Legacies

A gift that endures

Gifts left in Wills to Friends of Vellore UK have transformed lives at Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore and its mission hospitals. Some supporters have chosen to leave their whole estate, while others have given a percentage or a fixed sum — every gift makes a lasting difference.

By leaving a gift in your Will, you can help ensure that future generations receive the compassionate, affordable healthcare that CMC and its mission hospitals provide. Even a small percentage of your estate or a modest cash gift can change lives for years to come.

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• Dr Agnes Leslie (2019) left £50,000 in her Will. £40,000 supported the Rehabilitation Department, helping to build a hostel for female students and purchase equipment and wheelchairs. The remaining £10,000 established a new Palliative Care service at CMC’s Chittoor campus.
• Dr Selwyn and Elizabeth Baker (2021) left an extraordinary £1,315,000 legacy. Dr Baker, who served in CMC’s Department of Medicine in the 1960s, and his wife Elizabeth asked that their gift be used to fund treatment for patients unable to pay. Their capital was invested, and the annual income now supports CMC’s charitable funds, providing vital and often life-saving care for those most in need.

These stories show how legacies, both large and small, create a lasting legacy of compassion and healing.

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How your gift can be used

You may leave your gift for our general fund, so it is used wherever the need is greatest, or you may choose to support a specific project, such as the Low Cost Effective Care Unit, Palliative Care, or our work with mission hospitals. [Read more about our projects here].

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How to leave a gift in your Will

If you already have a Will, adding a gift is straightforward. You can use a simple codicil form (available [here] or by request from our office). You may choose to leave a specified amount or a share of your estate. Whatever you decide to give, large or small, will make a meaningful difference.

Suggested wording for your Will:
“I give to Friends of Vellore UK, registered charity number 209168, the sum of £___ [or ___% of my residuary estate] for its general charitable purposes.”

This wording is a guide only; please seek professional advice to ensure that your Will is valid.

(A residuary estate is what remains of an estate after all specific gifts, debts, funeral costs, taxes and administration expenses have been paid.)

💡 Did you know? Leaving at least 10% of your net estate to charity may reduce the rate of Inheritance Tax on the remainder of your estate from 40% to 36%.

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Next steps

We recommend you speak to a solicitor when making or updating your Will to ensure it is legally valid. If you have any questions about leaving a legacy, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

A leaflet about leaving a gift in your will is available to download here

Any details you share with us will be kept confidential and used only to respond to your enquiry. We will treat your information with respect and in line with data protection laws.