Norwood launches hard-hitting Legacy Campaign
‘If you die without leaving a legacy, so could we’ - that was the harsh message from Norwood, Anglo-Jewry’s leading children & family services care organisation as it unveiled its new legacy campaign this week, aimed at urging the community to remember Norwood in their Will.
Only last week Norwood publicised an £800,000 shortfall in statutory income caused by Local Authorities under-funding the true cost of care at Norwood. This is crippling the organisation’s finances and threatening its future, making the core message of this hard-hitting campaign rings all-too true.
The sombre message of the campaign is supported by its bleak design, a tombstone engraved with a simple inscription ‘In loving memory of Norwood 1795 - ?’ making reference to the year that the Norwood Orphanage was founded 208 years ago and hinting that today more than ever, its future is far from certain.
Launching the campaign, Norwood’s Legacy Manager Michael Ross explained; “For well over 200 years, Norwood has improved the lives of children and their families coping with social difficulties, and people of all ages with learning disabilities. With demands from the community for our services increasing year-on-year, leaving a legacy to Norwood has never been as important as it is today. This coupled with the fact that almost all of our children & family services – including our three children and family centres, our social work teams and our special education outreach service – receive little if any statutory income, makes leaving a legacy, large or small, all the more vital as it helps to finance crucial support for Jewish families in real need.”
In 2001/2 legacies brought in £1.5m to Norwood. The Legacy team are hoping that this figure will ‘significantly increase’ with the launch of this new campaign. Ross continued: “The main message of this campaign is clear. We’re saying to the community that we desperately need your continued financial support. Whether you are a life-long support of Norwood, or in-fact have not ever given a donation to the organisation, please make a provision for Norwood in your Will. Anything you leave will of course be free of Inheritance Tax and long after you die, your generosity will be a lasting legacy that will help Norwood safeguard the future for our community’s most vulnerable children. Please help us keep our vital work alive.”
This campaign is being endorsed by nine supporting solicitors who are able to advise potential legators how to make a Will, free of charge.
For more information contact...
Ronit Shebson
Public Relations Manager at Norwood
tel : 020 8420 6900
email : ronit.shebson@norwood.org.uk
