INVESTING IN THE FUTURE. Your Legacy to Oxford Brookes

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1 INVESTING IN THE FUTURE Your Legacy to Oxford Brookes

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3 Thank You Leaving a legacy is a very meaningful act and I thank you for your interest in finding out more about supporting Oxford Brookes in this way. By leaving a legacy to Oxford Brookes University you will be making a lasting contribution to our development as a modern and innovative centre of learning. Above all, you will be investing in the education and the futures of generations to come. As you ll see in this brochure, leaving a gift in your Will does not have to be complicated or expensive: all gifts, large or small, are extremely valuable to us. It is thanks to the support of our alumni and friends that Brookes will be able to carry on funding many important areas of university life, such as research support, student scholarships and welfare. We would be very happy to speak to you in confidence about any questions you may have regarding legacy giving. Please see the back of this brochure for our contact details. On behalf of all of us here at Brookes, please accept my sincere thanks for your commitment to the University and our students. Professor Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University YOUR LEGACY TO OXFORD BROOKES 1

4 Our Vision for the Future Oxford Brookes has achieved a great deal since its inception in From borrowed rooms at the Taylorian Institute in Oxford, to a technology school, college, polytechnic and then in 1992, a university our history has been defined by our students achieving their potential and making a valuable contribution to Oxfordshire and beyond. Looking to the future, there is much we want to do to prepare our students for personal and professional fulfilment. Curriculum Development Our top priority is to ensure that our curriculum remains challenging and relevant to the 21st Century, while equipping our students with the broadest set of skills and experiences. Research We will continue to invest in world leading research, especially in the areas of health, the environment and global citizenship - crucial themes for society today. Scholarships We aim to broaden our scholarship programme, to ensure talented students can come to us despite financial hardship. Campus Redevelopment We will continue the redevelopment of our older buildings to create spaces that are attractive and fit for purpose. 2 YOUR LEGACY TO OXFORD BROOKES

5 Oxfordshire and Beyond We will continue to make a positive contribution to local communities in Oxfordshire and beyond in various ways, including our teacher and nursing training programmes, our social and environmental projects and through sharing our resources with the public (Brookes sports centres, bus fleet, restaurant etc.). YOUR LEGACY TO OXFORD BROOKES 3

6 Examples of What Your Support Can Do The support of our alumni and friends is vital to seeing our aspirations come to fruition. It is thanks to philanthropic donations from the public that we can finance important areas of university life such as research and academic initiatives, student scholarships and welfare, extracurricular programmes and more. Research & Academic Initiatives Oxford Brookes has an internationally recognised research portfolio with particular strengths in Computer Vision, History, Hospitality and Life Sciences. Professor Helen Dawes team in Life Sciences, for example, works to understand the underlying mechanisms which hamper physical movement in adults and children with disorders such as Stroke, Parkinson s, Cerebral Palsy and Multiple Sclerosis. The findings from the team feed Oxford Brookes Centre for Rehabilitation, which is open to the local community. 4 YOUR LEGACY TO OXFORD BROOKES

7 Student Scholarships & Welfare Oxford Brookes Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) was awarded the Queen s Anniversary Prize and is globally recognised as one of the best places to train in humanitarian aid and development. Graduates like Hellen Attiol, above, go on to work all over the world in places with the most severe need. Oxford Brookes scholarships support CENDEP students, and others, experiencing financial hardship. Community & Extra-Curricular Programmes Brookes is committed to making a positive impact on society. The University runs a number of projects to benefit communities and at the same time allow students to develop important skills. Brookes projects have included working with homeless people, offering pro-bono legal advice, teaching IT skills to elderly people, and running the Strengthening Families Programme (UK) to aid family communication and mitigate substance misuse and risks of offending. Leaving a gift to the University in your Will is a particularly cost-effective way to direct support towards an area you care about, at no cost to you now. We are extremely grateful for your generosity - all gifts, large or small, bring us closer to our vision for the future. YOUR LEGACY TO OXFORD BROOKES 5

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9 My Gift to Brookes In 1964, I became a student of the Oxford College of Technology, a predecessor of Brookes, where I studied Furniture Design & Construction. The inspirational teaching I received then did much to foster my interest in education and to shape my career. I have just retired at the age of 78 as Lead Tutor in Heritage & Social Studies at Denman College, Oxfordshire. Over the years I have held numerous senior appointments, particularly within the Examination System. I was the second youngest person to hold the Presidency of the Institute of Craft Education and am a Fellow of the College of Teachers and the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. I attribute much of my success to Oxford Brookes, for which I ll always remain grateful. My legacy to Brookes is a thank you for the profound impact the University has had on my life. It is also a gift to support the education of future students so that, like me, they too will be inspired. Bernard Pumfrey YOUR LEGACY TO OXFORD BROOKES 7

