During her lifetime, my aunt always spoke about wanting to support sick children in Bristol as part of her legacy. After she passed away, the executors spoke to Jessie May about how a legacy could be best used to benefit the lives of the children and families they support. As a result of working closely with Jessie May, we are now able to see the impact of the donation on the families, which is amazing, but also would not have been possible without the thought and time the Jessie May team put into aligning to my aunt’s wishes. When thinking about leaving a legacy to a charity, it is important to feel confident that the donation will be utilised in the manner the donor wishes, and Jessie May have done exactly that. – Anonymous
Leaving a gift in your Will is one of the most meaningful ways to protect Jessie May’s specialist hospice‑at‑home care for future generations. A charity gift in Will costs nothing today, but it safeguards the support that children and families rely on.
A legacy to be continued…
Jessie May was founded more than 30 years ago by Philippa Brownjohn, after the death of her daughter, Jessica May. Whilst Jessica was in hospital, Philippa had also met a seriously ill baby boy who spent long hours alone on a hospital ward. She knew children deserved care at home, surrounded by the people who love them, and wanted to make a change.
Her legacy continues today through Jessie May nurses who support seriously ill children and their families in their own homes across Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. Leaving a gift in your Will helps ensure Philippa’s vision continues for decades to come.
Why gifts in Wills matter
Across the UK, Hospices support 310,000 people every year, with 82% of care delivered outside the inpatient unit – including at home and within the community.
For Jessie May, this is exactly where our nurses work – providing specialist care in living rooms, bedrooms, gardens and wherever a child feels safest. Gifts in Wills help make this home‑based care possible.
A gift in your Will helps fund:
- Specialist nursing visits
- A short break for parents
- Emotional support for the whole family, including siblings
- Bereavement care
- Practical help that makes home‑based care possible
These legacy gifts ensure children can receive care at home, surrounded by the people they love.
Jessie May has meant a lot to me since working with Philippa (the founder), and others, to set it up in the early 90s; to see it find such an important place in the lives of so many children and families, and to see it develop into what it is now. It is my hope that my small legacy, of leaving a gift in my will to Jessie May, will help this vital work flourish for the benefit of those who need it. – Anonymous
Your gift can support families like Freya’s…
Families like Freya’s rely on Jessie May for specialist care, emotional support and the reassurance of having a nurse who understands their needs. Freya lives with Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Deficiency, a rare metabolic condition that affects how her cells produce energy, and Jessie May’s nurses have been by her side for most of her life.
Over the years, Jessie May has become woven into the family’s life, offering consistency, trust and emotional safety. As Kelly puts it, their superpower is that “there’s no judgement; they just make sure that you’re okay.”
You can read Freya’s full story here.
By leaving a gift in your Will, you can help make sure children like Freya continue receiving specialist care at home – today, tomorrow, and long into the future.
How to leave a gift in your Will
Leaving a legacy gift is simple. Anyone can do it, and even a small percentage of your estate can make a life‑changing difference.
If you’re thinking about how to leave a gift in your Will, or want to learn more about leaving a gift in your Will to Jessie May, visit: https://jessiemay.org.uk/support-us/give-money/gift-in-will/
