Gifts in wills
Rescue tomorrow.
Once you have looked after the people you love, a gift in your will can rescue the animals who will need us in years to come. It can fund the investigations, rescues and prosecutions that protect them from organised cruelty, long after you are gone.
Our latest animation
Why a gift in your will matters
Watch our latest animation on leaving a gift in your will, and what it could mean for the animals our team will rescue in the years ahead.
Our new animation is nearly ready. In the meantime, everything you need to know is on this page.
What your gift makes possible
The animals who will need us next
The Animal Welfare Investigations Project rescues animals from serious and organised cruelty and brings the people responsible to justice. Our investigators follow the networks behind dog fighting, puppy farming and the cat and dog meat trade, gathering evidence that stands up in court. When the evidence is there, we go in alongside the police, and the animals are taken to safety and treated by vets.
Every operation is funded by supporters, with no government or corporate money. A gift in your will, whatever its size, helps make sure that work can continue for the animals who will need it in years to come.
Free will-writing service
Have your will written, completely free
Through our membership of the National Free Wills Network, we can offer supporters in the UK a professionally written will at no cost. There is no obligation to leave a gift to us. Please provide for the people you love first.
Request your pack
Fill in a short form. It takes about a minute.
We post it to you
Your pack arrives with everything you need, including your voucher.
See a local solicitor
Take your voucher to a participating solicitor near you, who writes your will at no cost to you.
For you and your solicitor
Our details for your will
Your solicitor will need our full legal details. Please use them exactly as shown. They match our entry on the Companies House register.
- Full legal name
- Animal Welfare Investigations Project Limited
- Company number
- 13760374
- Registered office
- 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom, WC2H 9JQ
- Status
- A non-profit company registered in England and Wales. Not a registered charity (we are a campaigning organisation), so we have no charity number.
Types of gift
Ways to remember animals in your will
Residuary gift
A share of your estate
A share of what is left of your estate after your other gifts, debts and costs have been paid. You can leave all of the residue, a percentage, or a number of equal shares. Because it is a share rather than a set amount, it keeps pace with the value of your estate over time.
Sample wording
Pecuniary gift
A fixed sum of money
A set amount of money. It is simple to understand, but its real value can fall with inflation, so you may want to review it from time to time.
Sample wording
Specific gift
A particular item
A named possession, such as property, shares, jewellery or a piece of art. Please talk to us first, so we can make sure we are able to accept it and that it can be used as you would wish.
Sample wording
Today you protect them. Tomorrow, your gift rescues them.
Questions
Your questions, answered
Is AWIP a registered charity?
No. Animal Welfare Investigations Project Limited is a non-profit company registered in England and Wales (company number 13760374). It is not a registered charity and has no charity number. You can check our entry on the Companies House register.
Why isn't AWIP a registered charity?
Like many other campaigning organisations, AWIP is not a registered charity because of the campaigning we do. Alongside our investigations, we campaign to change the law, for example for stronger penalties for animal cruelty, and more than a million signatures have been added to our calls for change. In England and Wales, changing the law cannot be a charity's purpose, and a registered charity can only campaign in support of its charitable purposes. As a non-profit company, we can campaign for stronger animal protection laws as part of our core work. The trade-off is that gifts to AWIP do not get the tax reliefs that gifts to registered charities do.
Will a gift to AWIP be free of inheritance tax?
No. Gifts to registered charities are usually exempt from inheritance tax, but because AWIP is not a registered charity, a gift to AWIP does not get that exemption. It also does not count towards the reduced rate of inheritance tax for estates that leave 10% or more to charity. Whether any tax is payable depends on your estate as a whole, so please discuss this with your solicitor before you decide.
Do I have to leave a gift to AWIP to use the free will-writing service?
No. The service is free and there is no obligation to include a gift. Please provide for the people you love first. If you then decide to remember animals in your will, thank you.
How much should I leave?
That is entirely your decision, and there is no amount we expect. Every gift, of any size, is gratefully received.
I already have a will. How do I add a gift?
A solicitor can add a gift to your existing will with a short document called a codicil, or write a new will if your circumstances have changed. Please do not write changes on your will yourself, as this can make it invalid.
Can I change my mind later?
Yes. Your will is yours, and you can update it at any time. If you have told us about a gift, you do not need to tell us if you change it, though you are always welcome to.
Do I need to tell you I have left a gift?
No. You do not have to, and telling us is not binding. If you would like to let us know, we would love to thank you. You never have to tell us what is in your will or how much you have left.
Can I leave a gift for a particular area of your work?
Yes, but a gift for our general purposes lets us put it where animals need it most when the time comes. If you would like to restrict your gift, please contact us first, so we can make sure we can honour it.
What if AWIP changes its name or structure in the future?
Your solicitor may suggest wording so that your gift still takes effect if we change our name or merge with another organisation. This is common practice, and your solicitor can advise on it.
I live outside the UK. Can I leave a gift?
Our free will-writing service is only available in the UK. You can still remember AWIP in your will by speaking to a qualified legal adviser where you live. Please contact us first, so we can confirm which details to use and your adviser can explain the tax position in your country.
How do I check your details are correct?
Our company name, number and registered office are on the public Companies House register. Your solicitor can also contact us to confirm them before your will is signed.
Check our entry on the Companies House register.
Talk to us
Talk to us in confidence
If you have a question about leaving a gift, have already remembered AWIP in your will, or your solicitor would like to confirm our details, please get in touch. Every conversation is confidential, and there is never any pressure.
Phone
Supporter Care: 020 3910 9005
Post
Animal Welfare Investigations Project Limited
71-75 Shelton Street
Covent Garden
London
United Kingdom
WC2H 9JQ