What is a Legacy Gift (and How Could it Support Us)

Did you know that 1 in 3 of our missions are funded by gifts in wills?  A legacy gift in a will, also known as a charitable bequest, is one of the most meaningful ways you can support Cornwall Air Ambulance’s lifesaving work. 

By leaving a legacy gift, you can directly support families across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in their time of greatest need. For Cornwall Air Ambulance, these thoughtful donations help us maintain our vital emergency medical service, ensuring we can continue reaching patients and saving more lives for generations to come. If you’ve ever wanted to know what a legacy gift is, or why (and how) to leave a legacy gift in your will, read on… 

What Exactly is a Legacy Gift?

A legacy gift is a donation that you leave to a charity in your will. It can take on several different forms depending on what it is you wish to give. Legacy gifts can be tailored to your specific circumstances, and you are flexible to adjust the type and size of your gift as your situation changes. Legacy gifts in your will allow you to retain full control of your assets throughout your lifetime.   

How Legacy Gifts Differ from Other Donations

Legacy gifts in wills are an ever-popular way to support a charity- the real value of gifts in wills to UK charities has doubled over the past 30 years.

In England and Wales, general legacies in a will are exempt from inheritance tax (unlike regular donations), meaning that the full value of your gift goes directly to the charity you are supporting. If you leave 10% or more of your estate to charity, your estate could also benefit from a reduced inheritance tax rate. 

Due to often being larger than regular donations (as they come from a person’s estate), legacy gifts enable us to plan strategically for the future and make more long-term commitments, such as future helicopter upgrades or investing in new medical equipment. 

What Types of Legacy Gifts Can You Leave in Your Will?

There are several types of gifts you can leave in your will depending on your circumstances and how you want your estate to be distributed. 

Residuary Legacy

A residuary bequest is where you leave a legacy gift once other beneficiaries, family members and expenses have been paid.  

Pecuniary Legacy

This is where you leave a fixed sum of money to your charity of choice. For example, you might leave a pecuniary legacy of £5,000 to Cornwall Air Ambulance to help keep your helicopter flying. 

Specific Legacy

This type of bequest involves leaving a particular item (such as a property, shares or an item of jewellery) to the charity of your choosing. The charity can then use or sell the item to support its mission. 

Contingent Legacy

This is a legacy gift in a will which only kicks into effect once other conditions have been met. For example- you might leave a gift in your will to Cornwall Air Ambulance only if your spouse or primary beneficiary is unable to receive it for whatever reason. Or you might arrange for a charity to receive a portion of your estate if it exceeds a certain value by the date of your death.

Reversionary Bequest

Also known as a Life Interest Trust, a reversionary bequest is a type of legacy gift that allows your assets to be used by someone during their lifetime, before being passed on to the charity of your choice following their death. For example, you might request that your spouse be able to live in your home after you have passed, but the property must be given to a charity once they have also passed. 

Charitable Legacy

This is just a gift given through your will to a charitable organisation. You can choose whether your charitable bequest is unrestricted (this gives the charity to use the gift where it’s needed most), restricted (you can specify how it is to be used, for example, you might want it specifically used to support crew training), or endowment (an invested gift whereby the annual income supports ongoing charity operations)

Demonstrative Legacies 

Demonstrative legacies are gifts which combine elements from both specific and pecuniary legacy gifts. If leaving a demonstrable legacy to Cornwall Air Ambulance, you would specify both a gift amount and a particular source from which it should be paid. For example, “£15,000 from the sale of my house” or “75% of the share of my portfolio”. These can be particularly useful for charities like us, as they combine the security of a fixed sum with the certainty of the identified source. 

Regardless of type or size, every single legacy gift left in a will makes an enormous difference to our ability to serve Cornwall’s communities and continue our lifesaving work.  

Why Cornwall Air Ambulance Needs Legacy Gifts

You might not realise this, but £0 a year comes from the government for our services. We rely on the generosity of people like you to keep your helicopter in the air. Making a will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect the people and causes you care about, and doing so is a lot simpler than you might think. 

The Cost of Saving Lives

Cornwall Air Ambulance attends an average of three missions every single day, bringing vital emergency medical treatment to patients in their hour of need across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It costs over £7m annually to run the charity, and, with no direct Government funding towards running costs, it’s thanks to people like you that we can keep your helicopter flying.

How Your Legacy Gift Makes a Difference

Cornwall’s rugged landscape and scattered rural communities mean many residents live far from major hospitals. Your crew and helicopter can reach patients in remote locations in minutes rather than the hours it might take by road. 

Around 60% of our missions are in response to medical incidents, and the remainder are due to severe traumatic injuries, such as falls from height and road traffic collisions. One in three missions are to patients suffering cardiac arrest, while one in 10 are to help children. 

For serious medical emergencies like heart attacks, strokes, and severe trauma, reaching hospital care within the ‘golden hour’ can mean the difference between life and death. Your helicopter can transport patients to specialist treatment centres both within and outside Cornwall in a fraction of the time of ground transport.

