Gifts in Wills
Leave a gift in your Will to Norwood and enrich the lives of the most vulnerable people in our community.
A gift in your Will, however large or small, can help Norwood continue its vital work in supporting people with learning disabilities and autism, as well as children and their families facing challenges.
Each year, we enable more than 2,500 people to live their very best lives, providing a range of emotional and physical support to anyone who turns to us for help. Not only will your gift make a difference to the growing numbers of people depending on our services; it will support people to lead their most fulfilling and meaningful lives, entirely of their own choosing.
If you are interested in leaving a gift to Norwood and would like more information, please download a copy of our brochure.
If you are ready to write a Will and would like to use one of our free Will writing services, you can find out more information here.
You can also contact Jilly Black on (020) 8420 6829 for further information.
Trusts for disabled family members
If you have a relative with disabilities and want to plan future provision for their needs our independent trust company, Ravenswood Trustees Limited (RTL) can assist you to set up a Discretionary Trust in your relative’s name. The Trust provides additional funding that is not met by the local authority and ensures those funds can still be available for your relative, long after you are no longer around.
For more information on Ravenswood Trustees Limited, please request a copy of the brochure here. (Information on Ravenswood Trustees Limited is also available in the brochure Securing Your Future and Ours. Please click here to download the brochure).
For more information, please contact giftsinwills@norwood.org.uk or call 020 8420 6970.
“I chose to leave a gift in my Will to Norwood, as my father did, because of the difference I have seen that wonderful charity can make. So many families are helped in some way by their vital work and their consequences range from relief to independence.”
Robert Davis
Trusts for Disabled Family Members
Jewish Legacy Giving
Download Our
Brochure
Giving in Memory is a unique and very meaningful way to celebrate the life of your loved one.
By making a gift to Norwood in their memory, you will enable us to fund our vital services both now and into the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who can I talk to about making a Will at Norwood?
Jilly Black, Legacy Fundraising and Supporter Care Executive – Jilly.black@norwood.org.uk
2. What can I leave in my Will to Norwood?
- A specific sum of money
- A specific item, such as jewellery or a piece of art
- A share of money left in my estate after other specific bequests have been distributed.
3. How do I make a Will?
- In 15 minutes online using our free Wills provider, Farewill.
- Through a solicitor from the National Free Wills Network
- Through an at-home appointment with an accredited member of The Goodwill Partnership.
4. What if I don’t have much to leave? Is it worth it?
Yes. A Will takes care of everything that matters to you, whether it has sentimental or financial value and allows you to stipulate how it should be distributed when you pass on.
5. What if I already have a Will?
If your Will is up-to-date, you don’t need to change it. But, if you want to leave a gift to Norwood and haven’t already done so, you will need to change the one you have.
It’s also a good idea to update your Will every few years. Most changes can also be made for free through Norwood.
6. What happens if I don’t have a Will?
If you pass away without a Will in place, it can cause a huge amount of stress and expense for those you leave behind. There’s no guarantee either that your possessions will go to the people you care about.
If you don’t have a Will, the time to make one is now.
7. How do I know that money I leave to Norwood won’t end up in the wrong hands?
Norwood is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and the Charity Commission. In addition, it has regular internal and external audits and an established protocol to ensure the proper use of funds. We publish an annual report every year where you can read about how we raise money and how it’s spent on supporting some the most vulnerable people in our community to live their most meaningful and fulfilling lives.
8. Should I tell Norwood about my gift?
We appreciate that your Will is a private matter, but if you decide to include a gift to us in your Will, we’d love the chance to say thank you and tell you more about our work. (Please be assured that any information you share with us is confidential and not legally binding).
9. What about ensuring support to vulnerable family members?
If you have a relative with a disability, Ravenswood Trustees Limited (a separate not-for-profit company that works in partnership with Norwood) can set up a Trust to help pay for items which are not covered by your relative’s care funding package. If you choose to leave a gift in your Will to the relative, the money inherited will be managed by the Trust, ensuring they wouldn’t lose their local authority funding.
For more information about Ravenswood Trustees Limited, please call Michael on (020) 8420 6582 or Julie on (020) 8420 6833, or email info@ravenswoodtrusteeslimited.org.uk
10. What is a letter of wishes?
A Letter of Wishes is a document that can accompany your Will. It can be used to provide important guidance to your executors, trustees and/or family who are dealing with your affairs after you have passed away. As they have an element of discretion in making decisions following your death, the Letter of Wishes provides a strong moral obligation for them to follow your guidance and has the advantage of being written in your own words.
As the Letter of Wishes is generally confidential to your family, trustees and/or executors and is not legally binding (like a Will) you can change it whenever you like. Neither does it become a public document when a Grant of Representation (for Probate) is obtained.
11. Who should I contact if I am an Executor and wish to make a legacy payment?
Please call Julie Owen on (020) 8420 6833 or email julie.owen@norwood.org.uk
Other ways to help
Gifts In Wills
By leaving a legacy to Norwood, you will be securing the future of some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
Sensational destinations, tough treks, strenuous cycling, rigorous runs, and our classic camaraderie are just for starters.
Volunteer with us and make a real difference to the lives of people Norwood supports and the services we provide.
Why choose us?
- Norwood supports children and families facing challenges, and adults with learning disabilities or autism. Established in 1795, Norwood is the Jewish community’s oldest charity, and is the only Jewish charity with Royal Patronage, a privilege bestowed since 1816.
- Norwood supports more than 2,500 people a year.