Leaving a legacy to BLESMA

A way to say thank you…

Stephen Colman, BLESMA’s Assistant General Secretary (and a Welfare Officer in his spare time!) has been visiting Albert, a disabled war veteran, for the past five years. Now aged 86, Albert suffers from Parkinson’s Disease and is very frail, even more so since he had a stroke.

As time goes on Albert needs more and more help from Stephen who now visits him every two to three weeks:

“Sadly, Albert’s wife died some 5 years ago. The couple never had any children and he has no other relatives living in the UK. So our friendship means just as much to him as the practical help I provide, maybe even more. One day, out of the blue, Albert asked me to take him to see his solicitor. I was somewhat surprised to discover that he had decided, very generously, to change his will and leave a third of his estate to BLESMA in recognition of the support he had received over the years.”

For Albert, pledging a legacy to BLESMA is his way of saying thank you with a gift that will help other ex-service men and women who need our support. Men and women who, like Albert, have made huge personal sacrifices serving their country and for whom BLESMA becomes a lifeline.

… and to support our work in the future

It’s not just BLESMA Members who remember us in their wills. Many of our supporters also see this as the best way to help us continue our work after they have passed away. For them, it is a positive gesture that expresses the beliefs and values they hold dear.

Leaving a legacy to BLESMA is a significant step to take and we would like you to be completely comfortable with your decision. Here are a few questions we’re often asked about legacies.

What is a legacy?

A legacy is a gift you pledge to a person or organisation in your will. The gift can be a sum of money, a percentage of your estate or certain items from your estate.

How can I leave a legacy to BLESMA?

If you’ve already made a will, you can either make a new one that includes BLESMA as one of your beneficiaries, or you can draw up a codicil, a short legal document that lists the changes you want to make to your existing will. If you don’t have a will, talk to a solicitor about making one (it’s very easy to do) and include BLESMA in your list of beneficiaries.

I don’t have much money. Is it worth me leaving a legacy to BLESMA?

We are extremely grateful for any gift, whatever its value. Legacies are a vital source of income for BLESMA. Without them we would face an uncertain future. One important thing to note is that leaving a legacy to BLESMA has no impact on your current financial status, making it ideal for anyone who wants to do more to help us but can’t afford to just now.

Legacies are a vital source of income for BLESMA. Without them we would face an uncertain future. But if people continue to remember us in their wills, we will have the financial security to give Members like Albert the help and companionship they deserve. If you feel that leaving a legacy to BLESMA is the right thing to do, will you consider including us in your will?

If you have other queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to call or write to us.