Do something special and leave a legacy gift in your Will!

Be part of our story

Leave a lasting legacy that will carry your curiosity forward and help future generations discover the wonder of the Universe. There is something powerful about looking up.

In a world where so much of our attention is drawn towards screens and the pressures of everyday life, astronomy gives us the chance to pause, look beyond ourselves and see our lives in the context of something much bigger.

Think back to the first time the night sky really made you stop and wonder. Perhaps it was seeing Jupiter and its moons through a telescope, spotting Saturn's rings, watching a meteor cross the sky, or simply standing beneath the stars and realising just how vast the Universe is.

Astronomy has always begun with curiosity. What is out there? How did the Universe begin? Are there other worlds? What might we discover next? Those questions connect generations.

By leaving a gift to UK Astronomy in your Will, you can help ensure more people have the opportunity to ask them. After you have taken care of the people closest to you, a gift in your Will is a wonderful way to pass on your curiosity and help others look up, explore and discover the extraordinary Universe we share.

Why leave a gift to UK Astronomy?

UK Astronomy exists to encourage others to look up. We believe astronomy should be accessible to everyone, whether someone is a complete beginner looking through a telescope for the first time or a lifelong enthusiast wanting to share their passion with others.

Our volunteers bring astronomy directly into schools, youth groups and communities, creating opportunities for people to experience space and science for themselves.

That might mean stepping inside our mobile planetarium and travelling through the night sky, looking through a telescope at the Moon or planets, or simply having someone explain the night sky in a friendly and approachable way. Sometimes one experience is all it takes to spark a lifelong curiosity.

A child who had never thought of themselves as interested in science may suddenly start asking questions. Someone might discover the confidence to explore astronomy for themselves. A young person may go on to study science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

For others, the experience may simply be a moment of wonder and perspective: the realisation that there are extraordinary worlds waiting to be discovered from our own back gardens. That matters too.

What your legacy could make possible

A gift in your Will can help UK Astronomy reach more people, visit more communities and create more opportunities for people to experience astronomy for themselves. Your legacy could help us:

	take astronomy workshops into schools, youth groups and community organisations
	give children and adults their first opportunity to look through a telescope
	deliver talks, stargazing evenings and public astronomy events
	bring the mobile planetarium into schools and communities
	support and maintain specialist astronomy and outreach equipment
	create hands-on learning experiences that bring space and science to life
	support people beginning their own journey into astronomy
	inspire curiosity about science, technology and the Universe.

It might help a child see the Moon through a telescope for the first time. It could bring the night sky to life inside a mobile planetarium. It might introduce someone to a hobby that stays with them for decades, or inspire a young person towards a future in science.

Or it might simply create one unforgettable moment when someone looks up and realises that the Universe is far bigger and more extraordinary than they had imagined.

Every gift, whatever its size, can help create more of those moments.

How to leave a gift in your Will

Leaving a gift to UK Astronomy does not have to be complicated. If you are making a Will for the first time, or updating an existing Will, we recommend speaking to a solicitor or qualified Will writer. They can help make sure your wishes are recorded clearly and your Will is legally valid.

When you meet them, simply tell them that you would like to leave a gift to UK Astronomy. It is important to provide the charity's full legal name and registered charity number so there is no doubt about which organisation you intend to support. Government guidance also recommends including the charity's full name when leaving a charitable gift in a Will. Your solicitor will then be able to advise you on the wording that is most appropriate for your circumstances.

Details to give your solicitor

Full legal name : UK Astronomy Limited
Registered charity number : 1190172
Company number : 10276672
Registered office : 3 Pleshey Close, Milton Keynes, MK5 6EP
PLEASE NOTE: This address is NOT a visitor, retail or collection address. It is purely for correspondence only.

If you are making a new Will

Tell your solicitor that you would like to include a gift to UK Astronomy. You can decide whether you would like to leave:

    • a percentage or share of your estate
    • a fixed sum of money
    • a particular item or asset.

