Creating a Legacy of Love, Hope and Positive Change

For Remus Horse Sanctuary, legacies act as pillars or rocks of support, enabling us to continue our vital work long into the future. A legacy, often bequeathed through a Will, is a powerful testament to an individual’s commitment to a cause close to their heart, leaving behind a lasting impact that will echo through the ages.

Legacies are incredibly important to us here at Remus for several reasons and, whilst it’s still ‘Make a Will Month‘, we’d like to explain more:

1. Steady Cash Flow:

Legacies are like the rock-solid foundation of our finances. With these gifts, we can breathe easy knowing we’ve got a reliable stream of income to keep our amazing animal welfare work going strong.

2. Room to Grow:

Imagine having the green light to dream big! Well, legacies give us just that. They provide the fuel needed to expand programs, reach more people, and tackle even the toughest challenges.

3. Flexibility Rules:

Unlike restricted grants or donations tied to specific purposes, legacies come with no strings attached. This offers greater flexibility in allocating funds where they are needed most and allows us to respond swiftly to emerging challenges, seize new opportunities, and keep on making a real difference not only in terms of rescue, but education and awareness too.

4. Making Friends for Life:

Legacy donors aren’t just supporters; they’re part of the family! By nurturing these relationships, we build a crew of dedicated fans who’ll stick with us through thick and thin.

5. Honouring What Matters:

Leaving a legacy isn’t just about money; it’s about leaving a mark that reflects your values and passions. Legacies let donors make a lasting impact on the causes they care about most.

6. Spreading the Love:

And here’s the best part: legacies inspire others to get in on the action! When people see the incredible impact of legacy gifts, they’re more likely to consider leaving their own mark on the world.

No matter how big or small, leaving a gift in your Will is one of the most valuable ways you can help us. Legacies play a vital role in sustaining and advancing our mission, providing us with the resources, stability, and flexibility needed to create lasting change and to leave a legacy of love, hope, compassion, and positive change.

Do you already have a Will and wish to include a gift for Remus?

Add a simple paragraph to an existing Will, we suggest some words on our website here: https://www.remussanctuary.org/how-you-can-help/wills-legacies/

Do you need to create a Will?

We’ve teamed up with Free Wills so that you can complete your Will online and totally free of charge. Interested in finding out how this works? Visit our web page to find out more.

Thank you in anticipation of your support.

Make a Will Month

It’s March, and for many fundraising calendars that means one thing – Make a Will Month!

Make a Will Month is intended to encourage individuals to make or review their Will, whilst making a donation to the charity, or charities, they support.

However, it’s very expensive to sign up to the scheme and really only appropriate for much larger charities than Remus Horse Sanctuary – and for those with greater funds at their disposal. Furthermore, the recommended donation is £175, which is still a sizeable amount for an individual to find during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. So at Remus we like to do things differently, and instead choose to promote ‘FreeWills’ which is available all year round and is, quite literally, free of charge.

What is FreeWills?

FreeWills.co.uk is an award-winning online service, where you can make a legally-binding free Will, typically in around fifteen minutes or so. Each Will is checked by legal experts and your Will can be updated quickly and easily for free, forever. It’s a free service for you and a free service for Remus. You do not need a solicitor to make a Will and, all we politely request, is that you include a donation (or legacy) in your Will for Remus Horse Sanctuary.

Visit our webpage to learn more, where we explain how FreeWills works and address the questions you might have such as:

• Is FreeWills really free of charge?
• Is a free Will, that I’ve created myself, actually legal?’
• Don’t I need a solicitor to create a Will?

FreeWills provides is a guided step-by-step process and supplies lots of information along the way, including what key terms mean, such as ‘executors’ and ‘beneficiaries’.

So why is it such a big deal to have a Will anyway? Below we look at why it makes sense to have a Will in place, regardless of age, and explain what can happen if you don’t have a Will before you die.

Why is it Important to Make a Will?

Creating a Will is a fundamental step in estate planning offering you, as individuals, the opportunity to dictate how your assets, including property, finances, personal belongings – and your beloved pets and their welfare – should be managed when you die.

Of course, we all hope that we’ll live a long and healthy life, but sadly bad things happen. It could be a simple accident with catastrophic results or sudden diagnosis of a life-threatening illness. And these things can befall us at any age.

By clearly outlining your wishes in a legally binding document, you gain control over the destiny of your estate, ensuring that it is distributed in accordance with your preferences. A well-drafted Will not only provides peace of mind but also serves to minimise the potential for family disputes and legal complexities after your passing.

It allows you to appoint executors, designate beneficiaries, and make specific bequests, offering a comprehensive strategy to protect your legacy and provide for loved ones in a manner which reflects your intentions.

It’s important to note that a Will does not have to be drafted by a solicitor in order to be legally-binding document.

What Happens if I don’t make a Will?

