Be part of the change
Leave a gift in your will for an impact that lasts for street children
Legacy giving and a gift in your will is a way to ensure the values and causes you believe in can continue to be championed by the next generation.
When Roger Hayes, founding chair of our Development Board, passed away, he left a generous legacy to ensure our work for street-connected children could continue long into the future.
Roger’s unwavering passion and drive to support CSC’s work has helped to shape and sustain our work throughout the last few years. By remembering CSC in his will, he made a powerful commitment to future generations, reflecting his belief in systemic, rights-based change.
His legacy is a testament to how one individual’s foresight and compassion continues to transform lives across the world.
Why Trudy is remembering street children in her will
Trudy Davies
CSC Ambassador
Street children are one of the most vulnerable children on the planet. That’s why they need strong organisations like the Consortium for Street Children (CSC) who works tirelessly on their behalf.
As a child I witnessed atrocities and experienced terrible privation in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam.
Once, I remember, a small boy arrived in the dead of night carrying a battered little suitcase. A message inside read: “please look after our little Paul. He is 4 years old. He does not like carrots”. His life depended on the streets, and his survival depended on being protected rather than rejected or persecuted.
The war for me ended a long time ago – but not my pledge to protect children like Paul in the future. Street children – who live or depend on the streets for survival – are still with us. They may call the street home for different reasons – conflict, migration, family breakdown, abuse or illness.
I think this must be the greatest shame of our planet, of our times.
One part of my promise for these children is that I am leaving a legacy in my will to support CSC. I want to ensure CSC continues to speak up for and improve the lives of the world’s street children .
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why do I need a will?
When you write a will, you specify what will happen to your money and belongings after you pass away. It is particularly important if you have children or you would like to make sure that your estate is managed according to your wishes.
If you want to apportion money in your will to a charitable cause, you will need to state that in your will.
What happens if I die without having written a will?
If you die without having written a will, the law decides what happens to your estate. These are called the rules of intestacy. According to these rules, only married or civil partners and some other close relatives can inherit your estate.
Giving to charity and Inheritance Tax
According to gov.uk, if you leave something to charity in your will, then amount left to charity won’t count towards the total taxable value of your estate. This is called leaving a ‘charitable legacy’.
You can also cut the Inheritance Tax rate on the rest of your estate from 40% to 36%, if you leave at least 10% of your ‘net estate’ to a charity.
How do I include a charity in my will?
Before drafting your will, you will need to make a list of all of your assets—the things you own, such as property, vehicles, and valuable items like jewellery or art.
Then, make a list of your liabilities—that is, the things you owe, like a mortgage or any loans that you need to pay back.
Finally, make a list of all the people you would like to leave money to—this might be family and friends, but also can be charitable organisations and causes that you support.
Once you have these details listed, you will need to hire a solicitor. The Law Society can help you find a solicitor in your area. For more information, call 0207 242 1222 or visit The Law Society website.
How can I leave a gift to charity in my will?
There are three ways you can remember CSC or another charity in your will. These are:
- A pecuniary gift
This is a fixed sum of money from your estate.
If you choose to leave a pecuniary gift, it is worth regularly reviewing this as their value can be reduced by inflation, which means they can be worth less than you originally planned. - A residuary gift
This is a share of your estate once your family and other people you specified in your will have received their shares. You may choose to leave all of the residual to CSC or another charity, or you can specify a share, such as 10 or 20%. The advantage of this type of gift is that it will keep its value over time. - A specific gift
You may choose to leave an item of value, such as jewellery, artwork, or an antique. You could even choose to leave property or shares. Any of these types of gifts would need to be described in detail in your will.
Once you have chosen the type of gift you wish to leave, you will need to include the charity’s full name, address, and its registered charity number in your will.
For CSC, this is:
The Consortium for Street Children
Room 4, St Margaret’s House
15 Old Ford Road
Bethnal Green
London
E2 9PJ
Charity number: 1046579
How do I add a charity to an existing will?
If you have other major changes to make, you may want to draft a completely new will.
However, most people choose to add a Codicil to their existing will. You can download a Codicil Form to leave a gift to CSC here.