our voluntary income, which is used to fund programmes that provide support, education, and opportunities to young people.
Your gift, however small or large, can make a real difference in the life of a young person, giving them the chance to reach their full potential and achieve their dreams. By remembering YMCA in your Will, you will be helping to ensure that young people receive the support and opportunities they need to thrive in life.
If you have an existing Will and wish to include YMCA as a beneficiary, you can do so by asking a solicitor or Will writer to draft a ‘codicil’.
A codicil is a legal document that amends, modifies, or revokes provisions in an existing Will.
By adding a codicil, you can ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and that YMCA receives a share of your estate. It is important to note that a codicil must comply with the same legal requirements as a Will, so it is best to seek professional advice to ensure that your codicil is drafted correctly.
There are three different types of gifts you might like to consider.
A ‘specific gift’ is an item or possession such as jewellery, property, or shares. You can also give a ‘pecuniary gift’, which is a donation of a fixed financial amount.
Many YMCA supporters choose to leave us a ‘residuary gift’, which is a share of what remains of their estate once their other wishes have been carried out.
Including a charity like a YMCA in your Will may reduce the tax burden for other beneficiaries, because gifts to registered charities are usually tax-exempt. You can find more details of this in our free will guide. For up to date advice do discuss the tax implications of your Will with your solicitor or will writer.
Your will is a highly personal document, and you are not obliged to inform us if you have included a gift for us. However, it is helpful for our planning to know your intentions. We would also appreciate the opportunity to express our gratitude and invite you to relevant events!
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