Leaving a gift in your Will
Since our first hospice in Birmingham opened it’s doors in 1988, gifts in Wills have played an important part in funding the specialist care provided by Acorns to children and young people with life limiting or life threatening conditions.
The need for children’s hospice care never stops, which is why we are here to provide specialist palliative care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With demand for services rising, gifts in Wills to Acorns are so vital and ensures we are always there for children and families that need us – children just like Ethan.
Even just 1% of your estate can have a huge impact!
Your contribution matters
Gifts in Wills account for just under two thirds of the fundraising income* raised by Acorns each year.
*fundraising income is defined as legacies, donations and events. Values taken from the audited financial statements for 2022-23.
Help us continue to love and care
The support Acorns receives from gifts in Wills plays a vital role in helping us to provide the funding needed to run our three hospices.
Only with your support can we be here for local children and their families now, and long into the future. Together, we are stronger. Request your FREE gifts in Wills information pack today, which contains step-by-step information on how to write your Will, as well as insight into the impact your gift will have for local children and their families.
In the past year we have:
- Cared for 756 children
- Supported 1,616 family members, including parents, carers, siblings and grandparents
- Made 1,048 Outreach visits to family homes
None of that would be possible without your support. Request your free gifts in Wills guide today and discover how you can leave a lasting legacy to Acorns.
Why a gift in your Will matters to Acorns
Thanks to gifts left to Acorns in Wills, we can support children like Ella and their families. Read Ella’s story and see the impact a gift in your Will could make.
“Acorns provided more than just respite, it gave me time, precious time to spend with my daughter and enjoy being just mum. I will never be able to give back as much as Acorns gave me but by leaving something in our Will I know it will help give someone else precious time.”
– Kirsty, Ella’s mum
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I make a Will?
There are many reasons to consider writing a Will. You may have children, concerns about inheritance tax, your circumstances may have changed, you have specific funeral wishes, gifts to family, friends, charities close to your heart, or you may not be married to your partner. These are our top reasons why it is so important to make a Will:
- You might have strong feelings about who inherits what. Whether this is your own home, money in the bank, jewellery, or items that are purely sentimental to you, it is important you make sure the things you do have are given to the people you wish. The only way to guarantee this is with a Will.
- Making a Will gives you peace of mind. Although it may seem daunting, you will know that your affairs will be in order and those important to you will be taken care of.
- You might already have a Will, but it is useful to review it every three to five years. This is to make sure that it still matches your personal circumstances and wishes.
What type of gifts in Wills are there?
There are five main types of legacy gifts that Acorns receives:
Pecuniary – A specific cash amount in the Will.
Residuary – A percentage share of the estate.
Specific – When an item such as jewellery, furniture, shares or an antique are gifted.
Discretionary – When a Will allows an executor of the estate to choose a charity to benefit from a gift.
Reversionary – This is a gift subject to a prior interest. For example, say a house had been gifted to someone for the rest of their life: on their death, the house goes to a charity, the beneficiary of the reversionary gift.
Specific examples of each are provided in “What information will my solicitor need to include in my will for Acorns?“
Can I make a gift in my Will to a specific hospice?
Acorns has three children’s hospices: Acorns in Birmingham (located in Selly Oak), Acorns in the Black Country (located in Walsall) and Acorns for the Three Counties (located in Worcester).
There may be a particular area which has a special significance for you, if there is, please make this clear in your Will by asking your solicitor to include the name of the hospice you would specifically like your gift to support.
Do I have enough money to leave a gift in my Will?
Any gift, no matter how big or small, will be a huge help towards continuing our vital care and support for children and families.
What information will my solicitor need to include in my Will for Acorns?
To ensure your gift reaches us it is important to include our full name and registered charity number: Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust, registered charity number 700859.
Here are some examples of wording for different types of gifts, if you want to leave an alternative gift not listed below we recommend checking with your solicitor.
Residuary gift (a percentage of your estate):
“I give ___% of the residue of my real and personal estate to Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust. 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 gift (a specific sum of money):
“I give the sum of £___ to Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust, 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.”
Specific gift (a specific item, e.g. jewellery, shares, property):
“I give ___ to Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust, 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.”
Reversionary gift:
This is a gift subject to a prior interest. For example, say a house had been gifted to someone for the rest of their life. On their death, the house goes to a charity, the beneficiary of the reversionary gift. Your solicitor will advise you on how to word this gift.
What is Acorns full name, address and registered details?
Acorns Children’s Hospice
Drakes Court, Alcester Road, Wythall, Birmingham, B47 6JR
Registered Charity No. 700859
What if I want to change my Will at a later date?
You can update or change your Will at any time you wish. We advise that a legal professional be present whenever making or changing a Will.
Can you help me make a Will?
We would always recommend using a professional solicitor to write or update your Will to ensure all legal formalities are carried out correctly and your Will is valid. We can put you in touch with trusted solicitors who offer a Will writing service.
We also have our online and telephone Will writing partner. (Acorns Children’s Hospice – Kwil)
What should I do if I am acting as Executor?
Please contact our Legacy team with any questions:
Telephone: 01564 825 039
Email: legacies@acorns.org.uk
Reasons to update your Will
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 every 5 years or after a life event 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.