The absence of a Will or dying ‘intestate,’ which is the legal term, can lead to a myriad of complications. Without clear instructions, the legal process of distributing your estate upon your death becomes subject to the laws of intestacy, which may not align with your wishes. This can result in delays, increased administrative costs, and potential disputes among family members – at an already very difficult time.

Moreover, the rules of intestacy may not adequately address the needs of unmarried partners, stepchildren, friends and potentially leaving them without any inheritance. Or in the instance of your pets, leaving them without provision of care.

Without a Will, the distribution of your assets follows a predefined hierarchy, often overlooking individuals outside the immediate family. Creating a Will is, therefore, essential to avoid the uncertainties and hardships that can arise when one passes away without a clear and legally binding estate plan in the UK.

So, if you have you been putting off making your Will maybe due to time, or cost, we believe that FreeWills offers a viable alternative.

Thank you for supporting Remus Horse Sanctuary by leaving a legacy in your Will.

Remus is a registered charity founded in 1983 and FreeWills is rated 4.9 on Trust Pilot with over 4,300 reviews.

Make your Will for FREE

Leaving a legacy in your Will is one of the best ways of ensuring that we can continue our valuable work. As you know, we rescue horses, ponies, donkeys and more, and provide rehabilitation and respite to them and to elderly horses, and all of our work is paid for by donations and fundraising. A gift in your Will, however small or large, can help ensure we can always be here for those victims of physical and mental abuse, whether it be as a result of ignorance or malicious intent.

By making a Will you can ensure that your wishes, and the people and causes you care about, are provided for. After providing for your family and friends remembering us in your Will means that we will be able to carry on the vital work of rescue, lobbying and education. By leaving a gift to Remus Horse Sanctuary in your Will you can shape the future, ensuring that we are always here to raise a voice for animal welfare.

Remus Horse Sanctuary is committed to being there for those animals that need us – after all, they cannot speak for themselves. If you decide to leave a gift in your Will to us, you will be supporting us to make sure we continue our valuable work with animal rescue and welfare.

Every single gift is vital to Remus and we appreciate any gift you may choose to leave us. Whatever the value of your gift, it will go a long way to help an animal that needs us.

It will not cost you a penny during your lifetime. It is simple to do and is free from inheritance tax.

All gifts, whatever their size make a real difference. It truly is a gift of a lifetime.

We thank you in advance for making a generous and thoughtful contribution.

Your gift will make a lasting and positive difference to Remus Horse Sanctuary.

Click here to find out more> www.freewills.co.uk/charity/remus-sanctuary

Pass On Something Wonderful

How can we protect more horses from neglect in the UK?

This week Remus is joining forces with 200 other charities up and down the UK to launch Human – the world’s first charity-powered search engine.

The activity is part of Remember A Charity Week, 10-16 September, which sees hundreds of charities come together to encourage people to leave charitable gifts in Wills and, by doing so, pass on something wonderful to the next generation.

Drawing upon Remus’ unique knowledge and expertise in horse welfare and combining it with insight from other charities, Human will enable the public to ask some of life’s biggest questions and to hear directly from charities, including Remus Horse Sanctuary, what they are doing in response.

This Remember A Charity in your Will Week we’re inviting our valued supporters to help us find the answers to life’s biggest questions and pass on something wonderful.

Through the search engine, people can select from over 100 questions such as: ‘How can we cure the deadliest common cancers?’ and ‘How do we ensure no one has to sleep rough?’ and see video responses showing how charities address these issues and how the public can help, by leaving a gift in their Will. Remus Horse Sanctuary has contributed to the search engine by providing responses to the question: “How can we protect more horses from neglect in the UK?”.

Gifts left to charity in Wills are a crucial source of income and help fund key services, including the rescue and rehabilitation of horses provided by Remus. We rely on charitable legacies from supporters like you. Once you’ve taken care of family, friends and loved ones, you can help us to continue our vital work long into the future by leaving a gift in your Will. Even a small gift could make a big difference.

Sue Burton, Founder, commented: “Our mission is to protect more horses from neglect in the UK. We do this by rescuing animals, lobbying and campaigning, and by educating and informing the public and we are delighted to bring our charity’s mission to life via the innovative human search engine and help shine a light on how important a gift in Wills can be.”

“Like others, gifts in Wills are crucial to our charity’s work – both now and long into the future. Leaving even a small amount – after taking care of friends and family first – makes an enormous difference.”

Rob Cope, Director of Remember A Charity, says: “Every day people use Google to find the answers to their questions, but it’s real people and charities we turn to when we want answers to life’s biggest challenges. 

 “This campaign has been designed to showcase just how vital charities are in responding to many of the world’s biggest problems and how gifts in wills can help combat those issues and we’re delighted that Remus Horse Sanctuary is taking part. We hope it will encourage the public to think about their deepest concerns for the world we live in and to consider leaving a gift in their will.”

