Aerospace Bristol supports Remember A Charity in Your Will Week

Aerospace Bristol is supporting the annual awareness week (6 – 12 September 2021) which aims to encourage people to leave a gift to charity

As a registered charity, operated by Bristol Aero Collection Trust, Aerospace Bristol is supporting Remember a Charity Week. The important cause raises awareness of the value of Gifts in Wills to charities and highlights the vital work of museums such as Aerospace Bristol.

Gifts in Wills are a critical source of funding for charitable services across the country, raising more than £3 billion for good causes annually – and have been the fastest growing source of voluntary income for charities over the past twenty-one years.

More kind-hearted Brits are leaving gifts to charities in their Wills than ever before, with a million legacies left in the past decade, according to new research from Remember A Charity and Smee & Ford.

To mark the start of Remember A Charity Week, the data reveals that the percentage of people leaving a gift to charity in their Will has increased by almost a third (30%) over the past 20 years, with more people than ever choosing to support a charity close to their heart – even after they’ve gone.

Joining The Pegasus Circle

At Aerospace Bristol, we appreciate that leaving a gift in your wills is a highly personal matter and there is no obligation to inform us. However, the museum is grateful to have a number of kind supporters who have pledged their support to the museum as part of the Pegasus Circle.

The Pegasus Circle is a group of supporters who have informed the museum of their intention to leave a gift to the museum, allowing us the opportunity to involve them in work of the museum in their lifetime.  

One volunteer and supporter of Aerospace Bristol, who has kindly pledged his support, said:

“I joined BAC at Filton as an apprentice in the 1960s. I had a wonderful and memorable experience training there and worked on several aircraft, guided weapons and most importantly on Concorde. I’ve chosen to leave a gift in my will to Bristol Aero Collection Trust, along with other charities that I care about and have had a connection with over the years. I see leaving a legacy as playing my part. By saying thank you for my career in aviation, I can ensure that a new generation will be inspired by the aerospace industry, and the engineering achievement that is Concorde.”

Iain Gray CBE, Chair of Bristol Aero Collection Trust said:

“A legacy gift for the charity makes a real difference to our work at Aerospace Bristol. It enables us to preserve Concorde, protect our unique exhibition and our nationally-significant collection of aviation treasures. The museum has learning at its core, through our extensive learning programme and hands-on workshops. Most importantly, legacy gifts live on through this important work, allowing us to continue to inspire the engineers of the future.” 

Rob Cope, Director of Remember A Charity, added:

“It’s so inspiring that we’ve reached this milestone of one million Brits leaving gifts to charity in their Wills. We really hope that this will become increasingly common, and that the number of people supporting charities in this way will continue to rise. Leaving a gift is your Will a wonderful way to support charities in continuing to do amazing work and also provides an opportunity for your legacy to live on after you’ve gone.”