Ways to give

We are always delighted to receive gifts made by direct debit or standing order, as they provide a regular and predictable income stream for our University. By using this method your donation can be spread over several years, and payment can be made by monthly, quarterly, or yearly instalments.

If you are employed in the UK, it is worth finding out if your employer operates the Give As You Earn scheme. This allows you to give as much and as frequently as you wish, with donations deducted at source from the top slice of your gross income. It not only offers a significant saving to you, but the Fund also benefits by receiving the donation gross, including the income tax you would have paid.

ARU alumna Claire Read, who is a partner at Essex based solicitors Birkett Long, offers her advice on the importance of writing a will. Claire studied LLBH (Hons) Law at Anglia Ruskin on our Chelmsford campus and graduated in 1996 before qualifying as a solicitor in 2000. She specialises in wills, inheritance tax mitigation, trust creation and administration and probate work.

Why is it important to write a will?

There are many reasons for writing a will, not least the peace of mind knowing that loved ones are looked after. It's particularly important for unmarried partners who may not have a legal claim to inherit, and also for parents to include the arrangements of guardianship of their children.

How easy is it to write a will?

Really easy - you can do it in person, over the phone or even by email. It will usually take no longer than an hour to do but for something that may set you up for life, I'd say that's an hour well spent.

Is it expensive?

Not as expensive as many people think, and if it is done properly then it doesn't work out to be too expensive at all. A good will should take the future into account. This may include future children or grandchildren and therefore may never need to be re-written. We recently had a meeting with a lady who hadn't reviewed her will since she agreed it with us 17 years ago, but was pleasantly surprised to find that it was still totally relevant and correct - the benefits of a well-written will.

Is writing a will all about money?

No - we always say that protecting your family is the most important reason for writing a will. A will can include any possessions - property, animals, sentimental items and even digital media. Somebody included their iTunes music library in their will!

What's the benefit of writing a will through a solicitor?

It's very important to make sure a will is written properly using specialist, practical advice. Some solicitors like us who work 'both sides of the grave' can offer practical advice on probate and any issues that arise around the execution of a will which can be very useful. Furthermore, the Legal Services Commission has recently recommended that will-writing becomes regulated - currently you don't even need any qualifications whatsoever to call yourself a will writer.

What would happen if I passed away without writing a will? What issues may arise?

In this situation, the Intestacy Rules come into play. These are statutory rules which dictate who receives what and when, depending on personal circumstances. Many people are surprised to find out that it isn't automatic that your spouse takes all, even when married with children.

Register your interest for the Chelmsford Half Marathon 2022

We regret to inform our ARU community that as of 26 March 2021, we no longer use crowdfunding and are sorry for any inconvenience caused.

However, we now have a similar alternative available at our ARU Foundation’s JustGiving page. Hopefully, through this fundraising page, you will be able to continue supporting our ARU projects or creating your own fundraising campaigns.

Please contact us at giving@aru.ac.uk for more information on how to do so.

Get your signed prints by renowned artist and alumna Supanee Gazeley, who has received international acclaim for her abstract encaustic artworks. Supanee has held numerous exhibitions in the UK, Thailand and Hong Kong.

All proceeds will go towards a bursary for an international student to study at our Cambridge School of Art - the Doctor Supanee Gazeley Art Prize.

The four different prints are available for a donation of £12 per print through our Online Store. The price includes postage and packaging.

Anglia Ruskin relies upon the generosity of charitable trusts and foundations to ensure continuous development of high quality teaching, research and infrastructure at our University. We are very keen to build relationships with trusts who share our vision and who seek to be involved with exciting projects that can make a huge difference to the lives of many in the UK and across the world.

As well as supporting any of our current fundraising priorities, we openly invite trusts to make an approach with new funding proposals that they seek to support. If you wish to put forward an idea, please contact our Development Office, and we would be delighted to discuss your proposition.

We are always seeking to establish new corporate relationships, not only to broaden our existing links to the business world but also to diversify from what we already offer. We currently hold relationships with many world-renowned companies including Barclays, Ford, UPS, Timberland and Harrods, many of which are individually tailored to suit the needs of their organisation. However large or small, Anglia Ruskin are keen to hear from all businesses to discuss the potential for a corporate partnership.

With a student base of more than 30,000, we strive to offer our students the expert knowledge of businesses from many different sectors. By combining academic theory and professional practice, we create the most appropriate pathway from education into employment and nurture highly trained graduates who are readily prepared to enter the workplace.

Here are some examples of how we have forged long, successful relationships with corporate partners in the past:

• Setting up of bespoke distance learning courses with the aim to maximise business performance and professional development
• Providing opportunities for work experiences and internships for students
• Sponsorship of events attended by leading academics and professionals
• Prize awards for high achieving students
• Funding for scholarships and bursaries
• Tailored research programmes

Tax Benefits

As a business making a donation to the university, you can subtract the value of the donation from the profits subject to corporation tax. All you have to do is keep records of the correspondence that relates to the donation - couldn't be easier!

To learn more, please go to the HMRC website for further guidance.

Supporting your CSR programme

With every corporate partner, we endeavour to be proactive in supporting your initiatives just as we do for ours. We will support your CSR programme through publicity and reporting to ensure maximum output of your investment in Anglia Ruskin University.

If you wish to arrange a meeting or contact our Development office, please get in touch using the contact details below.

Increase the value of your gift to Anglia Ruskin - at no extra cost to you

If you are a UK taxpayer, we can also benefit from the Gift Aid scheme, claiming an additional 25p for every £1 you donate.

Fill in our Gift Aid declaration form

*As you reclaim the difference between the basic rate of 20 percent and higher rate of tax at 40 percent
** As you reclaim the difference between the basic rate of 20 percent and higher rate of tax at 45 percent

Exempt Charity Ref No. XN 87485