LEGACY GUIDE

HELP US BE THERE FOR DONKEYS. ALWAYS.

PLEASE KEEP THIS BOOKLET SOMEWHERE SAFEWe realise that now may not be the right time for you to update your will. If that is the case, please keep this booklet with your important papers for future reference when the time comes.

OUR VITAL WORK IS LARGELY BUILT ON GIFTS IN WILLS. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING WHETHER OR NOT A LEGACY TO THE DONKEY SANCTUARY IS RIGHT FOR YOU.

WHY LEGACIES MATTER

PUTTING DONKEYS FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD. ALWAYS.

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<Mike BakerChief Executive.Shown in Main Yard at our Sidmouth sanctuary enjoying quality time with one of the donkeys helped by gifts left in wills.

<Mike BakerChief Executive.Shown in Main Yard at our Sidmouth sanctuary enjoying quality time with one of the donkeys helped by gifts left in wills.

WHY LEGACIES MATTER

The Donkey Sanctuary was founded by Dr Elisabeth Svendsen MBE in 1969. A passionate champion of donkeys, she worked tirelessly to defend the rights of abused, neglected and abandoned donkeys across the world.

A legacy donation is an opportunity to leave something behind that will last forever. Something that can enrich the lives of donkeys and communities across the UK and the globe. Always.

There are many ways to support our work and we are grateful for every donation we receive. Thank you for asking for this legacy guide – a particularly personal and powerful way for you to help our donkeys.

Over half of our lifesaving work is paid for by gifts left in wills by farsighted supporters. We never forget their generosity. Indeed, each and every one of these kind individuals is remembered forever on our memorial walls around the sanctuary in Sidmouth.

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The Donkey Sanctuary’s team of Welfare Advisers rescues donkeys in distress all across the UK. Each year our UK sanctuaries look after thousands of donkeys that have been neglected, abused or abandoned. We are also here to support hundreds of owners, showing them how to look after their donkeys and protect their long-term health.

We work worldwide, sharing our knowledge and skills to help whole communities to look after their donkeys better, focusing on their welfare and helping their owners’ livelihood in the process.

But we know that, together, we can do so much more. Back in 1974 The Donkey Sanctuary could look after just 200 donkeys. A generation later we reach over a million. What will be the legacy of our generation?

Thank you once again for requesting this guide and I hope, as you read on, you are as inspired as I am to help reach many more donkeys in the future. Please will you consider whether leaving a legacy to The Donkey Sanctuary is right for you?

With very best wishes

Mike Baker, Chief Executive

Over half of our lifesaving work is paid for by gifts left in wills by farsighted supporters.

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A LEGATOR’S STORY

SELFLESSLY DEVOTED. ALWAYS.

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<Jennifer Gill with Zebedee

<Jennifer Gill with Zebedee

JENNIFER GILL – A LEGATOR’S STORY

“I CAN TRUST THE DONKEY SANCTUARY TO USE MY LEGACY WISELY.” I have always loved donkeys. When my beloved uncle Chris died he left a sum of money in his will for me, as his Executor, to donate to a charity of my choosing. I donated my uncle’s bequest to The Donkey Sanctuary. End of story, I thought – but no! When I moved to Devon, my husband and I were on a drive through the countryside and happened to come across The Donkey Sanctuary. We stopped and had lunch there – and I just couldn’t believe that my uncle’s name was on the wall. Seeing his

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name, Christopher R. Woodyard, made me stop in my tracks and I burst into tears as I was so moved to see it there.

I immediately adopted Little Vijay. I love coming to the sanctuary whenever we are in the Sidmouth area. I have left a bequest in my will for The Donkey Sanctuary as I have been so touched by the work that you do and I wish you all well for the future.

Jennifer Gill, Supporter

“ I HAVE BEEN SO TOUCHED BY THE WORK THAT YOU DO.”

With your support we can extend our help to more donkeys today and in the years to come.

