Legacies Can your legacy change the world? Yes it can. Changing the world for one child by leaving a gift in your will towards Home-Start's work would be an amazing legacy and would take far less than you might think. Not everyone thinks about leaving a legacy to a charity. We know that loved ones and friends come first but if there was a small percentage left over (it doesn’t have to be a large amount at all), we promise to use it carefully and effectively on your behalf. A gift of a thousand pounds helped send immediate support to Luke’s family. Luke is four and he has three brothers aged seven, five, and two. Luke’s mum was suffering with undiagnosed depression. He was always sad, sometimes hungry, unable to make friends at school. His home life was chaotic and confusing. Luke’s mum, in desperation, eventually tried to take her own life. Home-Start was introduced and a volunteer started to visit straight away. Luke’s mum felt cared for and supported for the first time in a long time. The volunteer made sure his mum got the medical help she needed; played with the boys; ensured they had food and routine. Mum is much stronger now; Luke and his brothers are much happier; he has made friends. The volunteer continues to visit and will do for some time to come but a house once dominated by despair is now full of hope and laughter. Names have been changed to protect the real family who faced these difficulties The work we do with fragile families and vulnerable children is about keeping children safe and making families strong. We believe that every parent should get the support they need to give their children the love and care that is so important. We know that adverse experiences in childhood can have a devastating effect on children for the rest of their lives. If you choose to leave a legacy to help our work we will always respect your kindness and ensure your gift lives on in the area of your choice. Simply make a note with or in your will as to which of the following you would like to support and we promise we will follow your wishes. You may, of course, prefer to keep that private and you can do that by letting us know directly in writing. We recommend you see a solicitor when writing or amending any will or legal document. We are sincerely grateful you are considering Home-Start as a charity you might help in this way; legacies are a huge source of support for many charities. For you, a legacy is a way of ensuring you make a difference to the issues you feel passionately about. For us it is about turning the private passion for our own children into a public passion for all children. Thank you Areas you can help with your legacy: Safeguarding children Training volunteers Alcohol or drug abuse Poverty Illness or bereavement Depression or mental illness If you would like to alert us to your intentions to leave a legacy, please email Sue Thorn at sthorn@home-start.org.uk. This is not a promise to us, just an alert to your current wishes, which may change in the future.