The difference a gift in your will makes

Gifts in wills fund around 20% of our work, helping us provide specialist care for babies, children and young people up to the age of 18 with serious and life-shortening conditions. Since we opened our doors in 1994, these gifts have helped fund the care Rainbows provides at our hospice, in hospitals and at home – 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

A gift in your will funds specialist medical care, therapies and emotional support for the children we look after, and helps us be there for families through end-of-life care and bereavement. Because Rainbows depends on the kindness of our supporters, every gift left in a will helps secure our care for the families who need us most.  

Any gift, however large or small, makes a real difference. Even 1% of your estate can have a lasting impact on the families we look after.

 The different ways to give

A gift in your will, sometimes called a legacy, is simply something you leave to a charity when you die. You might choose to leave a share of your estate once everything else has been taken care of, a fixed sum or a particular item such as an investment or a property. Your solicitor can help you decide what’s right for you and make sure your wishes are clearly set out.

Writing your will for free

We’ve partnered with Farewill to offer supporters a simple, free way to write or update a straightforward will, from the comfort of home and in as little as 20 minutes. There’s no obligation to leave a gift to Rainbows if you use it, and the offer is currently available to supporters living in England and Wales.

Coby

We’re here to help

Deciding to leave a gift in your will is a very personal choice, and one we’re so grateful for. If you’d like to talk it through, or you’ve already remembered Rainbows in your will and would like to let us know, we would love to hear from you. We can share our registered details and suggested wording, and anything you tell us is confidential and never legally binding.

You can reach us on 01509 638049 or by emailing our Supporter Care Team.

Gift in Will FAQs

  • Why should I leave a Gift in my Will to Rainbows?

    🌈 Care for Babies, Children and Young People – Your gift helps provide specialist medical care, therapy, and emotional support for babies, children and young people with serious and terminal conditions.

    💜 Support for Families – We offer respite care, end-of-life support, and bereavement services, ensuring families never feel alone during the most difficult times.

    🌟 Securing the Future – Rainbows relies on donations to continue its vital work. A legacy gift ensures we can be there for future generations.

    💖 A Lasting Impact – Your kindness will live on, bringing comfort and joy to babies, children and young people who need it most.

  • What types of Gifts in Wills are there?

    Gifts in Wills or a Legacy Gift is a gift that someone leaves to a charity in their Will.

    The most common types of legacy gifts left in Wills are:

    Residuary Gift: the residue (or a proportion of the residue) of an estate after all other gifts, debts and expenses have been paid.
    Pecuniary Gift: This is a fixed amount. This type of gift will, over time, devalue with inflation. If you want to futureproof your legacy, you can ask your solicitor about index-linking your gift so its value keeps pace with inflation.
    Specific Gift: a particular asset, for example an investment or property.
    A Life Interest: If you wish, you can leave a gift for use over a specific period, for example the income from an investment. After that time has passed, the gift could then be passed onto another recipient or family member

  • How do I leave a Gift to Rainbows in my Will?

    Get in touch with your local solicitor to arrange a Will or to make amendments.

    Alternatively, we’ve teamed up with Farewill, who offer a Will-writing service that is simple and free for you to use to write or update a straightforward Will.

    Create your free Will online

    Create your free Will over the phone

    You will need to take the following details with you:

    Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People (Cope Children’s Trust)
    Registered address: Lark Rise, Loughborough,
    Leicestershire, LE11 2HS
    Registered charity number: 1014051 (England and Wales)

    An example of wording you could use:

    I leave X / a X% share of my residuary estate for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, Lark Rise, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 2HS (registered charity number 1014051) for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of the proper officer for the time being of the said charity shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors.

    We’d love to hear from you if you’ve left a Gift in your Will to Rainbows. You can contact us on [email protected] or call us on 01509 638049.

  • How do I update or change my Will?

    Making, updating or changing a Will that provides for those who are close to you, while ensuring that your specific wishes are met, is not something to be taken lightly. So, if you would like to discuss what arrangement might be best for you, please do get in touch by emailing our Supporter Care Team to arrange a visit or just an informal conversation.

  • What is Rainbows full name, address and registered details?

    Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People (Cope Children’s Trust)

    Registered address: Lark Rise, Loughborough,
    Leicestershire, LE11 2HS

    Registered charity number: 1014051 (England and Wales)

  • Do I have enough money to leave a Gift in my Will?

    Any gift, no matter how big or small, will be a huge help towards continuing our vital care and support for children and families.

  • Is there tax relief when you donate to a charity?

    Inheritance Tax: Each individual has a tax-free allowance of £325,000 (correct as of April 2024) before Inheritance Tax at 40% becomes due. All gifts to charities are deducted from the value of the estate before Inheritance Tax is calculated.

    For more information, please speak to your solicitor or visit the HMRC website.

  • We are here to help

    To talk to us about leaving a Gift in your Will, please contact us on 01509 638049 or email [email protected]

    If you are organising a funeral collection or donations in memory, please also contact us on the above information.

    If you have remembered Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in your Will, we’d love to hear from you. Not only will this help us make plans for the future of Rainbows, it also means we can thank you properly for your support. Anything you tell us will be confidential and not legally binding.