William’s story: Leaving a gift in his Will to Minstead Trust
8 March 2023
Minstead Trust was started over 35 years ago, and in that time, we have grown from supporting three learning disabled adults, at Furzey Gardens, to supporting over 300 people in Hampshire and Dorset.
One way we’ve been able to expand is through gifts in Wills, which make a huge difference to the work of the Trust. Remembering Minstead Trust in your Will, whether you’ve supported us recently or in the past, is a chance to have a lasting impact into the future on the lives of people with learning disabilities.
William is one of the special people whose gift in his Will helped make wonderful things happen for Furzey Gardens, the charity’s pioneering training garden in the New Forest, where the charity first planted its roots.
Since our early days we have expanded beyond horticulture, with services to support people through their employment journey, to learn valuable life skills and to lead independent lives. However, horticulture is still a very big part of the work that we do with people who have learning disabilities. When it became known to us that William had left provision in his Will to support the work we do at Furzey Gardens, we were very grateful, and his wishes have become realised with his legacy gift.
With William’s legacy gift, it has meant we could:
- Support three vulnerable people to access and get training and mentoring on our Step Up for Work Programme
- Plant 70 trees
- Purchase 100 wheelbarrows
Lives have been changed and the gardens have been kept special for future generations who visit and work in the gardens.
The lives of people like David have been helped, seen here working with Dan, helping to maintain the paths. He told us: ‘I like working at Furzey Gardens. I like coming here and seeing all the staff and my friends.’
We’re very thankful that William chose to leave a gift in his Will, helping our work at Furzey Gardens and making a difference to the lives of the people with learning disabilities who work there.
You can be like William. When you are updating or making your Will, please remember Minstead Trust, and help us to keep places like Furzey Gardens special and to continue supporting people with learning disabilities to live their dreams.