LEGACY AND IN MEMORY FAQs

+ What are legacy gifts and estates?

Legacy gifts are donations of assets (e.g. property or shares) or money left to a charity in your will. Your estate is everything you own at death, including property, cash, shares, jewellery, works of art, life insurance and pension payouts.

You can leave part of your estate (called a residual gift), which is a percentage of the value of your estate, after all other bequests and costs have been deducted. You could also leave a pecuniary gift, which is a specific sum of money.

+ Can I leave a legacy gift to charity?

Any legacy gift is gratefully accepted, it does not have to be a large amount and all gifts will be used to help change lives in the Middle East. We have had legacy gifts ranging from £50 up to hundreds of thousands – and we are grateful for each one, as we partner together in this important work.

+ Can I restrict my gift?

We usually request that people leave a gift to our general fund, as this means we can respond where the need is greatest.

If you have a specific area of interest (country or focus) that you’d like your gift to go to, please contact us to discuss your intentions.

We’ll always try to accommodate people’s wishes but sometimes leaving a gift to a specific project or country can cause difficulties, especially if the project has finished or if we’ve stopped working with that partner by the time the gift is received. If the gift is too specific, the gift to Embrace may fail.

For example, if you have asked for your gift to go to a particular partner but we are no longer supporting that project (which may be the case by the time the gift is received), the gift will fail and we couldn’t accept it as we wouldn’t be able to use the money for anything else.

+ Writing a will

A will is one of the most important documents you’ll write. It gives you the opportunity to clearly state what you would like to happen to your belongings and name the people and causes you want to benefit.

Not having a proper will can result in 'intestacy', meaning the estate is divided according to certain rules set out in law. Dependants not formally recognised as family (such as an unmarried partner or step-children) do not have automatic rights under these laws.

Not having a clear will can cause confusion and upset for those left behind, at an already difficult time. This can be avoided by having a will written with a professional to ensure that all eventualities are covered.

We strongly recommend you use a professional to write your will.

A solicitor will prepare a draft of your will and ask you to ensure that it reflects your wishes. When you are happy with the content, a final version will be produced. To ensure it is valid your will must be signed and dated, which means it must be done in front of two witnesses who must not be beneficiaries, executors, or their spouses. The witnesses must then sign it in front of you, and each other. Your solicitor should keep the original will and you should keep a copy for reference purposes. Your executor(s) should know where the original is located.

For minor changes, a codicil supplements the terms of an existing will, either by adding, amending or revoking part of it. The codicil will be witnessed and signed in the same way as a will and will be executed in exactly the same way as the rest of your will. It is wise to involve a solicitor when adding a codicil to your will.

+ What is in memory giving?

In memory giving is donating money in celebration and remembrance of a loved one. There are different ways that people choose to give in memory, like giving a single gift, a regular gift, putting on a fundraising event or taking part in a sponsored challenge.

+ How do I give in memory of a loved one?

We offer a number of ways to help you pay tribute to your loved ones. All gifts given to Embrace in memory of a loved one makes a significant and lasting difference in the lives of people and communities throughout this beautiful yet troubled region. The two main ways people pay tribute to their loved one are by creating a memorial tribute or by setting up a funeral collection.

+ What is a memorial tribute?

Memorial tributes are free online spaces to share memories of your loved one with others. It gives people the option of giving money (for example, in lieu of flowers at a funeral), or as direct donation to Embrace, and provides the opportunity for more personal memories. You can use it as a home for your stories, photos and videos and it can stay online for as short or as long a time as you wish.

+ How do I arrange a funeral collection, in lieu of flowers?

Collecting donations at a funeral is a lovely and meaningful way to pay tribute to your loved one. If you'd like to take a collection on the day of a funeral, there are many ways to donate. To make taking a collection easy, we can send you Gift Aid Envelopes that family and friends can use to make donations. When all donations have been received at Embrace, we can let you know the total amount raised in memory of your loved one.

+ How will my loved one be remembered / celebrated?

We have teamed up with MuchLoved, an online tribute charity that helps you remember and commemorate your loved one in a special way by creating a memorial tribute. This is an online ‘home for your memories’ and you have control of the memorial tribute, including what is posted and shared. Friends and family can contribute by lighting candles, leaving memories or adding photos, which all help to remember your loved one and celebrate their life.

We understand that setting up a memorial tribute is an intensely personal decision and of course the timing may not be right at the moment – please do feel free to create one whenever you feel ready.

+ How else can I raise money in memory of my loved one?

Some people chose to give personally to the memorial tribute on special dates or anniversaries, some people ask friends and family to join in giving (often in lieu of flowers) in memory of someone special.

+ I’m struggling with bereavement – can you help?

Cruse Bereavement Care is able to offer support and lend a listening ear when you experience grief or need support when you lose a loved one. Information for bereaved family and friends can be found on their website.

+ I want to talk to someone about in memory giving

If you would like to speak to someone about how to give in memory of a loved one, our Supporter Experience Team will be pleased to help you. You can call them on 01494 897950 or fill in the form below.