Support us with a gift in your will

First-person stories on this page:

‘Where there’s a will there’s a way!' by Bipolar UK ambassador Nicky Chinn

'Why I'm leaving a legacy in my will' by Bipolar UK CEO Simon Kitchen

There are over one million people with bipolar in the UK and it takes an average of 9.5 years to get a diagnosis. Tragically, someone living with bipolar is 20 times more likely to take their own life than someone living without the condition. This is why the work of Bipolar UK is so important.

Gifts in wills are vital for our work. A gift in your will helps us develop our peer support and specialist services, research, policy work, and public engagement ensuring future generations of people living with bipolar and their families will continue to be supported.

A legacy is a wonderful way to support Bipolar UK, but please don’t make a decision to leave a legacy if you are currently unwell. If you are in crisis, you can find sources of support here

Making or updating your will is easy and affordable

There are two ways to leave us a gift in your will:

1. Use a solicitor who will advise you

The information you'll need to include is:

'I give Bipolar UK of 32 Cubitt Street, London WC1X 0LS, registered charity number 293340, £X (specify the amount) for its charitable purposes'

'I give Bipolar UK of 32 Cubitt Street, London WC1X 0LS, registered charity number 293340, X% (specify the percentage) of the residue of my estate for its charitable purposes’

2. Use a free will-writing service

Bipolar UK has partnered with Farewill to offer a free will-writing service that allows you to write or update your will in as little as 15 minutes. Farewill has won multiple awards for its service. Every will is checked by their specialist team, ensuring your wishes are clear.

Wills can be made online or on the phone if you are aged 18 or older.

If you live in England or Wales, you can make your will online or on the phone.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you can make your will on the phone.

Please enter the free code Bipolar-23 at the checkout.

For more details, email [email protected]

'Where there’s a will there’s a way!'

by Bipolar UK ambassador Nicky Chinn

Bipolar UK Ambassador, Nicky Chinn, explains why he has left a gift in his will to Bipolar UK and the impact it will make

'I was diagnosed with manic depression, now more appropriately referred to as bipolar, at the age of 16. I have had to deal with it for most of my life.

'I am grateful to the psychiatrists and therapists who have helped me along the way, but I wish there had been an organisation like Bipolar UK to help me back then.

Life-changing support from Bipolar UK

'Bipolar UK’s peer support groups are so important. To go along to a group and meet like-minded people with similar issues can be lifesaving. Bipolar UK also runs an eCommunity that is a safe and confidential space. Somewhere you can ask questions and talk about anything that is troubling you with other people who are affected by bipolar. It is a community that understands. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

'Bipolar UK is involved in reducing stigma through the press and social media, wherever possible. Another pivotal project Bipolar UK is supporting is suicide prevention. Statistically people with bipolar are 20 times more likely to take their own life. The charity is at the forefront of this issue, literally helping to save lives.

Can you make a difference like Nicky?

'Recently I had my lawyer draw up my will. With my long experience of bipolar there was no more deserving cause than Bipolar UK. They are the only national charity dedicated to supporting people affected by bipolar. Everything the charity does requires funding. It needs to grow to cope with so many more who need the help and are not yet receiving it.

'If you have any connection to bipolar, remembering Bipolar UK in your will would be a fine way to support the charity’s work. They need my support and they have it! They need yours too. Together we can make sure that Bipolar UK is there for generations to come. Where there's a will there's a way!'

Why I’m leaving a legacy in my will

By Simon Kitchen, Bipolar UK CEO

Content Warning: this article includes references to suicide

'I never met my brother-in-law, Kevin. He had died before I met my wife. Kevin had an interesting life – he struggled at school but landed a position on Jamie Oliver’s TV series Fifteen. He loved it and became a talented chef who enjoyed experimenting with new ingredients, tastes and flavours. Some worked out better than others. One Christmas my wife was overeager and smothered her entire dinner in an Avant Garde green ‘jus’ he had made which proved revolting and made the whole meal inedible.

'Kevin sadly had to give up cooking after finding the heat of the kitchen was damaging his already vulnerable hearing. He was retraining and heading to university in Lancaster when he had a severe manic episode. He sought help but it was too late and he was eventually sectioned, pinned down by multiple staff and had his phone confiscated. This troubled experience left an acute scar in Kevin’s psyche.

Heart-breaking news

'Soon afterwards he went missing. His connection with Fifteen and friendship with Jamie Oliver meant his disappearance attracted national news coverage and a local manhunt. Tragically he was found several months later, having taken his own life.

'Kevin’s loss left a huge hole in my family and a lot of soul searching. My wife had had a difficult relationship with her brother, and it was only after he died that she found out he had been living with bipolar. Stigma and diagnostic despair meant that Kevin had never felt confident enough to open up about his diagnosis. They therefore never found the coping strategies and approaches for how they could build a strong relationship – which is so important for people living with the condition.

The impact of suicide

'After his death my wife had to take several months off work and undertook hours of volunteering to come to terms with what had happened. Each suicide costs society an average of £1.6 million with most of that cost borne by the friends and families of the person who died in lost employment and grief.

Leaving a donation in memory

'While I never got to meet Kevin it’s an honour to leave a small legacy in our will to Bipolar UK in his memory. It’s the money we would have left to him if he had still been alive. The money will go on peer support services that would have helped Kevin feel less alone with his diagnosis. Importantly our services also welcome family and friends so if there is a sister out there like Naomi, who would like to learn how to support their brother with bipolar, they can come along and be with like-minded people.

'We can’t bring Kevin back but by leaving a legacy we hope that other families won’t have to go through what we did.

Bridger’s Law practice, a Kent-based law firm, have compiled some useful FAQs here:

Do I need a solicitor to make a will?
It is important to get specialist legal advice from a wills solicitor as will writing can be complex and can cause long lasting problems if not prepared properly. A solicitor can help spot potential problems and provide guidance and support on the preparation of a will. Often a solicitor can present you with thoughts and ideas you may not have had before your meeting. It is much easier to deal with possible problems now rather than leaving your loved ones to manage things after your passing.
Why is a will important?
By making a will you decide who is given your personal possessions and assets.
What about tax?
Depending on the value of your estate there may or may not be tax to be paid. The basic tax allowance every individual has is £325,000 before any tax is payable. Gifts between spouses are tax free. Likewise, any gifts to charities are tax free. A solicitor can outline additional tax benefits that could apply to your estate as well as making sure your will is as tax efficient as possible.
Do I need a trust in my will?
This is a very tricky question to answer and will depend on your situation. There are a number of different types of trusts and their use will depend on your situation. If your loved one lives with bipolar or other health conditions, and they get state benefits, then you may want to consider a Trust for them so as to avoid the loss of benefits, income and potential housing opportunities.
What is a guardian?
A guardian is a trusted person or family member that is appointed in your will if you die while your children are under the age of 18 years. A will does not help your loved ones manage your financial assets, but can also be a useful tool to ensure that your children are cared for.
What is an executor?
An executor is a trusted person who will look after your estate when you die. The executor will collect in your assets and distribute them according to your will. They will ensure your loved ones receive their inheritance. A firm of solicitors can also act as your executors.
How many executors can I have?
You can appoint as many executors as you like in your will. However, only a maximum of four can apply for probate.
What is probate and will my executors need it?
Probate is the process of valuing your estate, paying any tax and extracting a 'grant of probate' to then sell and distribute the assets to your beneficiaries. A 'grant of probate' is a certificate that the court provides giving your executors the authority to sell assets, and collect in assets ready to distribute to the beneficiaries. If there is a property involved, then probate is usually needed. If there are shares and large sums in the bank, then probate is usually needed in order to release those assets.