About NCBI

NCBI (National Council for the Blind of Ireland) is a not for profit charitable organisation that offers support and services nationwide to people who are experiencing sight loss. There are currently over 16,500 people using NCBI's services. Of these, 5% are totally without sight, while 95% have varying degrees of usable vision.

The mission of NCBI is to enable people who are blind or vision impaired to overcome the barriers that impede their independence and participation in society. We provide a wide range of services including counselling, training, library services, resource centres and employment advice to help accomplish this mission.

To provide these vital services, we need to continually raise funds – and that’s where you can help.

You can help by remembering NCBI in your will

By making a gift in your will to NCBI you will leave a legacy of help to people who are blind or vision impaired.

How can I leave a legacy in my will to NCBI?

When making a will it is advisable to seek the professional help of a solicitor. The four different legacy gifts you can make are:

1. A Pecuniary Gift

This is a gift of a specified amount of money.

2. A Specific Gift

This is a gift of a specific item such as property, jewellery, stocks, shares or other valuables.

3. A Residuary Gift

This is the remainder of your estate after all other gifts to family and friends have been distributed and all outgoings have been resolved.

4. A Reversionary Gift

This is a gift in which a named person has access to the estate, which only reverts to the charity on the death of that person. For instance, the will states that a friend is allowed to live in your house until their death, when it will revert to the charity.

Preparing your will

Providing for the future of your loved ones will be the most important part of your will. After that people often choose to remember their preferred charity, by making a donation.

Before you see your solicitor

• Make a list of your assets
• Make a list of what you want to leave and to whom
• Decide on who will be your executors (people who will administer your estate and carry out your instructions). These can be members of your family, a friend or a solicitor. It should be someone with some knowledge of your affairs and someone you can trust.

Sample Checklist

Calculate the estimated value of the following:

• Property
• Your Home
• Furniture
• Jewellery
• Car
• Paintings
• Other Items

Financial

• Bank Accounts
• Building Society Accounts
• Stocks and Shares
• Pensions / Benefits
• Life Assurance

Money you owe

• Mortgage
• Overdraft
• Credit card debts
• List of Benefactors

Your legacy can make a real difference

Here are a few sample case studies to help you understand how your legacy helps us:

Mary aged 61 has no sight, as she has glaucoma. She received support services from NCBI including learning how to get around safely and how to use computers. From being isolated, unmotivated and dependent, she is now independent, busy, participates in social activities and communicates with family and friends by email and Skype.

John age 26 has diabetic retinopathy and was vision impaired, living with relatives. He was unable to work as an electrician. After receiving support from NCBI he now lives independently, has changed his career and has a busy social life.

These are just two of many thousands of people who have been helped by NCBI. In all cases, NCBI changed their lives for the better.

What a gift in your will could do

We rely on legacy gifts to continue our work. We hope you will consider contributing to NCBI’s work of enabling people who are blind or vision impaired to overcome the barriers that impede their independence and participation in society.

How to leave a legacy

Your generosity will help the lives of people who are blind and vision impaired throughout Ireland, and for that we are extremely grateful.

If you would like more information on leaving a legacy to NCBI to help us continue our work, please call Brian Friel on LoCall 1850 33 43 53 or email Brian at brian.friel@ncbi.ie. You can also contact him at this address:

NCBI Head Office

Whitworth Road

Drumcondra

Dublin 9

Registered Charity No: CHY4626