Gifts in Wills have a lasting impact at Guide Dogs, helping more people with sight loss experience life-changing firsts for generations to come. In fact, nearly two out of three guide dog partnerships are only made possible thanks to gifts in Wills from kind people like you.
Any gift, no matter the size, helps provide our vital services to the growing number of people with sight loss, so that more people can live the lives they choose in the future. We’d be so grateful if you’d consider leaving a gift in your Will to Guide Dogs, after taking care of any loved ones.
Get your free guide, which shows the difference a gift in your Will could make, as well as information about writing a Will.
Your Will is important. It’s the only way to make sure the people and causes you care about are looked after. Find out how to write or update your Will for free.
Information for legal advisors and executors.
Every day, 250 people in the UK start to lose their sight. With the number of people living with sight loss in the UK set to double by 2050, the need for our services is growing. By donating a gift in your Will to Guide Dogs, you can help us provide vital support for generations to come.
Doing those really simple things that sighted people take for granted holds so much more weight. When you've had that freedom taken away from you, getting a guide dog who just opens the world back up again is a really amazing feeling.
Explore our virtual park, where each flower celebrates the memory of the more than 85,000 people who’ve left a gift in their Will, and the incredible impact they’ve had.
Inspiring stories
Read some incredible stories of how gifts in Wills have helped people live lives full of experience and opportunity.
If you decide to leave a special gift to Guide Dogs in your Will, we are incredibly grateful for your support and want you to feel informed, reassured and in control of your decision. We’re always here to answer any questions you may have about leaving a legacy at giftsinwills@guidedogs.org.uk.
Your wishes and loved ones come first
We understand that the people you care about come first. We will treat you, your loved ones, and your next of kin, with respect and sensitivity. We also recognise that circumstances change, and we understand if you choose to change your plans at any time.
Your gift will make a lasting difference
Your kind gift will be handled with great care to help transform the lives of people with sight loss for generations to come. You’ll help provide a wide range of life-changing services to give people the freedom and independence to live the life they choose.
We're here to support you
We'll only contact you with your permission, in the way that suits you best, and you can change your preferences at any time. You, your loved ones, and your next of kin, are always welcome to come to an event to see first-hand the difference you’ll make.
You could leave a gift to Guide Dogs in the following ways:
It’s natural to change your mind, and we understand circumstances can change. That’s why it’s important to regularly review your Will, so that it’s up to date and still reflects your wishes. You can instruct a solicitor to add an amendment called a codicil to an existing Will, but if it’s a major change you may need to make a new Will. Find out about our free Will writing services.
Your Will is a very important document. Not only is it a reflection of the life you’ve lived and the values you hold, but it's the only way to make sure the people and causes you care about are looked after as you wish. Writing a Will could cost around £150 or more, depending on your situation. Without a Will, the law decides who gets what, but it might not be who you’d expect. It can also give you peace of mind and make things easier for your loved ones at an already difficult time.
You may be interested to know that Guide Dogs has partnered with a number of Will writing services to offer supporters the opportunity to have a simple Will written or updated for free. There’s no obligation to include a gift to Guide Dogs in your Will, but we hope you might consider supporting us in this way.
Having a Will isn’t a legal requirement, but if you die without one, the law decides who gets what, and it might not be who you’d think. A Will is the only way to make sure the people and causes you care about are looked after in the future. It can also make things easier for your loved ones at an already difficult time.
Yes, absolutely. Whatever the size of your gift, it will help to fund our life-changing services, enabling people with sight loss to live the life they choose. And nearly two out of every three guide dogs are made possible by gifts in Wills from people like you.
Firstly, thank you! These are the details to include in your Will:
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Hillfields
Burghfield Common
Reading
RG7 3YG
A charity registered in England and Wales (209617), Scotland (SC038979) and Isle of Man (1334).
We’d always advise that you have your Will drafted by a solicitor to ensure your wishes are properly recorded and carried out as you’d like. Here are some suggested examples you may find useful:
Residuary Gift (the remains of your estate after any specific gifts have been distributed, and any debts have been paid):
“I give free of Inheritance Tax (…%) of the residue of my estate to The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association…”
A Pecuniary Gift (a specific sum):
“I give free of Inheritance Tax the sum of...pounds to The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association…”
Then follow with:
“…whose Registered Office is situated at Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire RG7 3YG (Registered Charity No. 209617 or SC038979 or 1334), for the general charitable purposes of the Association, and I declare that the receipt of an authorised official for the time being shall be a good discharge to my executors.”
For a pecuniary gift, you may wish your gift to be adjusted for inflation. We suggest you see a solicitor for suitable wording.
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax on the portion of your estate (property, money and possessions) that exceeds a certain level at the time of your death. Gifts to Guide Dogs and other charities are often 100% tax free, and they may also reduce the IHT burden on the rest of your estate. Every case is different, so we always recommend talking to a solicitor or financial advisor or visit gov.uk/inheritance-tax for more details.
You don’t have to tell us, but we’d love to know so we can say thank you for your kindness, as well as plan for the future.
An executor is someone you trust to carry out the instructions of your Will – typically a friend or family member, though it could be a solicitor. It’s common to name at least two Executors in your Will.