Leaving a Legacy to Street Kids Direct
MAKE A WILL and make a lasting difference to some of the most vulnerable children in the world.
Making a Will and leaving a Gift to your chosen Charity is a big decision, but it does not need to be complex or challenging.
Our goal is to guide and support you through this process. We have outlined on this page some typical questions (and the answers) to issues raised by people like yourself considering leaving a Legacy Gift to charity.
We have also outlined some important points to consider. We hope this information is helpful and makes the process simple and easy to understand.
StreetKidsDirect (SKD) is a UK registered, volunteer-run charity devoted to transforming the lives of vulnerable children who live on the streets or face the perilous threshold of street life in Guatemala and Honduras.
These children confront daily hardships, from grinding poverty and the pressure to contribute to family income, to the risk of being ensnared by gangs, leading to a grim future marked by crime, drugs, and exploitation. Tragically, such paths often result in alarmingly short life expectancies.
But there’s a beacon of hope - education. It is the gateway to a life brimming with possibilities and a promising future.
At SKD, we collaborate with local organisations, channeling our efforts into outreach, mentoring, and prevention programmes. Our dedicated teams support over 800 children and their families every week.
A donation from your Will can profoundly impact our capacity to offer sustained care, support, and mentoring to children at risk.
Our vision is to see no more street-living children. Your partnership with us will help us reach more children around the world in the coming years.
Our Promise to you
We promise to use your gift wisely - 100% of your donation will be spent on projects helping the vulnerable children we support.
We absolutely recognise that your loved ones come first.
We will not put you under any pressure to leave a gift to us in your Will – it is entirely your decision.
You never have to tell us your intentions – we respect your right to privacy.
Your Will writer only shares with us information of your pledge if you consent for them to do so.
We understand that your personal circumstances might change and there may be a time that you wish to remove us from your Will.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Wills Expensive?
Generally, No
The cost depends on how you create your Will, but most Wills are fairly straightforward. In addition, SKD has made an arrangement with online Will Writers Octopus Legacy so that you can create your Will or update your Will with your chosen charity donation completely free of charge.
For more information on this, don't hesitate to get in touch with our partner, Octopus Legacy, on 020 4525 3605.
How long does it take to write a Will?
It is generally more straightforward than you think.
All you need to do is collect all the information about your finances (savings, property, investments, personal items, etc.) and decide who you want to leave each item to. Once you have this information, completing your will and transferring your requests onto it can be a speedy process.
How can I write my Will?
Once you complete your personal finance information, you can contact Octopus Legacy (or your local solicitor), who will assist you in writing your Will.
This can be done online, by arranging a telephone call, or by visiting a member of the Octopus legacy team in person—it is your choice. Thanks to our arrangement with Octopus Legacy, each of these is completely free of charge to you. Simply call Octopus Legacy on 020 4525 3605 for more information or to make an appointment.
Alternatively, you can contact your local solicitor and arrange your Will, including any Legacy Gift, through them.
What type of Gift should I consider?
There are 2 main types of gifts you can leave in your Will:
- A fixed amount can be any amount that suits you and your finances.
- A percentage of your estate remains after all other amounts of money, property and other specified items are given to others. Formally called a Residuary Gift, it can be from 1% to 100% of your estate, whatever you feel appropriate.
I already have a Will. How can I update it to leave a Gift to a Charity?
Updating your will and adding a charity Legacy is a straightforward and quick process. Don't hesitate to get in touch with Octopus Legacy or your local solicitor to arrange this
I’ve left a gift in my Will to StreetKidsDirect. Should I tell you?
It is helpful to know of any intended gifts so we can thank you for your very kind generosity and keep you informed of our work and its impact and benefits on the vulnerable children we support. It also helps us to plan for the future if we are aware of future gifts.
It is not essential, however, and we totally respect any desire you have to keep your intentions private.
What do I do next?
Don't hesitate to contact Octopus Legacy directly at 020 4525 3605 to discuss setting up your Will or updating it.
If you have any general questions or would like more information, please call Steve Raher at StreetKidsDirect on 07984 353155 or email him at [email protected]
We will not pressurise you at all and recognise this is a very personal and important decision for you and your family.
Thank you in advance for considering making a Legacy Gift to StreetKidsDirect.
Some Important Points to Consider
1. Decide who should be the Executors and Guardians. The Executors will be the person(s) responsible for carrying out the instructions in the person's will and handling their estate. If you have young children, consider who you want to appoint as their Guardians.
2. Check for any Inheritance Tax Savings (IHT) you can make. Gifts to charities are free from Inheritance Tax and can reduce the overall IHT liability for your estate. We strongly recommend speaking to a solicitor or a financial advisor on this and any other tax issues.
3. Keep all documents safe.
It’s essential to keep your Will (and any updates) in a safe place, and you may also want to keep a list of all of your assets with these important documents.