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HOW YOUR MONEY IS SPENT

WE WILL CARE FOR DONKEYS. ALWAYS.

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<Jane BruceDonkey Welfare Adviser.Shown with Echo who was rescued from a bleak field in Northern Ireland with horribly overgrown and twisted hooves.

<Jane BruceDonkey Welfare Adviser.Shown with Echo who was rescued from a bleak field in Northern Ireland with horribly overgrown and twisted hooves.

HOW YOUR MONEY IS SPENT

Working on the front line as a Welfare Adviser for The Donkey Sanctuary can be physically and emotionally tough. Every day brings a challenge.

That was certainly the case one New Year’s Eve when Jane Bruce was called out to help a donkey called Echo, who was all alone, soaked to the skin and in terrible pain.

He had been cruelly abandoned in a bleak field in Northern Ireland with no-one to care for him. Having to search for food and water to survive, and only sparse natural shelter to protect him from the weather, Echo was suffering terribly.

Left to fend for himself, Echo only had muddy grass to feed on and dirty rain water to keep him alive. He was suffering intense pain caused by his horribly overgrown and twisted hooves.

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Jane recalls the shocking neglect: “His hooves had curled round so badly that they were almost touching his forelegs. He was shifting his weight from one foot to another in order to lessen the pain. They were certainly some of the longest, most awfully twisted hooves I have ever witnessed.”

Jane knew that Echo could not be left to suffer like this a moment longer. She needed to take urgent steps to get him to safety. Within 24 hours Echo was taken into the care of The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland.

Echo had a full veterinary assessment and had the curled and twisted excess hoof removed. He could now walk free from pain for the first time in years.

Echo is no longer alone – his ordeal is over. He is warm, cared for, loved and pain free, enjoying spending time with his new donkey friends.

This incredible story of salvation would not have been possible without gifts left in supporters’ wills. By leaving a gift in your will to The Donkey Sanctuary, you’ll be helping us to reach many more suffering donkeys just like Echo, desperately waiting to be saved.

Over 80 pence in every £1 goes directly where it is needed most – to looking after donkeys in our care.

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HOW YOUR MONEY IS SPENT

STANDING UP FOR THE MISTREATED. ALWAYS.

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<Margartu and her older brother Romia in Ethiopia, whose donkeys are vital to their livelihood.

<Margartu and her older brother Romia in Ethiopia, whose donkeys are vital to their livelihood.

HOW YOUR MONEY IS SPENT

In the Ethiopian village of Bulbulla, 10-year-old Margartu and her older brother Romia have big responsibilities on their shoulders. Every day they collect the water that will sustain their family and others in their community, a task which is impossible without the help of their family donkeys.

Each day after school they collect their donkeys and begin the long journey to the nearest water point. Along with other local children, they fill large yellow containers with fresh water. The containers are bulky and heavy when full. They are difficult for the children to lift, let alone carry. A donkey and cart can collect up to 20 containers of water in one journey, enough to supply Margartu and Romia’s family and others in the community. Without their donkeys, it would be impossible for them to collect the water these families need to survive.

When not collecting water, the donkeys and carts are used to transport farm produce and animal feed, providing the family’s

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primary source of income. Additional income is earned by using them to provide people with transport, and this enables the family to participate in a savings scheme that brings social as well as financial benefits. Margartu and Romia know the value of their donkeys, but they also respect them and help with their daily care. “I feel lots of affection towards the donkey,” says Margartu. “We will keep her forever and, even if she is old, I won’t load her anymore, but I’ll still look after her.”

By leaving a gift to The Donkey Sanctuary in your will, you’re helping us to be there for donkeys and mules like these across the world, who provide a vital lifeline to some of the world’s poorest communities.

DONKEYS SUPPORT THE LIVELIHOOD OF

500MPEOPLE IN THE WORLD’S POOREST COMMUNITIES

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YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

TRANSPARENCY, HONESTY AND INTEGRITY. ALWAYS.