Your adviser can then prepare suitable wording and make sure your wishes are properly recorded.

If you already have a Will

You may still be able to add a charitable gift without completely rewriting your Will. For a relatively simple change, a solicitor may suggest adding a codicil, which is a legal document used to amend an existing Will. In other circumstances, particularly where several changes are required, they may recommend making a new Will.

It is sensible to seek professional advice rather than altering or writing on an existing Will yourself.

Keep the details somewhere safe

Once your Will has been completed, make sure your executors know where the original is kept. A Will can be stored at home or with organisations such as a solicitor, bank, Will-storage company or the Probate Service. Government guidance also recommends telling your executor, a close friend or a relative where your Will is stored. You do not need to send UK Astronomy a copy of your Will.

Types of gifts you can leave

There are three common ways of leaving a gift to charity in your Will.

A share of your estate

Known as a residuary gift, this is a percentage or share of what remains of your estate after any debts, expenses and other gifts have been paid. Because it is expressed as a proportion rather than a fixed amount, it generally keeps its relative value over time. Even a small percentage of an estate can make a meaningful difference to our work.

A fixed sum of money

Known as a pecuniary gift, this is a specific amount of money that you choose to leave. Because inflation can reduce the real value of a fixed sum over time, you may wish to ask your solicitor about index-linking the gift.

A specific gift

You can also leave a particular asset, such as property, investments or another item of value. If you are considering leaving astronomical equipment or another specialist item to UK Astronomy, please contact us before making your arrangements. This gives us an opportunity to discuss whether we will be able to accept and make appropriate use of your gift.

Gifts in Wills and Inheritance Tax

Gifts left to qualifying charities are generally deducted from the value of an estate before Inheritance Tax is calculated. In some circumstances, leaving at least 10% of the relevant part of an estate to charity can also reduce the Inheritance Tax rate applying to that part of the estate from 40% to 36%.

Inheritance Tax rules can be complex and depend on individual circumstances, so we recommend discussing this with a solicitor or tax adviser. UK Astronomy cannot provide legal or tax advice.

How much do I need to leave?

There is no minimum gift. Some legacy gifts may be substantial, while others may represent only a small share of an estate. What matters is what those gifts can achieve when they come together.

A gift could help us take a workshop into a school, support a public stargazing event, care for specialist equipment or bring the mobile planetarium to a community that might otherwise have little opportunity to experience astronomy. Every gift helps us reach more people and inspire more curiosity.

Do I need to tell you?

No. You are under no obligation to tell us that you have included UK Astronomy in your Will. Your Will and your intentions are entirely private. However, if you feel comfortable letting us know, we would be delighted to have the opportunity to thank you for your support. Telling us about your intention is not legally binding and you are free to change your mind at any time.

Can I support a particular part of your work?

An unrestricted gift is particularly valuable because it allows us to use your support wherever it is most needed at the time. We understand, however, that a particular part of our work may be especially important to you.

If you are considering restricting your gift to a particular activity or purpose, please talk to us before including those instructions in your Will. This can help make sure that your wishes remain practical to fulfil in the future.

Pass on the wonder

For many of us, astronomy begins with one moment: seeing something for the first time and wanting to know more. A gift in your Will can help create that moment for someone else.

By remembering UK Astronomy, you can help future generations look up, ask questions and discover just how extraordinary the Universe around us really is.

You can pass on something wonderful: curiosity. And sometimes, all it takes is looking up.

Talk to us

If you are thinking about leaving a gift to UK Astronomy, we would be very happy to hear from you. You do not need to have made a decision and there is no obligation to proceed. We would be pleased to answer questions about our work or have a confidential conversation about how you would like your gift to make a difference.

Contact us: UK Astronomy contact page

Write to us:
UK Astronomy
3 Pleshey Close
Milton Keynes
MK5 6EP

We recommend seeking independent professional advice when making or changing your Will.