A Will Is More Than a Legal Document By The Partially Sighted Society

Most of us put off writing a Will. It can feel like a task for another day, something to consider when we are older or when life feels less full. But making a Will is not simply about preparing for the end of life. It is about deciding what matters to you and making sure your wishes are understood.

Without a Will, decisions about your money, possessions and property may not be made in the way you would have chosen. Writing one can protect the people you care about, remove uncertainty and give you greater control over what happens in the future.

It can also give you the chance to leave something lasting behind.

Supporting the People and Causes That Matter

Family and friends will naturally come first for most people. Once they have been provided for, some choose to include a charity that has made a difference to them or someone they love.

A charitable gift does not need to be a large sum of money. It could be a set amount, a particular possession or a small percentage of what remains after other gifts have been made.

For a small charity, these gifts can have an enormous impact.

The Partially Sighted Society supports people as they adjust to the practical and emotional effects of sight loss. This includes specialist low-vision assessments, adaptive technology training, wellbeing support, accessible resources and advice for individuals and families.

A gift left in a Will could help someone learn to use a smartphone independently, find a magnifier that lets them read again or receive support at a time when sight loss has left them feeling frightened and alone.

It could also help us continue producing accessible educational materials for visually impaired children and young people, giving them a fairer chance to learn alongside their classmates.

Planning for the Future of Sight-Loss Support

The need for sight-loss services will not disappear. Every year, more people find themselves coming to terms with a new diagnosis and working out how they will continue doing the things they have always done.

As a charity, we want to be there when those people need us.

Gifts left in Wills help organisations such as ours plan beyond the next few months. They allow services to develop, specialist knowledge to be retained and new forms of support to be introduced as technology and people's needs change.

They help make sure that the next person who contacts us is met with practical answers, understanding and hope.

Writing a Will Does Not Have to Be Difficult

One of the main reasons people delay making a Will is the belief that the process will be complicated, time-consuming or expensive.

To make it easier, The Partially Sighted Society has partnered with Farewill, a specialist Will-writing provider. Through this partnership, PSS supporters can create a standard Will free of charge, either online or with support over the telephone.

The service can be completed from home and is designed to guide you through the process in clear, manageable steps.

There is no obligation to leave a gift to The Partially Sighted Society. Using the service does not commit you to supporting us, and the choices you make remain entirely your own.

However, once you have made provision for the people closest to you, you may decide that you would also like to support a cause that reflects your experiences, beliefs or priorities.

A Decision That Could Change Someone's Life

You may never meet the person who benefits from a gift left in your Will. It could be someone learning to read their post again, a parent searching for accessible school materials for their child or a person who thought sight loss meant giving up their independence.

Whatever the amount, your gift could be the reason they do not have to face those challenges alone.

Writing a Will gives you the chance to protect the people you love, record your wishes and decide what kind of difference you would like to leave behind.

To learn more about writing your Will free of charge through our partnership with Farewill, visit the Gifts in Wills page on The Partially Sighted Society website or telephone us on 01302 965195.