Leaving a Legacy

A legacy or bequest will provide crucial funds to enable RSPCA Cornwall Branch to continue offering our rehoming service to hundreds of abandoned, unwanted and mistreated animals every year.

Each of the 171 RSPCA Branches in England and Wales is operated as a separately registered charity, each of which must fundraise individually to maintain whatever animal facilities they run.

RSPCA Cornwall Branch owns and operates the Venton Rehoming Centre at St Columb and provides animal welfare services throughout the county. The Centre costs around £950,000 every year in vet fees, medication and food bills, along with utilities and other essential costs, to ensure the Branch can continue to operate.

If you would like the animals in Cornwall to benefit from your Will, it is important that the wording used is specific to nominate RSPCA Cornwall Branch to receive this kind gift from you.

• Legacies that state “RSPCA Cornwall Branch” will come directly to us.

• Legacies that just state “RSPCA” will automatically go to the National Society funds and will not reach Cornwall.

We cannot provide legal advice. It is always advisable to seek professional guidance from your solicitor or a will-writing service regarding any inclusions in your Will. However, for your solicitor’s reference, suggested wording is:

“I give the sum of £ ________ (or specify a share of residue) to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Cornwall Branch of The William & Patricia Venton Animal Centre, Quoit, St Columb TR9 6JS (registered charity number 1024808) for its general purposes, and I declare that the receipt of the honorary treasurer or other proper officer of the said RSPCA Cornwall Branch for the time being shall be a full and sufficient discharge for the said legacy.”

Legacies received in this way are added to general funds for the Branch, to help support all animals that we care for in Cornwall. If you wish, it is also possible to stipulate how your gift is used. For example, you may choose to support cats or dogs, or a particular campaign, or another area of our work. If you amend the “general purposes” statement above to reflect your wishes, we will ensure that any monies received are allocated accordingly. Please be aware that restrictions may limit flexibility in how we can use your gift.

A Will must always be properly witnessed. If you need help to write a Will or add a Codicil (a document to make changes) to an existing Will, we recommend you seek professional legal advice from a solicitor or will-writing service. Gifts to registered charities are usually exempt from Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax.

It would help us considerably if you would kindly let us know if you are bequeathing anything to us in this way. All we need is your name and address, which we will hold in strict confidence and in accordance with data protection law. Please write to the Admin Officer at the Venton Centre, or email: info@rspcacornwall.org.uk.

Finally, if you have concerns about what may happen to your pets if you should pass away before them, please see our “Peace of Mind” page for details of how you can register with us to secure their future welfare.