10 Joan Brookes Legacy Joan Brookes, daughter of John Henry Brookes, left a legacy to the Fine Arts Department in honour of her father s artistic interests. Joan s gift is being used to support final-year students on the BA Fine Arts course through the School of Arts Studio Award. The Award gives two graduating students one-year studio residencies at the Old Fire Station Arts Centre in Oxford and enables them to have valuable teaching experience at Oxford Brookes. 8 YOUR LEGACY TO OXFORD BROOKES

11 JACK EDEN (BA FINE ARTS, AWARD HOLDER ) Oxford Brookes graduate and sculptor Jack Eden was one of the first two recipients of the Studio Award, funded by Joan Brookes legacy gift. His work explores the relationship between maths and art. It was spectacular! Winning the Studio Arts Award was a huge honour, and gave me the space to develop my ideas and skills as a sculptor. ALEX HACKETT (BA FINE ARTS, AWARD HOLDER ) After graduating in 2013, Oxford Brookes alumna Alex Hackett is making full use of her residency at the Old Fire Station Arts Centre. Still based in Oxford, she draws on her everyday experiences and observations of the world around her for inspiration. I m very grateful to Brookes for the studio. Each time I use it, I m thankful for being able to work in a dedicated space in an arts environment without which, it would be incredibly difficult for me to continue working as an artist. It s the best start I could hope for as a Fine Arts graduate. YOUR LEGACY TO OXFORD BROOKES 9

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13 Making a Will Many people put off making a Will, perhaps for fear that it is going to be expensive or morbid. Sadly, around 70% of people in the UK refrain from making a Will. This can cause unnecessary distress to family and friends and mean that a person s estate is not distributed in the way they had intended. After providing, of course, for loved ones, leaving a legacy to charity allows individuals to demonstrate their belief in an institution s vision and values, often with a more significant donation than they may have been able to make during their lifetime. A legacy to charity may also reduce the inheritance tax payable on an estate (please seek legal advice concerning this). If you have already made your Will but would now like to include Oxford Brookes University as a beneficiary, you can do so easily by adding an amendment, or Codicil, to your existing Will - in consultation with your solicitor. If you are drafting a Will for the first time, the Law Society is a useful resource for finding a solicitor near you: England and Wales tel: +44 (0) Scotland tel: YOUR LEGACY TO OXFORD BROOKES 11

14 What can I leave to Oxford Brookes? As it is difficult to predict areas of priority decades in advance, the University is particularly grateful for gifts to where the need is greatest, as this gives us greater flexibility. However, it is also possible to direct gifts to particular areas of interest such as: Research and Academic Initiatives, Student Scholarships and Welfare, Community & Extra-Curricular Programmes. We are extremely grateful for whatever way you chose to support us, as every gift, large or small, makes a difference to the University. A legacy gift can be made in various ways: A pecuniary legacy: or specific sum of money A specific legacy: Oxford Brookes can be a named beneficiary of a life insurance policy, pension, stocks and shares, or personal property such as a painting, jewellery or a house. A residuary legacy: a percentage of what is left of an estate after family and friends have been provided for and all expenses paid. A reversionary legacy: this allows assets to be left to the University whilst giving a named person the benefit of them during their lifetime. For example, it could enable a spouse or friend to continue living in a house, with the capital being given to the University once they have passed away. Legacies can be acknowledged in a number of ways to be discussed at the donor s discretion. 12 YOUR LEGACY TO OXFORD BROOKES

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16 Next Steps If you choose to name Oxford Brookes University as a beneficiary in your Will, please accept our sincere thanks. We have included with this brochure some sample wording for amending or drafting Wills and some information on the University s tax status, which may be useful when you visit your solicitor. We understand and respect that your Will is private. However, we would be grateful if you could also use the Declaration of Intent, enclosed, to inform us of your plans. Your Declaration is not a legally binding commitment, it simply helps us to plan for the future and gives us an opportunity to offer our thanks for your kind support. We very much welcome the opportunity to talk privately to all alumni and friends who are interested in leaving a gift to the University in their Will. Please contact us at Oxford Brookes University, Development and Alumni Relations Office, Headington Hill, Oxford, OX3 0BP. tel: , giving@brookes.ac.uk Thank You 14 YOUR LEGACY TO OXFORD BROOKES