A gift in your Will as small as 1% can help ensure seafarers and their families will never lack the support they need in times of hardship.
Around the world, an estimated 1.6 million seafarers, of which 23,000 are active UK seafarers, are exposed to the hazards of a life at sea. Gruelling physical labour, antisocial hours, no guarantee of a stable income, and months of isolation.
Last year, we awarded £3.1m in funding to support seafarers in need and their families.
This was all thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors and the hard work of the maritime welfare organisations we fund.
After providing for your family and friends, a gift in your Will can help hardworking seafarers and their families live dignified lives free of hardship long into the future.
How can I leave a legacy to The Seafarers' Charity?
It is not expensive to make a Will, nor is it too complicated or time consuming, but it is important that it is executed properly. A ‘home made’ Will may be sufficient in a simple case, but it is best to go to a solicitor and get reliable professional advice to suit your own circumstances.
When you are drawing up your Will, we would of course recommend that you make adequate provision for your family, before considering making a charitable gift. Your solicitor will also be able to advise you about this.
Your legacy should be left to The Seafarers' Charity of 8 Hatherley Street, London SW1P 2QT.
Where could I find a solicitor to write my Will?
We recommend that a Will is written by a qualified professional. You can also write your will online yourself with our partners Bequeathed. Just follow the easy steps and then receives up to 30 minutes of free legal advice from an accredited firm.
I would like to leave a gift to The Seafarers’ Charity in my will, what wording do I need to include?
If you wish to leave a specific legacy to The Seafarers’ Charity the following wording is appropriate for inclusion in your will:
Specific legacy:
I give and bequeath to The Seafarers’ Charity of 8 Hatherley Street, London, SW1P 2QT (formerly Seafarers UK, formerly King George's Fund for Sailors) Registered Charity, no. 226446 in England and Wales, the sum of £………… free of tax and all duty, such sum to be applied to the general purposes of the said Charity.
If you wish to leave the remainder or a portion of your estate to the Charity the following wording is appropriate:
Residuary legacy:
I give, devise and bequeath all (or a specified share, e.g., 50% of) the residue of my estate absolutely to The Seafarers’ Charity (formerly Seafarers UK, formerly King George's Fund for Sailors) Registered Charity, no. 226446 in England and Wales, such residue to be applied to the general purposes of the said Charity.
Do I have enough money to leave a gift in my Will for The Seafarers' Charity?
It is a common myth that you have to be wealthy to leave a gift in your Will, but nothing could be further from the truth. Every gift, no matter how big or small, goes towards supporting seafarers in need and their families and every gift is important to us and the work that we do.
I already have a Will. How can I make a change to include The Seafarers' Charity?
If you have already drawn up your Will, you can use a document called a Codicil to make alterations, including adding new beneficiaries to your Will. Your Codicil must be signed by you and two witnesses.
Codicils are generally used for straightforward changes. If a complicated change is involved, it is usually advisable to make a new Will. If you have any questions about adding a Codicil to your Will, you should seek advice from your solicitor.
Should I let The Seafarers' Charity know I’ve left a gift in my Will?
We understand that writing a Will is a very personal matter. If you feel comfortable speaking about your intentions, we would love to be able to thank you, but if you don’t want to tell us, please know you have our eternal gratitude.
Get in touch
To learn more about how to leave a gift in your Will, contact:
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