| | Legacies, staff awards, new jobs and a new video |
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From the Staywell Community |
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New video — How can Help@Home help you? |
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Staywell’s STARs receive Kingston Council award |
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Anne Marlow (left) and Jackie Culver (right) with their new awards. |
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It was the RBK STAR Awards this month, and our team managed to do rather well!
The Bradbury's own kitchen star Anne Marlow and Raleigh team member (and minibus-maestro) Jackie Culver have been recognised for their contributions to the local community at both of Staywell’s day centres, coming away with certificates and a £50 prize.
For those not in the know, Kingston Council’s STAR awards is an annual event which celebrates the hard work of groups and individuals doing good across the borough. Winners are selected based on how well they embody the council’s STAR values: Supportive, Transparent, Appreciative and Respectful.
We couldn’t be prouder of them both, or more grateful for all their hard work. Well done to Anne and Jackie! |
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Kingston Volunteer Fair at All Saints Church |
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We had a great time at Volunteering Kingston’s volunteer fair on Thursday evening last week, 26 March.
All Saints Church was packed with all sorts of community groups, non-profits and fellow charities, and thankfully the turnout was just as impressive. It was an amazing reminder of just how many enthusiastic and community-minded folk live in Kingston, and we are always grateful for any opportunity to speak to a few of them.
If you made it down, we hope we had a chance to say hello; but in case you missed it, you can always find lots more information about volunteering with us on the Staywell site. |
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How legacies do good after you’re gone |
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Did you know that more than a quarter of the charitable donations made by members of the public come from legacies? Roughly £4 billion of the £15.4 billion pledged to UK charities are left in a person’s will, representing a vital income stream for organisations like Staywell up and down the country.
What we leave behind after we die is as important to talk about as it is sensitive. While no-one likes the prospect of a world without them in it, avoiding the topic makes things harder still. Taking time to organise your affairs is a thoughtful act for those you care about, helping reduce stress and uncertainty for family and friends, and ensuring your wishes are respected.
With this in mind, this newsletter will dive into legacies: what they are, and the huge impact they have on the causes closest to our hearts. |
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Put simply, a legacy is something you leave to someone in your will. Often referred to as ‘leaving a gift’ to someone, legacies can go far beyond simply dividing monetary assets to family members. Some types of legacy include:
Pecuniary legacies, where you leave a fixed amount of money to someone, like a partner, child, or close friend.
Specific legacies, which are for leaving non-monetary gifts a particular individual, for example leaving a wedding ring to a certain family member.
Residual legacies determine who receives what is left of your estate once all gifts and other costs like tax and debts have been accounted for. These differ to pecuniary and specific legacies by being calculated proportionally: you specify what percentage of your remaining estate each beneficiary will receive.
Charitable legacies are any legacy which is left to a charity and can be structured like any of the legacies listed above: a certain sum of money (pecuniary), a non-monetary gift (specific) or a proportion of your estate (residual). The latter method is by far the most common, making up 90% of legacy donations to charities by value. |
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Given Staywell is a charity, lets dive a little deeper into this type of legacy. |
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Why include a charitable legacy in your will? |
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There are as many reasons to leave a gift to charity in your will as there are people doing so. However, there are a few common reasons worth considering: You can reduce the inheritance tax on your whole estate
Not only are charitable legacies themselves tax-free, but they can also help your loved ones pay less inheritance tax on the rest of your estate. Changes coming into effect from this April mean more families will be affected by inheritance tax, so it’s a good idea to review your situation.
If 10% or more of your net estate – that is, the value of your assets after all debts have been paid – goes to charity, any inheritance tax will be calculated at a reduced rate of 36% instead of the usual 40%*.
* Please check the UK Government website for the latest information and always check with a solicitor before making any changes to your will. |
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You can support a good cause while still taking care of your family
Part of the reason most gifts left to charity are done so using residual legacies is for peace-of-mind: leaving a percentage of your estate ensures your loved ones are looked after too.
Even 1% of your estate can make a huge difference to a charity, especially local, independent ones like Staywell – all while safe in the knowledge that those closest to you will still receive 99% of your estate no matter what. |
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You leave a lasting memory for those you support
Support for charities like Staywell is greatly appreciated no matter the amount or what stage of life you are in. But charitable legacies are often the single largest donation many of us will ever make, and many organisations will go that extra mile to make sure the kindness of the donor in question is celebrated.
Some will dedicate projects, buildings, rooms, facilities and so on to individuals or families who have contributed larger sums, but even smaller amounts can – and often are – celebrated, in newsletters, on websites and social media, or in posters and flyers.
A charitable legacy leaves a lasting memory, both for loved ones and those the legacy supports, long after we’re gone. |
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Staywell can arrange a free will, in certain circumstances, via a local solicitor. Call our Information, Advice & Guidance team on 020 8942 8256 to see if you’re eligible. |
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Come and join the Staywell team |
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2026 is Staywell’s 80th anniversary, and to make sure we celebrate it properly by supporting more of Kingston’s older people than ever before, we are looking for some new friendly faces to help make this happen!
We have a couple of roles on offer: |
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Business Support Administrator – closes 7 April |
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This part-time position in our Operations team is a varied one and is central to the smooth running of all our services. Based at the heart of the charity in Raleigh House, New Malden, over three days a week, our ideal applicant will have previous administration and CRM experience, along with understanding the need for flexibility within such roles.
The job entails anything and everything which helps us deliver our services in an efficient and professional manner: streamlining processes, keeping our CRM system up-to-date, sending and processing invoices, answering queries and lending a hand with the office’s IT requirements.
Pay starts from £28,000 annually (pro-rata for between 18 and 21 hours per week, with overall hours depending on the applicant’s availability). Check out the role's information pack for all the details. |
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Help@Home staff – rolling basis |
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In case you’re not yet in the know, Help@Home is one of Staywell’s most popular services offering a little extra help with everyday needs. Our team offers regular and ad-hoc assistance with day-to-day tasks and errands, which are as varied as the clients we serve.
Perhaps someone needs help with their laundry and changing bedsheets, struggles with getting to and from appointments, or just needs a hand with the big shop – our staff can help with it all, while also being a familiar, friendly face who’s always up for a chat. For those looking after a family member and needing a break, we can offer sitting services too.
There are multiple openings for this role as we are keen to meet an increasing demand. The role is flexible, with part-time positions starting from 18 hours a week. You’re never on your own as a Staywell Help@Home worker, as you always have the back-up of an office-based team and our suite of other services, such as Information & Advice or Handyperson.
You can find the full job description on our website, with further information and instructions for how to apply are available on our Current Vacancies page. |
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We've seen some lovely sunsets over Raleigh House lately. |
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Another busy month for all of us at Staywell. But with the weather warming up and the first buds of spring starting to arrive, we're more than ready for the next one! We'll catch you up with what we've been up to later in April.
Happy early Easter, |
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