Leave a Legacy | Oasis Domestic Abuse Service
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Leave a Legacy

We’re only able to do the work we do because of people who care.

If you’re thinking about leaving a gift to Oasis in your will, thank you. It is one of the most meaningful things you can do for survivors of domestic abuse in Kent and Medway. Not just for the adults and children we support today, but for everyone who will need us in the years to come.

leave a legacy

A legacy gift doesn’t have to be large. Whatever you are able to leave, it will go towards making sure Oasis is here offering safety, support, and a way forward, for as long as we are needed.

Ways to leave a gift to Oasis

There are several ways to include Oasis in your will, depending on what works best for your circumstances. A solicitor will be able to help you decide which option is right for you.

A share of your estate (residuary bequest)

This means leaving a percentage of your estate to Oasis after all other gifts and debts have been settled.

Example wording: “I give [X%] of the residue of my estate to Oasis Domestic Abuse Service, PO Box 174, Margate, Kent, CT9 4GA, Registered Charity Number 1126198, to be applied for its charitable purposes.”

A fixed sum (pecuniary bequest)

A gift of a specific amount of money. It is worth bearing in mind that fixed sums can reduce in real value over time as the cost of living changes.

Example wording: “I give the sum of £[amount] to Oasis Domestic Abuse Service, PO Box 174, Margate, Kent, CT9 4GA, Registered Charity Number 1126198, to be applied for its charitable purposes.”

A named item (specific bequest)

You can also leave a specific item — a piece of jewellery, a work of art, or other possession — to Oasis. It is important to describe the item as precisely as possible to avoid any uncertainty.

Example wording: “I leave [description of item] to Oasis Domestic Abuse Service, PO Box 174, Margate, Kent, CT9 4GA, Registered Charity Number 1126198.”

A contingent gift

A contingent gift is one that takes effect only under certain circumstances — most commonly if a primary beneficiary passes away before you do. It is a way of making sure your wishes are still honoured, whatever happens.

Example wording: “In the event that [name] should predecease me, I give [gift] to Oasis Domestic Abuse Service, PO Box 174, Margate, Kent, CT9 4GA, Registered Charity Number 1126198, to be applied for its charitable purposes.”

Mrs Brown* left a significant gift in her Will to Oasis in the hope that her children and grandchildren would grow up in a world where there were no longer families living in fear of abuse.

Her husband told us, “I know how important it was for my wife to continue her support for the most vulnerable people after she’d gone. She knew that any gift she left in her Will would make a difference and the world a safer place. She wanted to protect and provide for people locally.

We enjoyed a wonderful, happy, marriage. Domestic abuse is so devastating for all involved – particularly children. But we have seen firsthand the difference the Oasis staff team can make to people in abusive relationships – the wonderful work they do to make people safe, the kindness and reassurance that things will get better and that they are there to help.”

 *name has been changed

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Making or updating your will

If you don’t yet have a will, or if your circumstances have changed, now is a good time to make one. It is the only way to make sure your wishes are carried out exactly as you intend.

We’d always recommend working with a qualified solicitor. You can find one in your area through the Law Society at lawsociety.org.uk or by calling 020 7242 1222.

If you already have a will and simply want to add a gift to Oasis, you can do this without rewriting the whole document. A short addendum known as a codicil allows you to make additions to an existing will — your solicitor can help you with this.

When making your will, it helps to: make a list of your assets and liabilities; decide who you would like to include; choose your executors (the people who will carry out your wishes); and keep your will somewhere safe, letting your executors know where to find it. Review it whenever your personal or financial circumstances change significantly.

For information on making or updating a will please visit www.adviceguide.org.uk or www.direct.gov.uk.

Let us know

If you have decided to leave a gift to Oasis, we would love to hear from you. It is entirely your choice whether to tell us, but knowing means we can thank you personally and keep you connected to the difference your gift will make.

You can get in touch with us at fundraise@oasisdaservice.org

What your gift makes possible

Domestic abuse affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life in our communities. The need for skilled, compassionate, locally rooted support is constant and the demand on services like ours never stands still.

Your legacy gift could help fund our helpline, so that someone in crisis always has someone to call. It could help us keep spaces open where survivors can access advice, safety planning, and ongoing support. It could contribute to our work with children and young people, helping them recover and build futures free from the effects of abuse they have witnessed or experienced.