Leaving a legacy to the Royal Veterinary College
We understand that when making a will, family and friends come first. But perhaps after remembering those close to you, you might consider doing something very special by leaving a gift to the Royal Veterinary College.
For many years, the Royal Veterinary College has been a fortunate and grateful beneficiary of gifts left in the wills of generous clients, friends, former students and staff. These gifts, large or small, are invaluable to our work and help us secure a brighter future for our students and all animals in our care.
Remember the Royal Veterinary College in your will
If you choose to leave a gift in your will to the Royal Veterinary College, it will help us support and educate future clinicians and scientists, and ensure that we remain a leader in veterinary and biomedical sciences, clinical practice and education.
From funding equipment to building better facilities for our partners and clients, legacies are benefitting our staff and students, as well as helping us to care for and treat countless sick and injured animals.
Your legacy could:
- Support students by enabling us to offer scholarships, bursaries or fund academic posts
- Improve animal welfare by investing in pioneering research programmes and clinical facilities
- Develop teaching facilities so that our students are able to learn using the most up-to-date equipment
"My research will inform clinical practice and contribute towards improving feline welfare, and this is thanks to the invaluable funding received to support my PhD studentship."
Rebecca was a practising veterinary surgeon, frustrated with the lack of progress in the veterinary world in treating cats with kidney disease and hyperthyroidism. She wanted to advance research in these conditions but found it difficult to find the funding to support her work. Thanks to funding received via a legacy, we were able to offer Rebecca a PhD studentship.
Rebecca explains: "My PhD has enabled me to work closely with cats and their owners to generate data that is directly applicable to feline practice. My work looks at geriatric cats with chronic kidney disease, which is a very common medical problem."
Two original research papers have been published as a result of Rebecca’s work examining the involvement of a novel hormone in kidney disease, which previously had not been looked at in cats.
How do I leave a legacy?
We always recommend that you consult a solicitor before making or changing your will.
By making a will, you can decide what happens to your property and possessions after you pass away. Although you do not have to make one by law, it is the best way to make sure your estate is passed on to family, friends and the causes that you care about, exactly as you wish.
You can:
- decide how your assets are shared
- provide for your family
- provide for your partner
- minimise your estate’s Inheritance Tax liabilities
- state your wishes for your funeral
Before you make a will, you should think about what you want included. You should consider such things as:
- how much money, what property, investments and possessions you have
- which family members, friends or charities you wish to leave gifts to
- who should look after any children under 18 years of age
- who should care for your pets
- who you will ask to be your executor(s)
Please use the following documents to find out more about leaving a legacy to the Royal Veterinary College.
Why is it important to make a will?
Can I make a donation to the ºÚÁÏÉç in memory of a friend, relative or fellow alumnus?
If you would like to donate in memory of friends or colleagues you have sadly lost, you can celebrate their life through a gift to the Alumni Tribute Fund.
From funding the development of state-of-the-art teaching facilities to offering life-changing opportunities through scholarships and bursaries, your gift to the Alumni Tribute Fund will help future students get the most out of their time at the ºÚÁÏÉç and help us remember those we have lost.
For further details, please contact us on 01707 666237 or act@rvc.ac.uk.
If you choose to donate money to the Alumni Tribute Fund, we recommend using sponsorship website, such as Virgin Money Giving, Just Giving, or GoFundMe. Using these websites, you can set a target, update your progress, and share your page with your friends, family and colleagues. Plus, the money you raise comes to us automatically, so you don’t have to worry.
Get in touch
If you would like further information on how to leave a legacy to the Royal Veterinary College, or for an informal chat about how your gift can help our students and improve animal welfare, please contact
01707 666237
Royal Veterinary College Animal Care Trust, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA