Legacy Gift FAQs

Have questions about leaving a gift in your Will? You’re in the right place. Below you’ll find answers to common queries and frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help make the process clear and straightforward.

If you have a question that is not listed below, please phone us on 0117 325 7757 or email hello@sightresearchuk.org.

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The National Eye Research Centre is what our charity was previously known as. Since 2021, we have been operating officially under the charity name Sight Research UK.

If you have already included a gift in your Will to the National Eye Research Centre:

You do not need to change your Will or take any action, but you may find the following points helpful:

  • National Eye Research Centre is the previous name of Sight Research UK.
  • Depending on when you drafted your Will (before or after April 2014), either of these Registered Charity numbers may be listed in your Will: 1156134 or 294087.
  • In 2014, the charity was converted into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and was registered with the Charity Commission with Registered Charity Number 1156134.
  • In 2020, we merged the original charity (294087) into the Charitable Incorporated Organisation with Registered Charity Number 1156134. 
  • In 2021, we have changed the name of the charity from National Eye Research Centre to Sight Research UK.
  • Sight Research UK has the same Registered Charity Number (1156134).

Any gifts in Wills left to the National Eye Research Centre (either to 294087 or 1156134) will automatically be received by Sight Research UK (1156134). 

A solicitor will make sure that your Will is valid and that your wishes will be met as you intend. You can also choose to use an online Will provider or a Will writer.

You can change the content of your Will at any time. You do not have to inform Sight Research UK that you have left us a gift in your Will, nor tell us if you have removed us.

If you choose to leave a gift in your Will to Sight Research UK, all you need to do is give your solicitor or Will writer our Registered Charity number: 1156134.

There are several types of Wills and several types of gifts that you can leave in your Will. The most commonly chosen are:

  • A percentage of your estate – this is typically a portion of what is left after you have remembered family and friends.
  • A specific sum of money.
  • A specific item, such as an antique, painting, property or shares that we would sell.

Sample wordings can be found here, but please note that these suggestions do not constitute legal advice. Please seek the advice of your solicitor or other professional adviser before including any sample wording in your Will, and ensure any Will or Codicil entered into is properly executed.

Under current rules, Inheritance Tax at 40% is due on estates where the net value exceeds £325,000. Note that spouses do not have to pay Inheritance Tax. Other exemptions also apply. For full information on Inheritance Tax, please see here.

Gifts to charity are exempt from Inheritance Tax, and the value of any charitable gift in your Will will also be deducted from the value of your net estate before Inheritance Tax is calculated. This may decrease the amount of tax that is payable on your estate.

In addition, if you leave 10% or more of your net estate to charity, the percentage of Inheritance Tax that may still be payable on your estate will decrease from 40% to 36%.

Please do bear in mind that Inheritance Tax rules can change, so it it’s always best to discuss with your solicitor the type of gift you might like to leave.

Some useful resources:

If you are the executor or solicitor for someone who has named Sight Research UK in their Will and require further assistance, please contact us on 0117 3257757 or email us at hello@sightresearchuk.org.