Leaving a gift in your Will can be incredibly powerful and has a transformative impact on vulnerable children.
Here are some frequently asked questions about leaving a gift in your Will that you might want the answers to. For more information, or if you'd like to talk with one of the team, please get in touch by calling 01908 84 10 60 or emailing legacies@worldvision.org.uk
Call our dedicated Legacy team on 01908 84 10 60 for help and guidance.
We are not legal or financial advisers, but we can explain how a gift in your Will can help children in the future, the various types of gifts that you can make and their benefits.
You can make the most of our FREE Will writing service, delivered by our partners. You have the option of completing one online, but also talking to specialists on the phone or face-to-face.
Yes, you can with our partner Octopus Legacy, whether online, on the phone or in person. It’s simple, convenient and FREE.
Whether you want to leave a gift to World Vision or not, you are welcome to make use of this free Will offer.
None of us knows what the future holds and having a Will gives you peace of mind. It means you can control what happens to your money and property after you die and appoint an executor to deal with your affairs, ensuring that your wishes are carried out. If you die without a valid Will, your estate will be distributed according to the laws of intestacy, which would mean that only your nearest family would benefit.
However, the division between your close family under the intestacy rules may not be what you would have wanted and other family members, friends and favourite causes you might want to benefit would receive nothing. It could also lead to an unwanted and unavoidable tax bill on your death.
The inheritance tax threshold is currently £325,000 and set at 40%. The only people who can benefit without your estate being liable to inheritance tax are legal spouses and charities. A solicitor will be able to explain the implications of this to you. You can also find out more on the government’s website.
The gifts we receive are usually unrestricted. This gives World Vision flexibility to use the funds wherever the need is greatest at that time. However, we also accept gifts for an area of our work that is close to your heart such as health, education or water. If you would like to discuss any specific intentions you have, please call the Legacy team on 01908 84 10 60. We will do our utmost to honour your wishes.
We understand that family and friends come first. All we ask is that you consider leaving us a share of whatever is left in your estate once you’ve taken care of them . Hopefully they will recognise your generosity and understand that you also wish to support children who live in some of the world’s harshest places. No matter the size of the gift you leave to World Vision, it will have a huge impact on those children’s lives.
World Vision only works within countries where we have our own offices so we can be sure that we can account for all the money that we receive and how it is used.
We have audited accounts that are publicly available at any time. As a charity, we’re regulated by the Charities Commission – a legal body, which oversees all UK charities and their activities.
We are a not-for-profit organisation, and we know that the continued support we receive is dependent on our efficient use of supporters’ money. See our Annual Report.
We strongly advise that you use a qualified solicitor to amend an existing Will or to include a gift to World Vision in a new one. Our free Gift in Wills guide contains some suggested wording you could take to your solicitor. They will also need some key information which you can print off and give to them.
Call us on 01908 84 10 60 if you need anything else.
Naming your sponsored child in your Will is not recommended as our community programmes run for an average of 10-15 years, after which we don’t have a way to stay in touch with community members.
We recommend that your gift be unrestricted so that funds can be spent where the need is greatest at the time. This may be in another sponsorship area and benefit another community – enabling your legacy to continue beyond your lifetime. Please call us on 01908 84 10 60, so that we can advise you further.
Yes. Your Will is a very private document and you’re under no obligation to tell us anything. Of course, if you would like to share your intentions, we would love to hear from you so that we can thank you for your generosity. Please call us on 01908 84 10 60 or email us at legacies@worldvision.org.uk
Yes. You can get our free Gifts in Will guide for some useful wording. You can also give some key info to your solicitor and executor, or download our World Vision codicil to help you update an existing Will.
If you would like more information on the impact your gift to World Vision could have, read our transformation stories.
For over 70 years we've been working with communities, donors, partners, and governments to transform the lives of children who live in the world’s harshest places. Together, we tackle poverty at its roots, working with communities for long-term change, so progress is continued long after we’ve left.
As a Christian charity, we work in the most dangerous places to help all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. In the last five years this work has impacted 200 million children.
And it’s supporters like you and gifts in Wills which make all this possible.
World Vision is helping millions of children and families out of poverty every year and we are often first on the scene when a crisis strikes, whether it’s a conflict or natural disaster.
Our integrated approach means that we tackle the root causes of poverty. We ensure sustainable access to water, healthcare, education, child protection, and income generation – with the aim of enabling every child to fulfil their God-given potential and experience fullness of life.
If you'd like more information about the work that your support makes possible, read how donations are spent.
You can request our Gifts in Wills guide so you've got all the information you need.
You can email us at legacies@worldvision.org.uk or call us on 01908 84 10 60.
