Have questions?
Contact us to find out more about leaving a gift in your Will to Down Syndrome UK.
Leaving a gift in your will
By including Down Syndrome UK in your Will, you're making a lasting impact that helps support individuals with Down’s syndrome, their families, and the research that advances their health and well‑being. Your generosity may also inspire others to support our work
Types of legacy you can leave
Pecuniary gift
A fixed sum of money
Residuary gift
A percentage of your estate after other bequests, debts, and taxes.
Specific gift
Property, shares, items of value
*Residuary gifts are particularly flexible, keeping pace with inflation and the changing value of your estate.
Tax benefits
Leaving a gift to charity removes that amount from your estate before Inheritance Tax is calculated—so it’s exempt from IHT. Plus, if you leave 10% or more of your estate to charity, the rate on the remaining taxable estate may drop from 40% to 36%—potentially saving more tax for your loved ones
What to include in your Will
To ensure your Will is valid and unambiguous, include:
Our full charity name
Registered charity number (insert number here)
Registered office address
If leaving a residuary or pecuniary gift, we recommend wording such as:
“I give £_____ / _% of my residuary estate to Down Syndrome UK, [registered address], Registered Charity Number [insert]. I declare that the receipt of the appropriate officer shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my trustees.”
Planning and support
We recommend using a qualified solicitor or Will‑writer. While some charities offer free Will writing services (e.g. Free Wills Month, Farewill schemes), please avoid “DIY” Wills which can risk drafting errors.
Please note: it is best if your solicitor, rather than the charity or its representatives, drafts or witnesses the document.
If you wish to let us know about your plans, we would be delighted to thank you personally (on your terms) and to discuss how your gift might be used.