Leaving a Legacy

Gifts in wills

Trusts

If a person with autism is in receipt of government funding or benefits, any financial provision made for them by parents, carers, relatives or friends (whether income or capital) could reduce, or even cause the total loss of state support. As a result, the fund intended to provide for the person with autism could risk becoming exhausted when it need not have been.

Some adults with autism may not be able to manage money themselves and therefore may not be able to manage money left to them by their parents.

Setting up a trust fund is a way to provide for your child’s future and make sure they will always have a steady income, whilst not detracting from any government benefits they may be entitled to claim.

Using a trust

If you wish to make financial provision for a person with autism – as well as safeguard any other benefits they may claim – one of the most secure ways to do this is to create a trust fund to help manage their finances.

A major advantage of setting up a trust is that you can avoid the potential loss of state support for your dependant. There are a number of ways of doing this, based on the type of trust you select.

Types of trust

There are a number of different trusts which have different functions and fulfil different remits:

A life interest trust is one in which the person with autism is given the right to benefit from the income generated by the trust fund during their lifetime. After their lifetime, the capital of the fund passes to the ultimate beneficiaries, such as another person or a charity, who can be specified in the will.

A discretionary trust is one for which the trustees are given full powers to decide if and when the beneficiary should receive either capital or income from the trust fund. This means that the trust fund does not belong to the beneficiary, and they will not lose any state support they claim.

A private charitable trust can be useful in some instances, such as if a person with autism is likely to be cared for in a residential facility managed by a charity.

It is essential to speak to a solicitor experienced in trusts. You can talk about your particular circumstances; get legal advice on the most appropriate course of action; and make sure that any documentation properly reflects your circumstances and those of the person with autism.

Leave a gift in your will

When making a will, naturally you will think of your family and friends first. If, like us, you are passionate about supporting people affected by autism, we hope you will also think of Autism West Midlands.

Our vision is simple: to provide support and care to the 60,000 people living with autism in the West Midlands and all of those that love and care for them

Without giving a penny today, a gift to Autism West Midlands in your will could provide a life-line for someone affected by autism in the future.

Why is your gift important to us?

Having an up-to-date will is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that your wishes are carried out exactly as you want. For over 30 years we have been working with people with autism and their families to ensure they are supported and listened to. A gift to us in your will could help more people with autism to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives.

Your gift of a small percentage of your estate, or a cash sum, could contribute to:

• helping someone with autism to move into their own home or find a job
• helping a child with autism to meet new friends and feel accepted
• helping parents to find better ways to communicate with their child with autism
• and so much more…
  

As we grow in the years ahead to meet the changing needs of people affected by autism, we will need the funds to support our adventurous projects, all of which aim to improve the lives of people with autism and their families.

Each gift, whatever size, means a great deal to us. We understand that the decision to include Autism West Midlands in your will is your choice. If the time becomes right for you to leave us a gift in your will we want you to feel assured that we will respect your privacy and wishes.

Our promises to you

• We absolutely recognise your own family and friends come first in your will.
• We promise to use your gift wisely.
• We will treat you fairly and we promise not to intrude on your privacy by telephoning you about this way of giving.
• We will never ask you the size or type of legacy if you decide to support our work this way.
• We will never ask you to tell us your intentions but if you do we will say thank you (which we like to do).
• We fully understand that personal circumstances change and there may be a time when you must take Autism West Midlands out of your will.
  

How to include us in your will

Making or changing a will does not have to be expensive or hard work. It is important to seek independent legal advice before making any decisions about your will.

If would like to amend your existing will to include Autism West Midlands, please fill out the codicil form and return it to your solicitor.

When leaving a gift to us please include the following details:

Autism West Midlands
Regent Court
George Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 1NU

Charity no. 517077

For more information on leaving a gift to us please contact Fundraising on 0121 450 7582 or email fundraising@autismwestmidlands.org.uk