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A gift in your Will is a gift that will last a lifetime

Your legacy, their future.

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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Your Legacy, Their Future

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.

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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.

Free Will Writing service
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‘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.

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Your Legacy, Their Future

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Your questions answered

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.

Creating a Will is a crucial step to take to ensure that your assets and belongings are distributed according to your wishes after you pass away.

By detailing your preferences, you can avoid any confusion or potential conflicts between family members or beneficiaries. Without a Will, your assets will be distributed according to intestacy laws, which may not align with your wishes.

This can cause unnecessary distress and confusion to your loved ones during a challenging time. By creating a Will, you can give your family and friends peace of mind, knowing that your affairs are in order and your wishes will be fulfilled.

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 even result in the Will being deemed invalid. That is why it is highly recommended that you seek out the services of a qualified solicitor or professional Will writer to assist you in creating your Will.

These professionals have the knowledge and expertise to ensure that your Will is legally binding and accurately reflects your wishes. They can also advise you on any potential issues that may arise and can help you make informed decisions about how to distribute your assets.

By working with a qualified solicitor or professional Will writer, you can have peace of mind knowing that your Will is properly drafted and will be legally recognised in the event of your passing. So, take the time to find a reputable professional to assist you in creating your Will and ensure that your final wishes are carried out as you intended.

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 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.

When you plan to leave a gift to YMCA England and Wales, you will need to provide your solicitor or Will writer with our registered charity number (212810) and our address (YMCA England and Wales, 10-11 Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6EH). It is important that you inform them about the type of gift you would like to leave. You can find more information about different types of gifts 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 we utilise to fund various programmes that provide support, education, and opportunities to young people.

Leaving a gift to YMCA in your Will, regardless of its size, can have a significant impact on the lives of young people in the future. Your donation will help us provide them with the tools they need to succeed, such as educational resources, employment opportunities, and safe and affordable housing.

Your gift 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 on your beneficiaries, as gifts to registered charities are usually tax-exempt. You can find more details of this in our free will guide, but these rules change frequently, so discuss them 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 would be immensely helpful if we could know about your intentions.

This way, we can ensure that we only send you information that is useful and relevant to your circumstances and invite you to suitable events. We would also appreciate the opportunity to express our gratitude!

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