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YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

IS IT THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE A WILL?Everyone should have a will. If you die without making a will, the law decides what happens to your property and possessions and this may lead to difficulties for your loved ones.

It is particularly important to make or update your will if you have recently married, had children, become ill, been bereaved or experienced a significant change in your circumstances.

HOW SHOULD I MAKE A WILL?It is possible to write your own will but even simple wills must comply with legal formalities. One mistake can invalidate it. We strongly recommend using a solicitor to draw up your will. If there isn’t one near you then look online. The cost will vary according to the complexity of your will so get more than one quote.

IS LEAVING A LEGACY RIGHT FOR ME?Only you can decide that. Legacies are wonderful gifts but they are not right for everybody. We much prefer that you look after your loved ones first – and then perhaps consider The Donkey Sanctuary for anything left over.

AREN’T LEGACIES SUPPOSED TO BE BIG GIFTS?They can be. Some people leave everything they own to charity. Others leave small amounts of money. We are equally grateful for every gift, regardless of size, as we know that everyone’s circumstances vary. To show our gratitude, every legator’s name is inscribed forever on our memory walls at The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth.

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WHAT SORT OF LEGACY COULD I LEAVE?Your solicitor will help you decide this based on your circumstances. The three basic legacies are specific (an item, such as a ring), pecuniary (a fixed sum of money) and residuary (a percentage of everything you own). We suggest you consider structuring your will as a set of residuary legacies so that each beneficiary gets the proportion you wish, irrespective of what happens to the value of your estate between now and then. However, this is not right for everyone and your solicitor will advise you further.

You can also set up a 'life interest' legacy where a loved one benefits from (for example) a house whilst they live and, on their death, the house is bequeathed to your preferred charity.

ARE THERE ANY TAX CONSIDERATIONS?Legacies to charity are free of inheritance tax, meaning that by leaving a charitable legacy you can potentially bring down the tax on your estate to zero. Tax rates and bands can vary; your solicitor will provide a calculation.

HOW SHOULD I MAKE A WILL?Your solicitor will be able to do this. To ensure there are no mistakes, it is best to bring this leaflet with you. The solicitor will need to know our charity number (264818) and our address (The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 0NU).

If you plan to write your own will, let us know and we can provide wording for the legacy.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?Many people prefer to keep the contents of their will private and, of course, that is absolutely fine. But if you tell us that we have been named, it will allow us to thank you properly and occasionally to invite you to special events. You can tell us by contacting Jane Fawell (details on following page) or, if you received this pack in the post, by returning the form on the covering letter.

Anything you tell us is kept in strictest confidence – and nothing prevents you from changing your mind at any time.

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Supporter legacies currently help us to rescue and care for...

7,000DONKEYS

IN THE UK &EUROPE

AND HAVEHELPED GIVE

LOVING CARE TO20,000

DONKEYSIN THE LAST

50 YEARS

Data protection statement Personal information submitted by you in connection with a specific issue, service or product will only be used by us to address the issue or to comply with your request.

Your information may be used to send you details of:

– Products or services that we offer that we have identified as likely to be of interest to you – Fundraising activities.

This will only be in accordance with the preferences that you indicated when you completed your order or made your donation.

The Donkey Sanctuary and its charitable and trading subsidiaries will never sell your data. We promise to keep your data safe and secure – see our privacy notice at thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/privacy for details about how we will look after your data. If you would like to change how we communicate with you, please call us on 01395 578222.

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CONTACT US

Jane Fawell, our Legacy Relationships Manager, can help with any questions you may have. You can contact her directly on:

01395 573152 jane.fawell@thedonkeysanctuary.org.ukThe Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 0NU

The Donkey Sanctuary (registered charity number 264818) and its sole corporate trustee, The Donkey Sanctuary Trustee Limited (Company number 07328588), both have registered offices at Slade House Farm, Sidmouth, EX10 0NU. Linked charities: The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST); The International Donkey Protection Trust (IDPT).

www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk