Leave a legacy
Will you pass on your love of music?
A legacy is a gift you can leave to a person or a charity in your Will. The gift can be a fixed sum of money of any amount, a percentage of your estate or an item. By writing a Will, you’ll make your wishes of how you’d like your estate to be passed on known.
What's your legacy?
Can you remember how your musical journey started? Perhaps it was when a grandparent sat you beside them at the piano. Or when a teacher saw how you came alive during music lessons. Or maybe when you were given your first guitar and played your first chords.
However you first got involved in music and wherever it’s led you, you can help a talented child start or continue on their musical journey by leaving a gift in your Will.
Young Sounds was founded by a legacy from Robert Lewin. Since 1998 that legacy has given thousands of young musicians from low-income families the chance to reach their potential.
Every year we work with over 1,000 young musicians across the UK. But the need for our support is ever increasing. A gift in your Will, whether large or small, is a powerful way to support our work for the long term. Each one helps us change the future for young musicians - whilst ensuring your love of music is passed on for years to come.
After you have looked after your friends, family and those closest to you, a gift in your Will could do amazing things.
The benefits
By making or amending your Will with a qualified solicitor you'll:
- Set clear and up to date intentions.
- Look after your loved ones and the causes you care about.
- Decide how you wish to be remembered.
Gifts to charities are also exempt from inheritance tax – if 10% or more of your estate is left to charity your Inheritance Tax rate may also be reduced. We’d advise you to speak to your solicitor for advice on your individual tax circumstances.
Types of gifts
There are three main ways to support us with a gift in your Will:
Residuary
A percentage of your estate after your other beneficiaries have been provided for.
Pecuniary
A fixed sum of money.
Specific
A particular item including instruments, property, shares, bonds and pension funds.
If you’d like to support us with an item, please contact us to discuss whether we can accept this gift.
The process
If you already have a solicitor, you can contact them directly to make or amend your Will.
We can also help by putting you in touch with a solicitor. We’ve partnered with the National Free Wills Network, who offer a free Will writing service. This network gives you access to hundreds of solicitors across the country, offering in person meetings, to make it easier for you to tailor your Will to your needs. If you do use this service, you’re not obliged to leave a gift to Young Sounds.
1. Order your pack by filling an enquiry form.
2. You’ll receive your pack in the post with details of qualified solicitors that are local to you.
3. Your chosen solicitor will help you write or amend a simple Will free of charge.
Our promise
- Young Sounds UK is signed up to the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Practice.
- We completely understand that your loved ones come first when writing your Will.
- We’ll treat your intentions with sensitivity, respect and courtesy.
- You can change your mind at any time about leaving a gift to Young Sounds in your Will and we’ll respect your decision.
- We’ll use your gift wisely where it has the most impact for our young people and we’ll of course discuss any preferences you have for where your gift is used.
- You don’t have to tell us that you are leaving a legacy to Young Sounds. But if you’re happy for us to know, we’d love to welcome you as a member of our Robert Lewin Circle, with updates on our work and invitations to events.
- Any personal data you share with us will be handled sensitively and confidentially: www.youngsounds.org.uk/privacy-notice.
The Robert Lewin Circle
The Robert Lewin Circle recognises the generosity of those who have pledged to leave a gift to Young Sounds. If you do decide to leave a legacy, we’d be delighted to welcome you as a member of The Robert Lewin Circle and send you updates on our work and invitations to events.
“My husband and I were keen to ensure that when we no longer need it anymore, some of our money is used to benefit charities that we have supported throughout our lives. We think the work that Young Sounds does with young people is fabulous. We love that they enable children from all backgrounds to develop their musical skills. We found it very easy to add Young Sounds to our Wills. We did it via a meeting with our solicitor. It’s nice to know we have that box ticked now!”
Clare, member of The Robert Lewin Circle
The legacy that started it all!
On a sunny morning in July Michael Lewin invited Caius Lee to his home to share a story close to his heart: that of his uncle Bob and how his legacy started it all for Young Sounds UK.
"Why I’m leaving a legacy"
In this guest blog, Young Sounds Angel Diana Toeman MBE shares her and her late husband Richard’s musical journeys, how they came to hear about our work and why she’s made the decision to support Young Sounds in her Will.
"Isn’t that a lovely way to be remembered?!"
In this guest post, Young Sounds UK Trustee and Guardian Angel Lynda Beament shares how supporting Young Sounds celebrates the memory of her husband Mike and why she’s leaving a gift in her Will.
The Monica and Quintin Des Clayes Awards
In 2020 we launched the Monica and Quintin Des Clayes Awards, thanks to a generous legacy gift from the Des Clayes family. Each year, 25 young musicians from low income families will receive financial help for their music making and individual support for their musical progression.
“It’s such a privilege and joy to be a Young Sounds Angel.”
We recently spoke to Young Sounds Angel and legacy supporter, Handa Bray MBE, about what music and Young Sounds mean to her. Handa first discovered Young Sounds in 2016 through our fundraising concert at the beautiful Hatchlands Park in Surrey.
Contact us
Our Development Manager, Sanpreet Janjua, would be delighted to hear from you and talk to you about how your legacy will make a difference.
If you’ve already left a gift in your Will for Young Sounds we’d love to know so we can thank you.
If you’d like to have a chat about leaving a legacy to Young Sounds and what your gift could have the potential to do please get in touch.
Get in touch
Want to talk to us about supporting our work? Please feel free to contact our Development Manager if you have any questions.
Sanpreet Janjua
E: [email protected]
T: 0300 302 3422