Your donations and support help fund the running costs of your AW169 helicopter and Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs), as well as the specialist equipment that helps us operate around the clock. Your helicopter and crew can fly in darkness using a specialist Synthetic Vision System, powerful searchlights and advanced mapping systems. Without legacy gifts and donations from people like you, none of this would be possible. 

Real Stories of Lives Saved Through Legacy Support

After needing the help of Cornwall Air Ambulance in the past, John was determined to help the people of Cornwall by leaving some money to us in his will. Not only are we incredibly grateful for John’s generosity, but his family are incredibly proud of his resolve to help others. Watch John’s story here: 

How to Leave a Legacy Gift to Cornwall Air Ambulance

Your legacy gift could help keep Cornwall Air Ambulance flying for generations to come. By leaving a gift in your will – no matter how large or small – you can support our vital mission to save lives across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, giving local families help when they need it most.

Including Us in Your Will

Making a will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect the people and causes you care about. It’s simpler than you might think. 

1. Choose Your Charity

Decide which charity or charities you’d like to include in your will. If Cornwall Air Ambulance has helped you or someone you love, or you wish to help save lives across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for generations to come, consider leaving a legacy to support our lifesaving work.

2. Gather Charity Details

Make a note of the charity’s name, address, and registered charity number. For Cornwall Air Ambulance, the details are:

Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, Trevithick Downs, Newquay, TR8 4DY
Registered Charity Number: 1133295

3. Decide on the Type of Gift

• Decide whether you’d like to leave a pecuniary gift (a set amount of money), a residuary gift (a percentage or all of your estate after other gifts, costs, and taxes are covered) or a specific legacy gift (a particular item, asset, or property)

4. Contact Your Solicitor

Provide your solicitor with the details of your chosen charity. If you don’t have a solicitor, you can find one on the Law Society website. They will help ensure your wishes are correctly documented in your will. Your solicitor will guide you through the process of creating a new will or updating your current one. 

Free Will Writing Support Cornwall 

We understand the significance of planning for the future and leaving a lasting impact. That’s why we’ve partnered with Remember a Charity, an organisation dedicated to helping you create your will with care and consideration. 

Remember, a Charity’s guided will writing service offers you expert legal advice and support throughout the journey. With their network of experienced solicitors, you can trust that your Will reflects your wishes accurately and adheres to all legal requirements. 

Speak to Our Legacy Team

If you think you’d like to include a gift in your will to Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, get in touch with the head of our legacy team, Debbie-Marie Henshaw, who will be able to discuss your options with you and gently guide you through the process.  

• Email: debbie@cornwallairambulancetrust.org
• Tel: +44 (0) 1637 838967 

Thank you for considering leaving a gift to Cornwall Air Ambulance. Every legacy will help us to save more lives. 

Legacy Gift Frequently Asked Questions

What is a legacy gift in a will?

A legacy gift can take several forms. Common examples include leaving a specific sum of money (pecuniary gift), a percentage of your estate (residuary gift), or specific items like property, shares, or valuable possessions. 

What does bequeathing a legacy mean?

Bequeathing a legacy means leaving a gift in your will to a person or organisation after you pass away. It’s a formal arrangement made through your will that ensures your wishes are carried out regarding how part of your estate is distributed.  

Why do people leave a legacy?

People choose to leave legacies to Cornwall Air Ambulance for many meaningful reasons. Some have experienced our emergency medical service firsthand or know someone whose life was saved by our crew. Others want to make a lasting difference to their local community, ensuring future generations have access to critical emergency medical care. Many supporters see it as a way to create a meaningful legacy that reflects their values and continues their support of our vital work beyond their lifetime.

What are the tax benefits of leaving a legacy gift

Leaving a legacy gift to a charity like Cornwall Air Ambulance can reduce your estate’s inheritance tax burden or even make it free of tax. As we are a registered charity, any gift left to us is exempt from inheritance tax. Additionally, if you leave 10% or more of your net estate to charity, the inheritance tax rate on the remainder of your estate may be reduced from 40% to 36%. This can result in significant tax savings for your beneficiaries while supporting our lifesaving work.

Can I specify how my gift is used?

Yes, you can specify how you would like your gift to be used. Whether you want to support our general operations, contribute to new medical equipment, or help fund crew training, we can honour your wishes. However, we recommend making your gift unrestricted if possible, allowing us to direct funds where they’re most needed at the time. We always strive to use legacy gifts in ways that reflect our donors’ intentions while maximising their impact on our lifesaving service.

Who should I talk to about leaving a legacy gift in a will?

We recommend speaking with a qualified solicitor who can ensure your will is legally valid and your wishes are clearly expressed in an official legal document. Our legacy team is also available to discuss your intentions confidentially and answer any questions about leaving a gift to Cornwall Air Ambulance. While we cannot provide legal advice, we can share information about how your gift could make a difference and help you understand the various ways you can support our mission through your legacy.