Remember A Charity Week, now in its ninth year, brings together charities, government and stakeholders to highlight the importance of leaving gifts to charity in Wills. The search engine is part of a broader public awareness drive, which showcases the impact of legacy donations and calls on the public to ‘pass on something wonderful’.

To find out more about Human and how Remus Horse Sanctuary is helping to tackle the world’s biggest challenges this Remember a Charity Week, visit humansearchengine.org

Thank you for your continued support!

Look out for the Human Search Engine

What does the future hold? We are proud to be one of 200 charities working towards a better future.

Discover the answers to the world’s biggest questions on 10 September at HumanSearchEngine.org #HumanSearchEngine.

Take a look at the web page here to find out more and look out for our next blog on the 10th for the big launch!

Remember Remus in your Will and ensure your love of animals lives on

Making a Will is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. And it’s a lot more affordable and straightforward than you think.

Legacies are vital to our very survival at Remus Horse Sanctuary, a fact that most of our supporters don’t realise. To raise some much-needed awareness, we’ve joined forces with Remember A Charity, the largest consortium of its kind in the UK working to promote legacy giving.

You can visit the Remember A Charity website to find out how to leave a gift to Remus when making a Will.

With 35%* of people saying they would consider including a gift to charity after providing for their family and friends in their Will, and only 7%* end up doing so, there is huge potential to increase income from legacies. If, together, we can grow the sector by just 4%, we could raise an extra £1 billion for UK charities.

• 7.3% per cent of the UK have left a gift to charity in their will. A 4% increase would raise a further £1 billion for good causes every year.
• We understand that family and loved ones will always take priority – remembering a charity in your will doesn’t mean excluding others.
• A gift to charity in your Will does not have to mean large amounts of money.  A small gift can make a very real difference.

A refreshed consumer campaign which launched in 2009 around the theme of ‘Make your last wishes something to remember’ has made positive inroads in changing people’s attitudes. For example, 60% of those who had seen the TV ads said ‘it made them think it was possible to leave a legacy as well as provide for family and friends’.

The annual Remember A Charity Week, which the consortium runs in September each year, gives us a perfect opportunity to promote legacies both internally and externally.

You can visit the Remember A Charity website to find a solicitor in your local area, who will be able to advise you on leaving gifts to Remus Horse Sanctuary when making a Will.

The campaign not only creates enthusiasm among the general public, but also with legal advisors and other professionals who write Wills. Our collective aim is for all professional advisors to prompt their clients to consider leaving a charitable gift in their Will.

We can all help the campaign to succeed, thereby growing the legacy market, by spreading the legacy giving messages, particularly to our own colleagues and staff and also with charity supporters.

However, please don’t wait until next September to give this some thought! We need your help today and every day!

For more information please contact Sue Burton or visit our website.

 

 

*TNS Social 2008

Remember Remus In Your Will And Ensure Your Love Of Animals Lives On

Making a Will is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. And it’s a lot more affordable and straightforward than you think.

Legacies are vital to the very survival of Remus Horse Sanctuary, a fact that most of its supporters don’t realise. To raise some much-needed awareness, the Sanctuary has joined forces with Remember A Charity, the largest consortium of its kind in the UK working to promote legacy giving.

With 35%* of people saying they would consider including a gift to charity after providing for their family and friends in their Will, and only 7%* end up doing so, there is huge potential to increase income from legacies. If, together, we can grow the sector by just 4%, we could raise an extra £1 billion for UK charities.

• 7.3% per cent of the UK have left a gift to charity in their Will. A 4% increase would raise a further £1 billion for good causes every year.
• Remus understand that family and loved ones will always take priority – remembering a charity in your will doesn’t mean excluding others.
• A gift to charity in your Will does not have to mean large amounts of money.  A small gift can make a very real difference.

A refreshed consumer campaign which launched in 2009 around the theme of ‘Make your last wishes something to remember’ has made positive inroads in changing people’s attitudes. For example, 60% of those who had seen the TV ads said ‘it made them think it was possible to leave a legacy as well as provide for family and friends’.

The annual Remember A Charity Week, which the consortium runs in September each year, gives charities the perfect opportunity to promote legacies both internally and externally.

The campaign not only creates enthusiasm among the general public, but also with legal advisers and other professionals who write Wills. The collective aim is for all professional advisers to prompt their clients to consider leaving a charitable gift in their Will.

Sue Burton, Founder at Remus Horse Sanctuary commented: “We can all help the campaign to succeed, thereby growing the legacy market, by spreading the legacy giving messages, particularly to our own colleagues and staff and also with our members and supporters.

“However, please don’t wait until next September to give this some thought! We need your help today and every day!”

For more information please contact Sue Burton or visit the Sanctuary website.