Could you

care for a

child

with a gift in your Will?

A guide to leaving a legacy to Acorns Children’s Hospice

“We couldn’t have got through it without Acorns.” Darrell & Louise Whiting, Megan’s parents

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Contents How your gift could make a difference

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What does Acorns Children’s Hospice do?

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Questions you may have about leaving a gift in your Will How to make or change your Will

7–8 9

Our commitments to you

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You can make a difference

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Could you care for a local child with a gift in your Will?

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How your gift could make a difference Darrell & Louise’s story

When their daughter Megan was born, she was jaundiced so had to stay in hospital and then, at just six days old, the family were given the shock news that she needed a liver transplant. The operation was a success but a biopsy picked up another problem and after tests, the family were dealt a second blow that Megan had the metabolic disease, Niemann-Pick. This disease affects organ function and symptoms can include loss of motor skills, learning difficulties, seizures, clumsiness and walking problems. Louise and Darrell were told about the services of Acorns Children’s Hospice and started by using the hospice for

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day visits when Megan was three years old; staying with her while she joined in activities such as dressing up and arts and crafts. She would also make visits to go in the hydrotherapy pool with a physiotherapist. Megan was transferred to the hospice for end-of-life care more than once and died at Acorns aged five years old. The family chose to use the special bedroom where a child can stay after death and before their funeral. Acorns remains a part of Louise and Darrell’s life with the family still receiving the support of the same community team worker who was the first person they met from Acorns.

What does Acorns Children’s Hospice do? Acorns Children’s Hospice is the only organisation in the heart of England offering a network of specialist care and ongoing support for children who are life limited or life threatened and their families.

funding. Donations in Wills are a hugely important way for people to support Acorns. Without them our ability to provide the vital care services to the children who we currently care for across the region would be compromised.

When it opened its first hospice in 1988, Acorns was only the third children’s hospice in the world. Acorns now has three 10-bed children’s hospices in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester and a dedicated Community Team to offer support in the home environment. We currently provide tailored nursing care, short breaks, emergency and end-of-life care for over 630 children who require a diverse range of specialist medical and palliative support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

You can help us continue to work to our vision that every child or young person who is life limited or life threatened in our region, and their families, should receive the specialist care and support they need.

As a charity, and with running costs of over £8m a year, Acorns relies on community support for the majority of

There are an additional 1,300 (estimated) families with children who have life limiting or life threatening conditions within the heart of England who could benefit from the care and support Acorns provides. Acorns plays a vital role across the heart of England in not only offering a lifeline to families but ultimately celebrating and fulfilling the lives these children have.

“Acorns is not about sick children sat around on machines - it’s a cheerful and relaxing place and you never see an unhappy child. Some of our best times with Meggy were at Acorns. If we could go back in time, we would have gone earlier.” Darrell & Louise Whiting, Megan’s parents 5

“We still have bad days and know the support is there if we need to talk about our problems.” Darrell & Louise Whiting, Megan’s parents

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Questions you may have about leaving a gift in your Will Isn’t my Will a private matter? Absolutely. It is a legal document and completely confidential. The only way anyone should find out about the contents of your Will is if you tell them. If you wish to tell us your intentions, we’d love to hear from you, so that we can say thank you. You may even wish to visit one of our hospices to see how your money would be spent.

I’m not wealthy, can I afford to leave a gift in my Will? Every gift we receive, no matter how large or small, will make a vital difference to the care and support we provide. However you choose to remember us, you can be sure that you will make a real and lasting contribution to the lives of children we care for at Acorns. Your

memory will live on in the smiles on the faces of Acorns children.

remaining 12p to raise the next £1.

Once you have cared for your loved ones, leaving a proportion of the remainder of your estate is a great way of making a difference to a cause you care about.

yysupport over 630 life limited or life threatened children

Will my money be put to good use? Your gift will help us achieve our vision: Every child or young person who is life limited or life threatened in our region, and their families, should receive the specialist care and support they need. Every donation we receive is directed towards us being able to provide a wide range of care and support to life limited or life threatened children, young people and their families. For every pound received, 88p is spent on providing the vital care and support that our children and their families rely on. We use the

With your help we can continue to:

yyprovide support for over 880 families yyprovide specialist care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year yyhelp to make every moment a special memory

Would it be better to help now rather than later? We are extremely thankful to everyone who chooses to support our work, whenever and however they choose to do so. Leaving a gift in your Will costs nothing during your lifetime but could make a huge difference in the future. There will always be a need for our services, we cannot change the fact that a child

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will die but we can provide specialist care for them. Gifts in Wills will help us continue to support local life limited or life threatened children and help them to make the most of their short lives.

How do I make or change my Will?

Yes, your inheritance tax bill can be reduced by leaving a gift to a charity, such as Acorns Children’s Hospice. Your

Acorns Children’s Hospice advises anyone making or updating a Will to seek independent advice from a practicing solicitor or other legally qualified Will writer. Examples of suggested wording can be found on page 9.

Here’s how your gift can help

£7,500 will pay to run one of Acorns

Does leaving a gift to charity affect my inheritance tax bill?

