Legacy and
in-memory
Leaving a gift in your will to a charity is a meaningful way to make a lasting impact on the institution.
Anyone can leave a gift in their will to help secure the future of The Royal Ballet School. It doesn’t matter how little or how much you can give.
Every gift is hugely valued and used wisely to allow the next generation of classical ballet artists to realise their brightest potential. All gifts left to the School will be directed to The Royal Ballet School Endowment Fund, allowing donations of any size to provide regular vital support where it is most needed.
All legacy gifts left to The Royal Ballet School are unrestricted, allowing us to make the most of your generosity by directing support to the area of greatest need at the time.
Support could be directed towards:
Talent:
- Support for the costs of inhouse and external performances to allow our students to shine onstage
- Support the costs of our healthcare provision, so that our student’s welfare is always prioritised.
Access:
- Support towards bursaries, scholarships and associated costs of tuition for students. 90% of our students receive financial support
- Support our national Associate Programme to bring ballet training opportunities to communities across the UK.
School:
- Support the core costs of running the School at its two premises in Richmond Park and Covent Garden.
There are three main types of legacy gifts:
A residuary gift
This is a specified percentage of your estate payable after all other gifts, debts, taxes and expenses have been paid.
A pecuniary gift
This is a tax-free fixed (cash) sum gifted to the School, which may be index-linked to ensure that its value increases in line with inflation.
A reversionary gift
This ensures your family is provided for during their lifetime as the gift is only made after the death of any named person(s).
Gifts to charities are taken out of your estate before tax is calculated and are 100% free from tax. This may mean that leaving a gift to a charity such as the RCM reduces your Inheritance Tax liability.
Since the 2012 budget, gifts to charities of 10% or more of your net estate reduce your Inheritance Tax liability from 40% to 36%, meaning it can be possible to leave a transformational gift to your preferred charity whilst the net cost to your loved ones is substantially reduced. Please visit the HMRC website for the latest information, or consult your solicitor or financial adviser.
We ask you to direct the gift in your will to The Royal Ballet School Endowment Fund, registered charity no: 285766.
Amending an existing will
If you already have a will and would like to amend it to include The Royal Ballet School, please contact your solicitor and request that your will is updated accordingly. Please find suggested wording for your will below:
‘I give and bequeath [specific sum specific sum or percentage of estate] to The Royal Ballet School Endowment Fund (registered charity number 285766). This bequest is to be invested by the Trustees of this Endowment Fund in any investments permitted by law for the investment of Trust Funds with power from time to time to transfer such investments for the purpose of providing such support to The Royal Ballet School as the Trustees of the Endowment Fund see fit.’
Once you have done this, please inform us so that we are able to thank you for your gift. You will then be part of the Dame Ninette Circle and enjoy an active association with the School in your lifetime.
Creating a new will
You can find and instruct a qualified solicitor in your local area using STEP, The Law Society, or Solicitors for the Elderly. Please note that we have no affiliation with these websites.
Our legacy pledgers are welcomed into the School’s Dame Ninette Circle. Named in fond remembrance of Dame Ninette de Valois, the School’s founder, our much-valued Circle members enjoy the closest of connections to the School in their lifetime. They can be assured in the knowledge that they are laying the foundations for young, gifted individuals to be the very best they can be, just as Dame Ninette did.
Circle members also enjoy invitations to specially curated events and celebrations, regular updates through our Inside the School newsletter and priority booking for our annual Summer Performances.
If you have already pledged a gift or are considering doing so, please let us know so we can welcome you to the Dame Ninette Circle and ensure that we recognise your generosity during your lifetime. Please note that in order to recognise you, we will ask for you to send us a copy of the codicil in your will to The Royal Ballet School for our records.
Contact
To discuss leaving a gift in your will to The Royal Ballet School or if you have any questions on the information above, please contact Ella Cooper: [email protected]