Leave a gift in your Will
1 in 3 of the children we care for are funded by gifts in Wills from supporters like you. Write your Will for free today.
Watch how a gift in your Will helps make every moment count
Thank you for considering leaving a gift in your Will to Helen & Douglas House. These very special gifts are vital to the support we give local children and their families who are living with life-limiting or terminal conditions.
Download our free gift in Wills digital guide or order the printed version which is the perfect starting point for writing your Will. They include tips and information on:
- How to write or amend your Will
- Our free Will service
- What gifts in Wills are funding
- The different types of gifts you can leave
- Frequently asked questions (Read our online FAQs).
Free Gift in Wills Guide (digital download)
To download the free Will guide please click the button below.
Free Gift in Wills Guide (printed version)
To receive a printed guide in the post, please click the button below and complete the form.
Write your Will for free online today
We are delighted to be able to offer you an exclusive opportunity to write, or update, a simple Will for free. You can do it online, over the phone or even in-person – whichever way suits you best.
Why do this today:
- It’s quick and easy – the average Octopus Legacy (formally known as Guardian Angel) Will takes 15-20 minutes.
- It’s safe – Octopus Legacy Wills are legally binding and checked by experts
- It’s free!
- You will have peace of mind that your affairs are in order
- This can be done face to face or over the phone if you would prefer
Online
We’ve partnered with Octopus Legacy to help you write your Will for free online.
Visit their website to find out more.
Over the phone
If you prefer, you can do your Will over the phone with Octopus Legacy.
Call 0800 773 4014, quoting our code H&DFREE to find out more.
In-person
Book a face to face appointment with Octopus Legacy by calling 0800 773 4014 to arrange it.
Leave a lasting legacy
By leaving a gift in your Will, to Helen & Douglas House children’s hospice, you’ll be helping to make a difficult time just a little bit easier for our children and their families.
When a child is diagnosed with a life-limiting or terminal condition, it can be a very challenging time, both emotionally and physically. Your generosity means we are there, whenever and wherever we are needed.
As a charity, we rely almost entirely on donations. A gift in your Will will help to make a huge difference to the support we can give our families. In a comforting cocoon of care, we provide 24-hour medical, emotional and practical support and help our families create happy memories in the last years, weeks, or days they have left together.
£4.7m
It costs £4.7m to fund the care given at Helen & Douglas House.
+80%
As a charity, over 80% of our funding comes from people like you.
1 in 3
Around 1 in 3 received care funded by gifts left in Wills.
Leave a gift in your Will
‘I have chosen to leave a gift in my Will as a thank you for the superlative care, physical, emotional and respite, that Helen & Douglas House gave to our daughter, Beatrice, and our family for six years. I hope that a gift to Helen & Douglas House will help them to continue giving their incomparable and compassionate care to other life-limited children and their families.’
Joanna Swindells Carr, Beatrice’s Mum
Contact us
If you have questions about leaving a gift in your Will to Helen & Douglas House, please get in touch with Alex Hegenbarth on 01865 799150 or email legacy@helenanddouglas.org.uk.
Legacy Frequently Asked Questions
Are Wills expensive?
The cost varies depending on the way you create your Will, but thanks to arrangements we have made with online Will writers Octopus Legacy (formally known as Guardian Angel), you can create or amend a Will completely free of charge.
If my circumstances change, can I change my Will in the future?
A relatively simple change to your Will can be done through something called a Codicil. This is an official and legally binding appendix which is ‘read’ alongside your Will.
How long does it take to write a Will?
It’s often much quicker than you’d think. First, you need to gather information about your finances and decide who you want to leave things to. After that, it can be a very quick process, taking literally minutes or an hour or so to complete your Will.
How can I write my Will?
You can contact a solicitor, or Will advisor, and write your Will together in person or over the phone. Or you can create it using an online service like Octopus Legacy (formally known as Guardian Angel), who we have partnered with.
What type of gift should I consider?
There are two main types of gift you can leave:
- a fixed amount – which can be any sum of money depending on your circumstances.
- a percentage of your estate – which remains after other amounts of money or property are given to others. Formally called a residuary gift, it can be from 1% to 100% of your estate – whatever feels appropriate for you.
Remember an adult
Grieving a loved one’s passing is never easy. Remember your husband, mother, sister, auntie or grandmother with an Online Memory Box – a place where you, your friends and family can come together to reflect on those precious memories.
Remember a child
Every little life leaves precious memories. We have created Online Memory Boxes so you have a place where you can capture those treasured moments together. Whether it’s a song that meant something special or a photo that is dear to you.