These are indicative examples of how legacy pledges can be used.

£193 will pay for support for one sibling for a year.

£750 will pay for one day of care for a

£19,333 will pay for sibling support at one hospice for a year.

What to leave to whom?

£45,000 will pay for a physiotherapist for a year.

£1,001 will pay for an Acorns family

catering staff for all three hospices for one year.

maintenance of the hydrotherapy services at a hospice for one year.

What have I got to leave?

hospices for a day.

£123,500 will pay for the food and

£3,000 will pay for the running and

Things to think about Before you go to your solicitor, try to make a list of all the major assets you have, your house or any property you own along with any of the contents. Antiques, jewellery and furniture can all be listed as assets. Further assets could be bank or building society accounts as well as any savings, stocks and shares that you may own.

child at Acorns. to receive the support of a dedicated Community Team Worker for a year.

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gift is deducted before the taxable value of your estate is calculated.

£267,000 will pay for the Community Team at one hospice for a year.

£1,365,000 will pay to run one of Acorns hospices for six months.

Have a think about who you would like to receive your assets. By making your Will and ensuring it is up-to-date your possessions will go to the people you want them to go to when you are gone. Once you have remembered your family and friends you might decide to leave a gift to Acorns. This should also be recorded in your Will.

How to make or change your Will Should you choose to include Acorns Children’s Hospice in your Will, you might find the following suggested wording examples useful. Choose the type of gift you would like to leave:

or other proper officer shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my executors.

Residuary legacy

Reversionary legacy

A percentage of what is left in your estate after all the gifts have been distributed

This type of legacy allows for your estate, or particular assets, to be passed onto your family or friends, for their lifetime. On their death, the whole or a portion of these assets revert to the beneficiary of the reversionary legacy. Your solicitor will advise you on how to word this legacy.

I give …% of the residue of my real and personal estate to Acorns Children’s Hospice, Registered Charity Number 700859 of Drakes Court, Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6JR and I direct that the receipt of the treasurer or other proper officer shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my executors.

Pecuniary legacy A specific sum of money I give the sum of £… to Acorns Children’s Hospice, Registered Charity Number 700859 of Drakes Court, Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6JR and I direct that the receipt of the treasurer

Changing your Will (Codicil) It is important to keep your Will up to date to ensure it reflects your current wishes and circumstances. Ideally you should review your Will each time a ‘lifeevent’ occurs such as a change in your financial circumstances, a death in the family, a change in the tax laws, marriage or divorce, or if you have children or grandchildren.

“We were never scared or worried when Meggy was at Acorns – she would perk up as soon as she came through the doors. It was like leaving her with friends. The staff are so well qualified and we trusted them and knew that they respected what parents want for their child.” Darrell & Louise Whiting, Megan’s parents 9

Our commitments to you yyRespect your privacy. Your Will is a private document which we respect entirely. yyYour loved ones come first. It is important to look after your family and friends before considering a charity in your Will. yyIt’s your decision to make in your own time. What you put in your Will is entirely your decision to be made in your own time. yyWe would be happy for you to tell us, but we won’t keep asking you. We would love to hear from you if you wish to tell us about a gift you have left to Acorns but will not keep asking you. yyYou can choose how you would like us to communicate with you in the future. Whether you would like to hear from us regularly or not, by telephone, email or post, it’s up to you. yyYou can change your mind. It is your right to change and update your Will at any time you wish. Whether making or changing your Will, we advise that a legal professional is present. yyWhatever you leave to Acorns we will use it carefully. We will use your gift efficiently, carefully and sensitively following your wishes.

In Memoriam Gifts Donations are often made to Acorns in memory of a loved one, in lieu of flowers at a funeral. If you would like donations to be made to Acorns Children’s Hospice in this way at your funeral, ask your solicitor to include this in your Will. More information about donations in memoriam is available from our In Memoriam Assistant on 01564 825017 or [email protected]. Alternatively please visit www.acorns.org.uk/inmemory

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Trevor Fisher pledged to leave a gift to Acorns in his Will

You can make a difference Please complete your details below, detach the form and return it in a stamped envelope to Lindsay Stewart, Acorns Children’s Hospice, Drakes Court, Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6JR.

quote quote quote Name ______________________________________________________ quote here quote here Address _____________________________________________________ quote here quote here ______________________________ Postcode______________________ quote quote quote Telephone___________________________________________________

person quoted

Email_______________________________________________________ FF I would like to discuss how I can donate to Acorns in my Will

FF I would like to receive more information about Acorns Children’s Hospice FF I have left a gift to Acorns FF I would like to be kept up-to-date about Acorns activities I prefer to be contacted by  Telephone  Email  Post Please contact me  Annually  Quarterly  Once  Other ______

“Leaving a gift to Acorns in my Will, will contribute much more for Acorns than anything else I can do. I have always tried to help hospices, and I donate and volunteer when I can.” Trevor Fisher

Thank you for thinking of Acorns.

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www.acorns.org.uk/legacies Registered office: Drakes Court, Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6JR. Tel. 01564 825000 Registered charity no: 700859.