As a children’s hospice charity we know how important it is to have a will and keep it updated. We have partnered with organisations to offer a free will writing service to help our supporters write a will online or face-to-face with a local solicitor. There is no cost for this service, so you can write your will for free. There is also no obligation to leave us a gift in your will, but we hope that you will consider it, as a gift left today can make a real difference to babies, children and young people living with life-limiting conditions in the future.
Make a short life brighter with a gift in your will
Last year gifts in wills funded our entire Family Support team for a year, giving families access to specialist care and support when they need it. Leave a gift in your will today to ensure that we can continue to be there for families, today, tomorrow and for years to come.
Gifts in wills brochure
If you would like to learn more about leaving a gift in your will you can download a copy of our free gifts in will brochure here. Please complete the below form and a copy of the brochure will be emailed directly to you.
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How your gift could make a difference
£250
could pay for a month’s worth of supplies for art therapy sessions
£5,000
could pay for a post-bereavement weekend away for siblings
£20,000
could fund our total care costs for one day
£70,000
could fund 70 nights of respite care at one of our hospices
Vithal, supported grandparent
“My granddaughter, Rhea, has severe cerebral palsy. Shooting Star has given Rhea the chance to enjoy normal childhood activities and have much-needed help with her 24-hour care routine. Shooting Star never asks the families they support for any money but I thought I would like to do something to help. I have decided to give something to the charity in my will and appeal to others to do the same so the charity can continue to help families like ours.”
Get in touch
If you’d like more information on gifts in wills, including writing your will for free, or would like a digital version of our gifts in wills brochure, please contact Laura Whittle via email or phone and she will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
Frequently asked questions
Please include our full name, address and registered charity number when you draft or amend your will.
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices
Shooting Star House
The Avenue
Hampton
TW12 3RA
Registered Charity No: 1042495
You can use this wording for drafting or amending your will:
Wording if you’re leaving a percentage (also known as a residuary gift)
I give all/a ___% share of the residue of my estate to Shooting Star Children’s Hospices (Registered Charity Number 1042495), Shooting Star House, The Avenue, Hampton, TW12 3RA, or any subsequent address it may relocate to, to be used for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of the Treasurer or duly authorised officer shall be a valid and appropriate form of discharge.
Wording if you’re leaving a gift of money (also known as a pecuniary gift)
I give to Shooting Star Children’s Hospices (Registered Charity Number 1042495), Shooting Star House, The Avenue, Hampton, TW12 3RA, or any subsequent address it may relocate to, the sum of £__________(in figures)__________________(in words) free of tax and duty to be used for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of the Treasurer or duly authorised officer shall be a valid and appropriate form of discharge.
A gift in your will costs you nothing during your lifetime and won’t affect you now but will one day make a huge difference to the lives of local children, young people and families facing some of the most difficult situations imaginable.
Every gift in every will makes a difference. No matter how big or small, it is important to us and will help to fund our vital services and be there for families in the future. Once you have taken care of those close to you, you can choose if you want to leave a gift to Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. This could either be a percentage, an amount or an item; it’s completely up to you.
Making changes to an existing will is simple. If you wish to add a gift to Shooting Star Children’s Hospices you can do so by including a codicil with your will. This is a simple legal document that enables you to add an extra gift without having to update your will. However, we advise consulting a solicitor or legal professional about this to ensure the process is carried out correctly.
A gift left in your will to a registered charity is exempt from inheritance tax. In certain circumstances, especially with larger estates, a charitable legacy can be a useful way to avoid the payment of inheritance tax for your family and friends on some or all of your estate. Find out more about tax benefits here.
Simplifying the jargon – there is a lot of jargon that you come across when making a will, so we thought we would write a helpful guide to make it easier to understand.