Thank you for thinking of Hammersmith Hospital in this special way.
We here at The Friends of Hammersmith Hospital (Registered Charity Number 209182) completely understand that your loved ones should come first in your thoughts and financial plans. Once you have considered your family and friends, please consider leaving The Friends of Hammersmith Hospital charity a gift in your Will. No matter how large or small, your gift will make a difference now and in future years towards the healthcare provided by this hospital. You can be assured that all the legacy you leave will go directly to those in need and as a commitment to the future will be remembered for many years to come.
Leaving a legacy is easy to do. Here is a summary of the things you might like to consider to help you decide on what to do next:
Talk to a solicitor or professional advisor. If you do not have a Will, a solicitor will be able to help you. Preparing a Will does not have to be an expensive process. When a proper Will is in place you can be sure your wishes will be carried out. If you have a Will already, it is easy for the solicitor to prepare what is known as a codicil. We have provided more information on preparation of a codicil below.
What will you leave? Sometimes it is best to think about this prior to meeting your solicitor or actually sitting down to prepare your Will. Consider listing what you own, property, possessions, investments and other valuable items such as painting or gift of furniture. Doing this will help make it easier for you to decide who to leave it to.
Decide how you would like to make your gift to The Friends of Hammersmith Hospital.
Many people make gifts in one of the ways showing below.
A gift to where it is needed the most - Your legacy will then be treated as ‘general funds’ and will be used where the need is the greatest. This could be towards a project for a piece of special medical equipment the NHS is unable to provide.
A gift to a specific area of the hospital's work - Is there a special ward or other area of the hospital that holds a fond memory? Do you feel passionately about helping to support those with a particular illness that would involve a department such as Renal, Cardiology, or Maternity?
Make sure your Will is perfect and cannot be misinterpreted. This is where a second set of eyes such as those of a solicitor is important.
Make sure you have the people who will be in charge of making sure your wishes are carried out. They are called executors and may be friends, family or your solicitor.
Make sure your Will is available and safe. Let someone know where it is kept.
A bit on codicils
Codicils are a way of giving a legacy to the charity without amending your existing Will. Before making any changes to your Will or filling out this form we would suggest that you seek advice from your solicitor or financial advisor.
How to complete this form
Fill in the form below and when completed place it with your existing Will. Do not attach it, or this will make the Will invalid.
Ask two people, who are not related to you or are not beneficiaries under your Will, to sign and witness this form.
Write the amount of the bequest in words and numbers.
Please print the form carefully, except signatures.
Click here for an example of a codicil form
We are always extremely grateful to receive legacy gifts. Unless there has been a request made for anonymity, all legacy gifts are also recorded and acknowledged in our Annual Report and Accounts.
Charitable gifts are exempt from inheritance tax. So your financial legacy to us can actually reduce the tax to be paid from your estate.
How should the legacy be paid?
You can send a cheque made payable to 'The Friends of Hammersmith Hospital'. Please send the cheque to this address –
The Administrator/Treasurer
The Friends of Hammersmith Hospital
Du Cane Road, South Corridor
London, W12 0HS
Please call us on 020 8743 3496 if you would prefer to make payment by BACS or would like to discuss other arrangements.
Contact us
If you have already included a gift in your Will to The Friends of Hammersmith Hospital, or intend to in the future, we would very much like to hear from you. This information will be treated in confidence and will not be binding in any way. This will help us to communicate with you appropriately and means that we can say thank you and honour your generosity properly in your lifetime as well as at your death.
Finally, we would like to hear your story about why Hammersmith Hospital has a special place in your heart.