What is Will for Free?
Will for Free is a fundraising collaboration between participating solicitors and the ICR to provide long-term funding to support our cancer research.
It allows you to make a Will or update an existing one free of charge. We pay the cost. In exchange, we hope you will consider including a gift in your Will to provide long-term funding for our scientists.
If you require a basic single or joint (mirror) Will, you will not need to pay any additional costs.
You can also use the service if your requirements are more complex, but you may need to pay any additional costs – your solicitor will advise you of these at the initial consultation.
Why does the ICR need a gift in my Will?
Our 800 laboratory-based scientists and clinicians are working on a broad spectrum of research, from understanding the underlying biological causes of cancer to designing and testing the latest cutting-edge therapies. To find out more about our strategy click here.
Legacy gifts are a vital source of funds for us. They underpin our discoveries and achievements in cancer research, leading to better diagnosis and treatments and improving patients’ lives. Gifts in Wills have helped us:
· Build new laboratories, such as the Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery which opened in 2021. It is designed to tackle cancer’s lethal ability to evolve resistance to treatment. With this Centre we will develop a new generation of drugs that will make such a difference to the lives of people with cancer.
· Purchase equipment, so we can take advantage of the latest cutting-edge technologies, for instance genetic sequencing technologies.
· Fund PhD studentships – giving us the opportunity to train the very best young minds to become future leaders in cancer research.
This is why we hope that you will include a gift in your Will to the ICR and join the thousands of people who have already done so and made this their legacy.
How much of the ICR’s income is spent on research?
In 2022/23, 94% of our total expenditure of £134.9 million was spent directly on charitable activities, including research, education and information.
Can anyone take part in Will for Free?
To be eligible you must be aged 60 or older. If you require a joint Will, only one person must be 60. The programme runs all year round in areas of the UK where we have participating solicitors.
What can I do if there is no solicitor near to me?
We have also teamed up with the National Free Wills Network. If you cannot find a solicitor participating in Will for Free near you, click here to complete the form for the National Free Wills Network. Once the form has been submitted you will receive a list of solicitors near you.
If you still have issues, please get in touch with the Legacy Team on 020 7153 5387 or you can send an email to [email protected].
I have received a leaflet from the ICR – how did you get my details?
We reach out to people who live near our participating solicitors and who we believe will be interested to hear more about our Will for Free programme. We do not have access to medical records, health, income or lifestyle information – this information is entirely confidential and cannot be shared – and we strictly follow the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines.
As the leaflet is a form of ‘non-addressed mail’ and does not contain a name and address, we are unable to exclude you from receiving it. However, you can click here to opt out of receiving all non-addressed mail with the Royal Mail.
I cannot find the ICR on the Charity Commission website – are you a proper charity?
The ICR is not registered with the Charity Commission because we are a college of the University of London – this is standard for long-standing universities and museums.
We are regulated by the Office for Students, which has similar powers to the Charity Commission. Our exempt reference number is X90004.
I already have a Will. Can I update it?
Having an up-to-date Will protects your loved ones and makes sure that your assets go where you want them to. This is especially important when you are not married or do not have a legal heir to your assets. The majority of our Will for Free programme service users use it to update their wills and many choose to leave us a gift.
I can’t afford to make a Will.
Our Will for Free programme enables you to make a Will with one of our participating solicitors for free, with the ICR covering the cost. We hope that you will consider including a gift to the ICR in your Will. Leaving a gift in your Will costs you nothing while alive and even
a 10% share of your estate can go a long way. Moreover, it may lead to reduction in inheritance tax on your estate, which you can read more about here. However, there is no obligation to leave a gift to us.
What types of gifts can I pledge in my Will?
There are three types of gifts in Wills:
1. Residuary gifts: This is a percentage share of your estate after all other beneficiaries have been given their share. You could also choose to leave the entirety of your estate as a gift. We highly encourage residuary gifts as they are less likely to depreciate in value over time.
2. Pecuniary gifts: This is a fixed amount of money stated as a gift in your Will.
3. Specific gifts: This could be jewellery, antiques, property, artwork or any particular asset that you wish to leave as a gift.