If you have fond memories of your time at Bishop's, leaving a gift in your will can recognise the role the School has played in your life and the role that you can play in its future.
Everyone at our school has benefited from the generosity of a long line of philanthropic donors that began in1890 with the bequest of one visionary man, Bishop John Wordsworth. Bishop Wordsworth wanted to transform the lives of children by founding a school in the heart of Salisbury to nurture intellect, build character, and provide opportunity. We would like to encourage our alumni and friends to continue this charitable tradition through which the School has flourished.
Every legacy gift, regardless of size, helps us to enhance the fabric and facilities of the School. These gifts also support our important co-curricular activities, ensuring that talented young people will continue to have the best possible opportunity to fulfil their potential.
We understand that the future is uncertain and that making a will is a significant and personal decision. Naturally, the welfare of those closest to you will come first. However, we hope that your own experience of Bishop Wordsworth’s had a positive influence on you and that you will consider making a pledge to support your old School in your will. As a small thank you, legacy pledgers are invited to join our 1890 Society and participate in special events each year.
On behalf of the School I would like to thank you for your interest. It is greatly appreciated by me, my colleagues and our pupils of today and tomorrow. Thank you for considering leaving a gift that will help ensure the future of Bishop Wordsworth’s.
Mike Thorne, Head Master
By including Bishop Wordsworth’s School (a registered charity) in your Will, you will be leaving a lasting impact on future generations.
Leaving a gift in your will is an opportunity for you to give to Bishop Wordsworth’s Grammar School beyond your lifetime.
You choose how you would like your gift to be used.
A gift to Bishop Wordsworth’s Grammar School means you can personalise your donation to an area of School life which means the most to you. You can choose to support a specific area, such as capital projects, sport, the arts or a particular taught subject. Most supporters choose to donate to “where the School needs it most” to allow support to be given to where the School feels it is needed at that time and permits us the greatest flexibility to fulfil our educational aims.
There are several ways to remember Bishop Wordsworth's in your Will:
As Bishop Wordsworth’s has charitable status there are also significant benefits for UK taxpayers to leaving a gift in your Will as it can help reduce the total tax liability for your family and overall estate:
For further information on the tax benefits of leaving a gift in a will to a charity please see the HMRC website.
However you decide to remember Bishop Wordsworth’s, we endeavour to follow your wishes and intentions wherever possible. Please speak to the Philanthropy Office, who can work with you to ensure your gift is practical and workable for you and the School. We have enclosed a ‘Sharing Your Intentions’ form to allow us to ensure your gift can be spent in exactly the way you would like and to ensure your donation is achievable for the School.
Informing us of your intentions does not bind you in any way and you are not obliged to tell us that you have made provision for Bishop Wordsworth’s in your will. However, if you choose to share this information, please fill out the ‘Sharing your Intentions’ form so that we can ensure that you receive appropriate thanks and ensure your gift can be spent in exactly the way you would like, and to ensure your donation is achievable for the School. You may also wish to join our pledgers’ group, the 1890 Society. Rest assured your response, and any subsequent correspondence or discussion, will be treated in the strictest confidence. Please contact Caroline Popham at: cep@bishopwordsworths.org.uk
To recognise those planning to remember the school in their will, we have established the 1890 Society, named for the year in which the school was founded. Members of the 1890 Society will have the chance to learn about the future impact of their contributions and will receive invitations to exclusive events throughout the year. This Society serves as a fantastic opportunity to connect with others who share the same commitment to supporting the school’s future.
“I owe everything I have achieved to Bishop Wordsworth’s. During my lifetime I can make relatively small gifts to the School. My legacy pledge allows me to make a much more meaningful contribution later”
“Bishop’s encouraged me to do the things I was good at, giving me a self-confidence and positive outlook on life which has never left me. I owe Bishop Wordsworth’s everything”
If you would like to leave a gift in your will to Bishop Wordsworth’s School, we strongly recommend you that you speak to a solicitor to ensure that your wishes will be carried out as you intend and that the changes you make are legally binding.
The essential details you will need for your solicitor are:
An example of wording you could use:
I leave X / a X% share of my residuary estate for Bishop Wordsworth’s Trust, Exeter Street, Salisbury, SP1 2ED (Registered charity number: 309475) for its general charitable purposes and I declare that the receipt of the proper officer for the time being of the said charity shall be a sufficient discharge to my executors.
Leaving a gift in your Will to Bishop Wordsworth’s School is a very personal and important decision and we are here to help. If you would like to speak to someone about your gift, please email cep@bishopwordsworths.org.uk or call 01722 333851. Anything you tell us will be confidential and not legally binding.