Humanimal Trust is encouraging people to review their Wills and consider how they want their estate to support the people and causes they care about, as part of Remember A Charity Week (7–13 September).
With planned changes to Inheritance Tax from April 2027, we are inviting supporters and the wider public to join a free online webinar exploring what the changes could mean, why keeping a Will up to date matters, and how charitable giving can form part of future planning. For Humanimal Trust, the webinar also provides an opportunity to explain how gifts in Wills can support One Medicine research and help improve the health of humans and animals for generations to come.
The webinar, entitled Will Writing, Inheritance Tax and the 2027 Changes: What You Need to Know, will be presented by Paul Stanford, founder of Stanford Legal Services and Regional Chairperson for the Society of Will Writers, and will take place at 11am on Tuesday 20 October 2026.
The 60-minute session will cover the importance of having a valid Will, the role of executors and guardians, Inheritance Tax thresholds and exemptions, and the planned inclusion of most unused pension funds in estates for Inheritance Tax purposes, under proposed changes, from April 2027. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A.
Gifts in Wills are already a significant source of charitable funding. According to Remember A Charity’s latest consumer benchmarking research, among charity supporters aged 40 and over, 22% say they have already included a charitable gift in their Will, compared with 14% in 2010. A further 35% of supporters who have not yet done so say they would be open to leaving a gift in the future.
Sarah Colbourne, Fundraising and Partnerships Manager at Humanimal Trust, said: “A Will is an important way to make sure your wishes are understood and the people and causes you care about are looked after. Our webinar is an opportunity to learn more about the planned changes and consider what they may mean for you, while also exploring how charitable giving can form part of your future planning. For Humanimal Trust, gifts in Wills can also help support collaborative One Medicine research, creating the potential for better prevention, diagnosis and treatment for both humans and animals.”
Humanimal Trust is the only organisation in the UK whose sole and specific purpose is to progress One Medicine. It helps bridge the gap between vets, doctors, researchers, nurses and allied professions so that all humans and animals benefit from sustainable and equal medical progress, but not at the expense of an animal’s life.
The webinar will also explore how charitable giving can form part of estate planning, including the potential impact of leaving a gift to charity in a Will.
Sarah added: “For those who want to support the future of human and animal health, a gift in your Will to Humanimal Trust could help fund pioneering One Medicine research that may improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease across species.”
To register for the free webinar, visit www.humanimaltrust.org.uk/leave-a-gift-in-your-will